Consultancy

Have you watched your communication costs grow considerably over the last year or two? Are you at the point where you are questioning the suitability of your existing telephone system or supplier? Or are you even looking at a broader project that involves your entire communications infrastructure, including mobile, voice and data?

It might be that you are looking for a simple audit to establish facts and provide a cost saving, or perhaps a more detailed project aimed at a specific requirement. Maybe you need a supplier or tender evaluation, or a detailed audit with assistance in formulating and delivering a long term strategy?… whatever it is, we can help.

Traditionally, responsibility for telecommunications has resided between facilities management, finance and sometimes even with HR. More recently it is becoming the responsibility of the (normally) under resourced IT Department who are looking at this type of procurement and management for the first time. The pace of technological change in the telecommunications and IT industry is phenomenal, and this is compounded by the complexity, variety and constant change in the companies involved in the supply of this technology. All have their part to play but most only supply a small part of the overall solution. Technology that should be providing real benefit across the business can all to easily become a millstone around an organisation’s neck!

Telecommunications procurement decisions cannot be made in isolation. The need for integration with other business systems such as CRM (customer relationship management) or workflow applications and the possible use of IP Telephony (voice over IP) will mean the IT department if not already involved, will need to be. But the full benefit of any change will not be gained unless there is a full understanding of the business processes and the culture within the business as this is needed to embrace the technology and maximise the benefit to the business.

"Some of our earliest “consultancy” clients remain long term clients as we continue to help support and develop their telecommunications and IT Infrastructure. We’ve helped many businesses from Government Agencies looking to establish the very latest speech recognition technologies in a call centre environment, through to Chambers of Commerce looking to replace existing telephone systems and smaller businesses simply wanting to understand where they are."

"We’re more than a consultancy, with many years of management and business experience. Think of us as your industry experts; identifying business needs, applying technology solutions and then supporting them."

Our consultancy service can include:

Cost and Risk audits (cost reduction and management)
Procurement and Change Management
Strategic Telecommunication Reviews
Telephone System Replacement
Network Service Selection (including VPN, MPLS, and ISDN services)
Call Centre Technologies and Services (including call recording, CTI and IV

So where do you begin?

Before you can move anywhere, you have to know where you are! Our detailed on-site audit will take into account the total telecommunications (and IT if required) infrastructure from both a cost and physical aspect. Sound simple? This is one of the more complex operations we undertake and the one that can bring to the fore some very interesting facts. Any immediate overcharging, risk of failure or other management issues can immediately be addressed from this point on. But we don’t stop there! We’ll undertake (with your agreement) a number of interviews with appropriate staff from all levels and areas of your business to ascertain the current understanding and use of IT and telecommunications and the readiness to accept new ideas and change. This will often reveal as much as the cost and physical audit and provides the all important “human” element that is so often overlooked.

Which leads us to……

A comprehensive report and presentation that takes all the audit information, provides detailed analysis of the findings and if needs be, highlights areas requiring immediate attention. At the very minimum you will have the information you need to make accurate and informed decisions. You may decide you have enough information to make your own choices for now or you may opt for further help. If you do, we can take the next logical step.

The Advice

You now know where you are, and understand the resources and expertise within your business. We will have indicated some potential areas for change from our findings; all you need to know now is how can new technology help your business and how can you implement the changes required! And which comes first? Easy? Well, we’ll try and make it as easy as possible by providing a plain English guide which will put the business need before the technology used, provide cost and benefit analysis and which will take you from where you are to where you need to be.

From simple and relatively quick audits, through to reporting and analysis of findings and more; requirement definition, tender documentation, supplier evaluation, project management, and, if required, longer term support and facilities management.

Some of our earliest “consultancy” clients remain long term clients as we continue to help support and develop their telecommunications and IT Infrastructure. We’ve helped many businesses from Government Agencies looking to establish the very latest speech recognition technologies in a call centre environment, through to Chambers of Commerce looking to replace existing telephone systems and smaller businesses simply wanting to understand where and who they are.

We’re more than a consultancy, with many years of management and business experience. Think of us as your industry experts; identifying business needs, applying technology solutions and then supporting them.

For further information please call 0845 8800635 or e-mail Stephen.mason@masoninfotech.co.uk