Telecom Service Inventory Management & Cost Control Training Class

Day 1: Inventory Identification & Management

Telecom Inventory Essentials

• Purpose


• Components
  
  
  
  • Location List
  
  
  • Line List
  
  
  • Invoice Summary & Detail
  
  
  • CSRs
  
  
  
  


• Models


• Planning for Change

Service Categories

• Voice
  
  
  
  • Local
  
  
  • Long Distance
  
  
  • Toll Free
  
  
  • Teleconferencing
  
  
  • Calling Card
  
  
  • Fax
  
  
  
  


• Data
  
  
  
  • Dedicated
  
  
  • Internet
  
  
  • Frame Relay
  
  
  • VPN
  
  
  
  


• Wireless
  
  
  
  • Cellular
  
  
  • Pagers
  
  
  • Wireless Internet & Hybrids
  
  
  
  

Invoices & Inventory

• Catalog


• Interpreting Invoices

Breakout Session #1: Invoice Interpretation Exercise

• Customer Service Records
  
  
  
  • Ordering
  
  
  • Interpreting
  
  
  
  

Breakout Session #2: CSR Interpretation Exercise

Environment Mapping

• Location Identification


• Network Outline
  
  
  
  • Diagram
  
  
  • Services by Location
  
  
  
  

Breakout Session #3: Environment Map Worksheet

• Cost Catalog
  
  
  
  • 
    s Cost by Location
  
  
  • 
    s Allocating Shared Cost
  
  
  
  

Breakout Session #4: Cost Catalog Exercise

Inventory Structure/Organization

• Cost Comparisons
  
  
  
  • Same Service, Different Cost
  
  
  • Vendor Cost Comparisons
  
  
  
  


• Expense Fields


• Documentation

Inventory Maintenance

• Inventory Tracking
  
  
  
  • Variances
  
  
  • New/Cancelled Service
  
  
  
  


• Ordering Procedures
  
  
  
  • Tracking Numbers
  
  
  • Account Teams
  
  
  
  

Day 2: Billing & Contracts

Invoice Analysis

• Errors


• Savings Opportunities


• Optimization

Telecom Contracts

• Terms & Conditions
  
  
  
  • Contract Length
  
  
  • Evergreen
  
  
  • Termination
  
  
  • Discount Types
  
  
  
  


• Revenue Commitments


• Sub-commitments


• Escalating MAC/MARCs


• Net & Gross


• Contributory Charges

Breakout Session #5: Contract Interpretation Exercise

• Special Clauses
  
  
  
  • Business Downturn
  
  
  • Technology Review
  
  
  • Competitive Evaluation
  
  
  • SLA & QoS
  
  
  
  

Contract Compliance

• Service Provider Compliance


• Client Compliance


• Report Structure
  
  
  
  • Commitments
  
  
  • Outline Costs
  
  
  • Calculating Discounts
  
  
  
  

Breakout Session #6: Contract Compliance Exercise

• Identifying Errors
  
  
  
  • Discrepancies
  
  
  • Duration
  
  
  • Taxes
  
  
  
  


• Error Documentation
  
  
  
  • Templates
  
  
  • Collateral
  
  
  
  

Breakout Session #7: Billing Error Exercise

• Adjustments
  
  
  
  • Determining Amounts
  
  
  • Disputes
  
  
  • Refunds/Credits
  
  
  
  

Breakout Session #8: Refund/Credit Exercise

Standard Inefficiencies

• Expense Types
  
  
  
  • Loose Traffic
  
  
  • Wire Maintenance
  
  
  • Equipment Insurance
  
  
  
  


• Unauthorized Charges
  
  
  
  • Internet Services
  
  
  • Advertising
  
  
  • 900 Calls
  
  
  
  

Breakout Session #9: Standard Inefficiency Exercise

Optimization

• Voice & Data
  
  
  
  • Cost Comparisons
  
  
  • Technology Changes
  
  
  
  


• Consolidation
  
  
  
  • Vendor Consolidation
  
  
  • Service Consolidation
  
  
  • Contribution Savings
  
  
  • Soft Savings
  
  
  
  

Breakout Session #10: Optimization Worksheet

• Service Optimization
  
  
  
  • Line Checks
  
  
  • Redundancy Balancing
  
  
  • Technology Assessment
  
  
  
  


• Network Services


• Corporate Control & Policy
  
  
  
  • Main Accounts
  
  
  • Authorized User List
  
  
  
  

Management Resources

• Inventory Databases
  
  
  
  • Working Spreadsheets
  
  
  • Queries
  
  
  
  


• Knowledgebase


• Help Desk


• Consultants

Day 3: Cost Control Management

Negotiations

• Service Valuation


• Timing


• RFIs


• Bids


• RFPs
  
  
  
  • Process
  
  
  • Expectations
  
  
  
  


• Service Provider Choices


• Criteria
  
  
  
  • Discounts
  
  
  • Volume
  
  
  • Term
  
  
  • SLAs
  
  
  • Technology Upgrades
  
  
  • Competitive Pricing
  
  
  • Commitment Terms
  
  
  
  

Breakout Session #11: Negotiation Exercise

• Leverage
  
  
  
  • Volume & Term
  
  
  • Adding Services
  
  
  • Technology Upgrades
  
  
  
  

Telecom Management Best Practices

• Methodology


• Control


• Contract Tracking
  
  
  
  • Term Expirations
  
  
  • Revenue Commitments
  
  
  
  


• Service Levels


• Choosing Term Lengths


• Rate Trends


• Business Initiatives

Cost Management

• Periodic Rate Reviews
  
  
  
  • Biannual
  
  
  • New Services/Contracts
  
  
  • Disconnects
  
  
  
  


• Competitive Analysis


• Rate Reviews


• Cost Trends


• Fixed Rates


• Usage Allotments


• Volume Trends


• Technology Options
  
  
  
  • New Products
  
  
  • New Services
  
  
  
  

Moves, Adds & Changes

• Placing Orders
  
  
  
  • Online & Phone
  
  
  • Tracking Process
  
  
  • POC
  
  
  
  


• Implementation Process
  
  
  
  • Project Timelines
  
  
  • Documentation
  
  
  
  

Breakout Session #12: MAC Exercise

• Implementation Problem Resolution
  
  
  
  • Resolution Chain
  
  
  • Time Manage

Telecom Managers, IT/IS Managers, Telecom Analysts, Telecom Specialists, and
Accounts Payable Specialists will all benefit from this workshop. If you are
responsible for any of the following telecom elements, or you wish to expand
your knowledge of telecom inventory management and cost control, then you should
attend:

• Validating invoice accuracy


• Processing invoices for payment


• Managing moves, adds and changes


• Contracting with service pr