Call Accounting - Perform a Telecom Audit and Cut Costs with TEM

                                                                                         

Companies typically perform a manual audit or utilize call accounting software in order to catch mistakes in billings. This article will discuss some of the significant issues that should be included in a company's telecommunications audit and show the convenience of a call accounting system when installed in order to avoid the mistakes which are sure to show in the vendors favor in any audit.

The review allows the auditor to determine if the telecommunications budget is being used properly or if can be reduced without hurting the business. An audit may actually conclude that increasing the company's telecommunications budget will increase productivity and profits.

The inventory audit is designed to explore a complete list of telecommunications assets and procedures. For example, review the telecommunication circuits, toll-free numbers, Frame Relay as well as all the locations which include communication equipment, including employees working from home.

The audit should also analyze all contracted telephone rates and determine if all the communication devices such as cell phones and BlackBerrys used by employees are cost effective.

The audit should review the manual procedures currently implemented to detect billing errors. If call accounting software is being utilized, it should be reviewed to determine if it is actually catching all the billing mistakes. A periodic comparison to a small amount of manually reviewed bills may be useful.

Call accounting software can lead to catching more errors and increase savings. Estimate the payback period of purchasing new software to determine its cost effectiveness. Compared to the cost of an audit in-house figuring the man (or woman) hours or hiring an outside company to do the audit a call accounting software is sure to be the most effective way to monitor and cut costs.

Companies often make the mistake of performing a telecom audit only once. As part of an overall call accounting system, a continual automated audit procedure with automated audit tools can prevent the discovered mistakes from returning. A complete audit will also allow companies to compare contracts of current communication service vendors with industry standard rates. If a company is paying too much for services when compared to companies in the same industry, it's time to make some changes.

Checking actual inventory with invoices can lead to some important discoveries. During the procedure, businesses have often located devices such as telephones or circuits that are not being utilized; however the items are currently being billed.

As part of an overall call accounting system, an effective audit plan will often decrease the cost of telecommunications. If a company is not using a telecom expanse management (TEM) system, the audit will point you in the correct direction in selecting one most appropriate for your usage needs. Once installed, any audit procedure will be much easier and efficient. Telecom expense management software with an effective strategy will provide the best results and
can significantly lower costs and keep costs down for wireless and other varieties of communication.

Further information about telecom expense management may be obtained from the Telsoft Solutions website at www.telsoft-solutions.com.

About the author:
Author, Peter Verhoeff, writes articles on the business benefits of telecom expense management systems and call detail record technology. More information can be found at http://www.telsoft-solutions.com.

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com