Is there any value in doing a Physical Telecom Site Inspection?

The value of conducting a physical inspection at each site should not be understated.  So, the answer to whether there is any value in performing one, is unequivocally, absolutely YES.  It should be part of your overall strategy to validate your inventory and your contract compliance.  Too often, we rely on equipment records (ERs) to complete a line inventory.  Although obtaining an inventory of circuits by using your ER and the site inspection are separate tasks, they are both as important as the other and are links to one another.  They both offer "eye opening" results. 

Become one with your cabling guy during this process.  They can be very informative in toning and tagging all of the circuits at each location.   

You would be surprised at the number of times small and mid-sized organizations are aghast at the results uncovered during this process.

We all have good intentions when doing renovations in our locations in cancelling unused circuits, but the reality is that this road is paved with good intentions and our busy lives get away from us and one month turns into another and then another and then the circuits are still being billed after several years.  Staff turnover, inaccurate record keeping and then we start scratching our heads wondering if a particular location is as efficient and cost effective as it should be.

I find great value in the above and have always been pleasantly surprised at the results.  Hope you will as well.

If you have completed a site inspection, let me know what the results have been?  Were you happy, indifferent or found no value in completing one?  I would love to hear how the process went for you?

TEM/WEM...what it is and what it is not.

TEM/WEM is a popular acronym in the Expense Management Industry.  It may be a very tiny acronym but it comes packed with a lot of punch! 

Wikipedia  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecom_Expense_Management_(TEM) describes TEM (Telecom Expense Management) and WEM (Wireless Expense Management) as a specialty financial discipline involving the application of systematic analysis to telecom service orders, inventory, bills regarding telecom services.

WHAT IT IS...is a combination of software and professional services to address telecom lifecyle processes within your organization and to benefit from the implementation of an effective solution.  I've re-posted the following blog which I found best describes the value of an expense and inventory management tool.

http://www.temia.org/expert-blogs/Telecom-Expense-Management-Today-and-a-Vision-for-the-Future-of-TEM.html

Doing your homework, will pay off in the long run.  AOTMP has asked the industry at large to rate their TEM/WEM provider.  Worth the read.
http://www.aotmp.com/index.php?id=267


I've included a case study to provide some insight into the benefits of working with your TEM/WEM provider.  
http://www.temia.org/case-studies/canadian-service-provider

WHAT IT IS NOT....is a short quick fix to solving an immediate need in reducing your expenses and the bottom line.  It does not offer the long term benefits obtained by working with your TEM/WEM provider. 

All in all, adopting and working with a TEM/WEM provider does offer a solution to controlling your telecom costs. 

Your Telecom Agent will have some insight into this whole process and should be able to guide you and help you source a provider that will meet your business needs.