An often overlooked but vital aspect of a company's wireless device management is a centralized, automated wireless procurement strategy. We will call it an eProcurement solution. The wireless eProcurement solution is a web-based, managed service that provides for automation of the order, approval, tracking and fulfillment of all your corporate wireless assets.
This includes:
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Basic Wireless Phones, Smart Phones, PDA's, Blackberry's, Treo's Carrier specific tablets (ipad/Samsung galaxy tab) Rate Plans Wireless Kits and Accessories
5 terrific reasons why your company should utilize an eProcurement solution
1. Automation of Wireless Procurement Process:
Best in Class cutting edge configurable software combined with the Best Practices of a professional wireless procurement facilitator will improve the speed, accuracy and overall end-user/telecom procurement team satisfaction. Likewise, automating these processes will reduce the labor hours spent by your telecom team's managing your corporate procurements allowing them to focus on other core responsibilities while saving your enterprise the additional expense.
2. Centralization
By utilizing an eProcurement solution you will establish a single point of contact for all your company's wireless device and accessory purchases. In so doing, you will initiate centralized control as you provide greater visibility into your corporate wireless device environment. This will enhance your management support of an increasingly complex wireless device portfolio.
3. Corporate Approval
Only corporate approved assets and end users are permitted into the wireless device inventory. It's one thing to quantify your inventory of wireless assets, it's quite another to maintain the integrity of this inventory on an ongoing basis. To keep it accurate you need to employ a repeatable Best Practice process to place into inventory only those corporate approved devices that are first offered to the End Users in a corporate sanctioned eCatalog. This catalog is accessed via the web-based ordering portal and contains only company approved carriers, devices, plans (optional) and accessories. Once the end-user agrees to your predetermined corporate policy, the order will be submitted to the appropriate corporate approver(s).
The approver(s) will review the answers the end-user gave to the questions asked during the ordering process. Here are a few sample questions:
How often do you anticipate traveling with your corporate responsibilities? Daily Bi-weekly Bi Monthly Will you be traveling internationally? Yes No How many minutes a month do you anticipate using each month? 500 or less 1,000 or less 1,000 or more Or any other question your company may deem important to know the answers to. Such answers will advise the approver in making the correct decision. The software should permit the approver(s) to approve or deny all or only a portion of the orders submitted. I.E. Device approved while an accessory may be denied.
4. Real Time accounting of wireless inventory and tracking data for all wireless device & accessory purchases
Once the facilitator submits the end-user order, there are often questions about where the device is in the fulfillment process. Either a call to the procurement facilitator/Help Desk or simply reviewing the notes in the software will provide the end-user or responsible corporate agent all the real-time info they will likely need.
5. Exhaustive Historical Reporting
If you do not have access to an accurate historical documentation of all your companies wireless procurements how can you possibly account for your entire wireless inventory and further more project your future wireless acquisitions. The eProcurement information integrated with an expense and asset management software tool is essential for the comprehensive optimization and life-cycle management of your wireless device inventory.
Let's briefly describe what a Best in Class eProcurement solution works:
The Client end-user or POC (point of contact) places order via the eProcurement Portal. The Portal will have web pages that provide a catalog of corporate approved carriers, devices, and accessories, shipping instructions and corporate policy acceptance, corporate requested questions/answer page. The Client POC, end-user and procurement facilitator receives an automated email that the order has been placed. The designated Client division approver receives an automated email with detailed information regarding the order with links to click whether to approve, modify and approve, or deny the order. Once approved by the designated Client corporate/division approver, the Client POC and procurement facilitator receives an automated email stating approval along with detailed information regarding the approved, modified approved, or denied order. The procurement facilitator will provide final review and submit the order to the selected carrier. If additional information is required, the procurement facilitator contacts the submitter of the order to gather any additional required data to complete the order. Once the facilitator places the order with the carrier, the facilitator logs all tracking data and end-user requests in the Device Activity Report (DAR). Carrier is responsible for delivery of the device within its service level timeframe. Upon receiving the device, the end-user shall contact the facilitator/Help Desk for provisioning of the device.
The 5 terrific reasons why your company should seriously consider a Best in Class eProcurement Solution ensure both savings and time efficiencies you will not achieve through your enterprises own best manual efforts. If time savings and cost savings is of interest to your company, investigate further the real savings now available to you. For more information feel free to give me a call.
5 Terrific Reasons Why Companies Need to Automate and Centralize Wireless Device Procurements
About The Author
Gary is the Business Development Manager for Integrity Communications. With a wealth of telecom marketing experience, Gary provides useful insights for those seeking help with various telecom cost reduction strategies as they work to improve their telecom teams efficiencies concerning their business' telecom environment.
The Integrity Communications web site: http://www.integritycsi.com/ will provide quick links to a variety of telecom management discipline offerings. For additional important information feel free to check out Gary's Blog at: http://integritycsi.wordpress.com/
Ask about Integrity's ALL REWARD/NO RISK telecom analysis at your earliest convenience!
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