The 3 SIMple secrets to taming escalating mobile phone costs

In this complex marketplace with a huge array of suppliers, tariffs, add-ons and equipment, businesses find it extremely difficult to discover the most effective cost solutions for mobile phone fleet management. According to Ofcom, “A whopping £4.8 billion is wasted every year.” Why?

An industry insider suggests too many suppliers chasing connection targets and maximum profit margins, many customers are offered inadequate tariffs and unbalanced solutions.  Under-pressure and inexperienced purchasers, technophobes, and a ‘better the devil you know’ attitude to an incumbent supplier can often lead to an inefficient solution being provided.  The expected market price that the customers’ usage and spend should reflect is rarely achieved.  Once signed up, they receive a ‘not my problem anymore’ attitude when seeking customer service.

Any wonder then that many of those responsible for purchasing decisions are increasingly turning to independent cost management networks, like Auditel, for expert help.

The 3 SIMple secrets revealed

Former telecommunications strategist with Cambridge-based consultancy, Analysys Ltd and Auditel business owner, Ron Yellon, reveals the three secrets to achieving the most appropriate solution and best value:

Secret 1 – Insist on the analysis and use of good management information

This is the bedrock of better decisions.  By feeding detailed itemised bill information into our widely acclaimed computerised review system, we can analyse all mobile phone usage, call destinations and call time periods, and adjusting these for your preferences and plans for change, we can have it specify what savings can be made, and where.  Working with large fleet of mobile phones becomes a breeze.

Secret 2 – Seek out truly independent advice

Ensure your analyst is armed with detailed knowledge of where in the market at any one time the incentives and quality lies and can tender to all UK networks and suppliers – Mobile Network Operators, Virtual Mobile Operators, Mobile Service Providers or Mobile Dealers – to identify the best commercial proposition and service.  And don’t forget it isn’t all about price, service levels are more important than ever before. Make sure you pick from firms that are focussed, can deliver and are likely to be around for the longer term – and not just the biggest household names either.

Secret 3 – Create an appropriate cost management culture

Falling call costs but escalating spend requires a greater ability to manage behaviour.  Get your internal policy for wise business use, and private use, in order, and communicate it clearly and enforce it.  Assign accountability for keeping good records, ensure phones are returned when people leave, and manage churn cost effectively through reuse.  Be proactive with your supplier on roaming charges when planning projects abroad.  And finally, don’t let the needs of the few dictate handset replacement for all.
Don’t let mobile fleet management drive you up the pole?

With your bespoke profile in mind and plans for change, Auditel has access to the full range of suppliers  to identify the best commercial proposition and service.  And best of all, this specialist capability and expert knowledge is often available on a self-funding basis from a share of the savings we achieve.

“We have achieved some great success stories with our clients”, says Ron, “not just on telecoms, but right across the spectrum of essential business expenditure (over 80 categories) – saving money, providing peace of mind and releasing hard pressed resources.

In these times when we are all so busy and cost-focussed why would you let mobile fleet management drive you up the pole?

Contact me at www.auditel.co.uk/ronyellon or 01223 654314 to find out how you too can benefit from this specialist self-funding management service.