How to Gain Greater Control over Network Connectivity Costs

One of the most challenging aspects of managing WAN connectivity is paying the service provider’s bill.

Make that bills. Organizations with multiple locations often receive dozens, even hundreds of bills for network connectivity services every month. It might be someone’s full-time job just to process and pay those bills, all of which are mind-numbingly complex.

Because of that complexity, the invoices are seldom scrutinized. In fact, very few businesses conduct detailed audits of their telecom bills, even though it has been estimated that as many as 80 percent contain errors. Those errors tend to perpetuate month after month, costing organizations millions of dollars annually.

Fact is, few organizations have the resources and know-how to manage telecom services, contracts and invoices. The challenges have only increased with the complexity of the wide-area network (WAN). Today, many remote locations connect directly to the Internet, often with bundled services from the local broadband provider. As the number of locations increases, it becomes harder and harder to keep a lid on network connectivity costs.

When organizations use a mix of telecom services from multiple providers, overlapping and redundant services further increase costs. In some cases, services that are no longer needed are never turned off, either due to miscommunication or out of concern about unknown dependencies. Organizations that grow through mergers and acquisitions often inherit telecom contracts and the associated billing, with limited knowledge of the terms and conditions.

With so many moving parts — and different services, contract terms and charges associated with each of those moving parts — it’s incredibly difficult for organizations to understand their telecom expenses, much less control them. However, given that telecom services represent as much as 20 percent of the typical organization’s IT budget, managing costs should be a business priority.

The first step is to take inventory of all voice, data and mobile services, then thoroughly review each contract. When was the last time the contract was renegotiated? Is the service meeting business requirements? Are there overlapping services that could be eliminated?

Next, take a look at how telecom expenses are tracked and reported. Are invoices being reviewed for errors and overcharges? If so, are these errors and overcharges being disputed?

These questions require significant time and resources to answer – time and resources that your IT department may not have. SageNet can help with network consulting services that leverage our more than 30 years’ experience in the design, implementation, troubleshooting and support of enterprise-class networks. Our team knows what questions to ask and where to look when analyzing your network infrastructure. We can assess strengths and weaknesses against your business needs, and develop a plan for optimizing cost, performance, security and reliability.

Our SageCONNECT services incorporate a comprehensive suite of technology-neutral connectivity options, including broadband, fiber, cellular, satellite and MPLS. These services deliver the broadest, most reliable coverage and the lowest total cost of ownership, with a well-defined delivery methodology that leverages our engineering expertise and emphasis on total customer satisfaction.

And here’s the best part. With SageCONNECT, you will receive one consolidated bill for all network connectivity services across your environment. The bill will be clear and concise so you know exactly what you’re paying for. This feature alone can save you thousands of dollars a month in operational overhead.

SageNet is your one-stop resource for WAN connectivity and network technologies that improve collaboration, customer service and operational efficiency. Let us help you evaluate your existing infrastructure and architect an enterprise-wide WAN with consolidated billing for all network connectivity services.