As IT/Telecom departments continue to run "lean and mean", the lure of hands-free operation and maintenance continues to motivate many IT folks to outsource their Telecom Expense Management (TEM). And, with all that's on the IT plates these days, it may be the best solution, hands down.
Yet for others, issues of control and security ultimately result in continuing to keep licensed software safely ensconced in-house, where access and reporting are in tight control.
Regardless of which camp you're in, it's important to periodically review how you handle the question of in-house versus outsourced for your TEM applications. Why? Because organizations change in terms of structure and expanding or changing data sources. With those changes may come a need to either outsource your TEM or bring it back in-house.
As you take that "second look", here are a few things to make sure you're taking into consideration:
So, does your current arrangement still make sense for your organization? Add up the monthly cost of your provider and compare it to purchasing a TEM solution outright. Calculate the ROI. Add in the soft returns, such as access to data, convenience and freeing up employees. Weigh all the positives and negatives.
Above all, make sure you have options. You should know that many TEM vendors offer hosted solutions only; others only offer licensed on-site solutions. At TTI we offer both. We do this because we understand the dynamic environment of IT/Telecom and the changing nature of application needs.
And, given the world we live in, who knows what's around the corner? Just make sure you have a vendor who is prepared to go there with you.