The benefits of adopting a TEM solution are becoming increasingly evident in this struggling economy. More and more best-in-class companies are turning to TEM to uncover missing dollars and take control of their telecom systems once and for all. (For details, see earlier post).

The case is clear, but how do you get your C-level team on board? After all, research shows that executive buy-in is critical to the success of any IT campaign, especially TEM.

According to Aberdeen Group, C-level participation is important because it can help support company-wide campaigns to reduce telecom expenses, align the expense management to future technological launches and spread more efficient telecom expense practices.

Enterprise-wide initiatives, those that are more likely to happen with executive backing, maximize savings according to Aberdeen Group.

1. Research the Options

There are many quality Telecom Expense Management providers out there. To find the right fit, you need to review your company's needs.

The basics: annual telecom spend, number of monthly invoices, number of vendors, and staff capacity.

But to truly find the TEM solution that will give you control over telecom, look for the provider that can tout experience and results. Look for a provider that has been written about by third-party organizations such as Aberdeen Group or Gartner. Providers with a customer list that spans industries are usually adept at configuring a solution that can fit your company's needs. Read industry journals, download white papers, or even attend a trade show to get a feel for the providers out there and which one will fit your needs.

2. Educate, Explain and Engage

Once you've done your homework, it's time to make your case. Educate the C-level on the benefits of adopting a TEM solution in the current economy (For help on this, see earlier post). Explain the short-term benefits and the long-term benefits. A quality TEM solution should be able to offer your company savings on the front-end, and also continue to save you money for years to come. In addition, don't trust a TEM solution that doesn't offer you the tools to gain control of telecom long-term, such as asset and inventory management, real-time reporting, procurement and provisioning and business intelligence capabilities. For example, the right reporting tools can help your company manage telecom network and also keep an up-to-the-minute record of spend for executives.

Once the C-level is up-to-speed on why you need a solution, and how it will benefit the company, engage them in the process. Work together to decide how the system should work in your current environment. Look at issues such as time, staffing, processes and measuring ROI.

 

3. Win Confidence by Demonstrating a Successful Implementation

Once you've got the C-level team on board, they are going to want to move quickly to see the savings. Don't keep them waiting in a log-jam implementation. Partner with a TEM company that is known for fast implementations, resulting in faster ROI and increased cash flow.

The solution you choose should also be backed by a noted customer service team. This will help to keep the implementation running smoothly, and also ensure that any questions down the road will be dealt with swiftly.