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?