Telecom Service Inventory Management and Cost Control 3-day training course, $1995

Overview

This telecom training course shares a step-by-step methodology that enables companies to gain control over telecom services, inventory, and costs. It includes three core modules:

• Inventory Identification and Management
• Invoices and Contracts
• Cost Control Management

Together, these modules provide the fundamental building blocks of a proven methodology that will enable you to more effectively manage your telecom inventory and budget.

By participating in this training seminar, you'll learn:

• Inventory essentials
• Procedures for identifying and mapping your telecom environment
• Service provider invoice essentials
• Invoice error identification and cost containment
• Service provider contract essentials
• Effective move, add, and change (MAC) management
• Strategies and techniques for successful service provider negotiations
• Service provider account management
• Cost control strategies

How You and Your Company Will Benefit

Application of the knowledge shared in this workshop will enable you to:

• Map and verify telecom inventory
• Recover overcharges for unused and incorrectly invoiced services
• Identify savings and cost reduction opportunities
• Protect your telecom budget by reducing overpayments and correcting invoice errors
• Implement successful procedures for facilitating service provider orders
• Interpret and negotiate service provider contracts
• Validate and maintain service provider contract and invoice compliance

These core skills will enable you to impact the efficiency and overall cost of your company’s telecommunications infrastructure.

Who Should Attend:

This telecommunication training course is ideal for telecom managers, IT/IS managers, telecom analysts, telecom specialists, accounts payable specialists or if you are responsible for any of the following telecom functions:

• Validating invoice accuracy
• Processing invoices for payment
• Managing moves, adds and changes
• Contracting with service providers
• Managing a telecom budget
• Managing telecom resources

Course Outline

Day 1:

• Learn telecom service and cost inventory essentials
• Discover the role of invoices, contracts and customer service records in building an inventory
• Learn to decode and interpret customer service records
• Discover best practices for developing telecom environment maps
• Learn how to build a cost catalog and baseline services and recurring costs
• Build a telecom inventory using collateral samples during the workshop
• Learn inventory maintenance best practices

Day 2:

• Learn to analyze telecom invoices for errors
• Learn telecom savings and cost improvement opportunities
• Learn to analyze telecom contracts and identify key language impacting your organization
• Discover contract life cycle management best practices
• Learn how to perform an invoice-to-contract analysis
• Learn how to interpret tariffs and service guides
• Discover the application of telecom management resources provided in the workshop toolkit

Day 3:

• Discuss the key steps of contract negotiations
• Learn how to negotiate contracts
• Discover telecom management best practices to protect your organization's telecom budget
• Discover how to manage a service, cost, and contract inventory to obtain optimal results
• Learn specific cost management practices to optimize your budget
• Learn service provider move, add, and change best practices

Day 1: Inventory Identification and Management

Telecom Inventory Essentials

• Purpose
• Components
  • Location List
  • Line List
  • Invoice Summary & Detail
  • CSRs
• Models
• Planning for Change

Service Categories

• Voice
  • Local
  • Long Distance
  • Toll Free
  • Teleconferencing
  • Calling Card
  • Fax
• Data
  • Dedicated
  • Internet
  • Frame Relay
  • VPN
• Wireless
  • Cellular
  • Pagers
  • Wireless Internet & Hybrids

Invoices & Inventory

• Catalog
• Interpreting Invoices
• Breakout Session #1: Invoice Interpretation Exercise
• Customer Service Records
  • Ordering
  • Interpreting
• Breakout Session #2: CSR Interpretation Exercise

Environment Mapping

• Location Identification
• Network Outline
  • Diagram
  • Services by Location
• Breakout Session #3: Environment Map Worksheet

Cost Catalog

• Cost by Location
• Allocating Shared Cost
• Breakout Session #4: Cost Catalog Exercise

Inventory Structure/Organization

• Cost Comparisons
  • Same Service, Different Cost
  • Vendor Cost Comparisons
• Expense Fields
• Documentation

Inventory Maintenance

• Inventory Tracking
  • Variances
  • New/Cancelled Service
• Ordering Procedures
  • Tracking Numbers
  • Account Teams

Day 2: Billing and Contracts

Invoice Analysis

• Errors
• Savings Opportunities
• Optimization

Telecom Contracts

• Terms & Conditions
  • Contract Length
  • Evergreen
  • Termination
  • Discount Types
• Revenue Commitments
• Sub-commitments
• Escalating MAC/MARCs
• Net & Gross
• Contributory Charges
• Breakout Session #5: Contract Interpretation Exercise
• Special Clauses
  • Business Downturn
  • Technology Review
  • Competitive Evaluation
  • SLA & QoS

Contract Compliance

• Service Provider Compliance
• Client Compliance
• Report Structure
  • Commitments
  • Outline Costs
  • Calculating Discounts
• Breakout Session #6: Contract Compliance Exercise
• Identifying Errors
  • Discrepancies
  • Duration
  • Taxes
• Error Documentation
  • Templates
  • Collateral
• Breakout Session #7: Billing Error Exercise
• Adjustments
  • Determining Amounts
  • Disputes
  • Refunds/Credits
• Breakout Session #8: Refund/Credit Exercise

Standard Inefficiencies

• Expense Types
  • Loose Traffic
  • Wire Maintenance
  • Equipment Insurance
• Unauthorized Charges
  • Internet Services
  • Advertising
  • 900 Calls
• Breakout Session #9: Standard Inefficiency Exercise

Optimization

• Voice & Data
  • Cost Comparisons
  • Technology Changes
• Consolidation
  • Vendor Consolidation
  • Service Consolidation
  • Contribution Savings
  • Soft Savings
• Breakout Session #10: Optimization Worksheet
• Service Optimization
  • Line Checks
  • Redundancy Balancing
  • Technology Assessment
• Network Services
• Corporate Control & Policy
  • Main Accounts
  • Authorized User List

Management Resources

• Inventory Databases
  • Working Spreadsheets
  • Queries
• Knowledgebase
• Help Desk
• Consultants

Day 3: Cost Control Management

Negotiations

• Service Valuation
• Timing
• RFIs
• Bids
• RFPs
  • Process
  • Expectations
• Service Provider Choices
• Criteria
  • Discounts
  • Volume
  • Term
  • SLAs
  • Technology Upgrades
  • Competitive Pricing
  • Commitment Terms
• Breakout Session #11: Negotiation Exercise
• Leverage
  • Volume & Term
  • Adding Services
  • Technology Upgrades

Telecom Management Best Practices

• Methodology
• Control
• Contract Tracking
  • Term Expirations
  • Revenue Commitments
• Service Levels
• Choosing Term Lengths
• Rate Trends
• Business Initiatives

Cost Management

• Periodic Rate Reviews
  • Biannual
  • New Services/Contracts
  • Disconnects
• Competitive Analysis
• Rate Reviews
• Cost Trends
• Fixed Rates
• Usage Allotments
• Volume Trends
• Technology Options
  • New Products
  • New Services

Moves, Adds & Changes

• Placing Orders
  • Online & Phone
  • Tracking Process
  • POC
• Implementation Process
  • Project Timelines
  • Documentation
• Breakout Session #12: MAC Exercise
• Implementation Problem Resolution
  • Resolution Chain
  • Time Management
• Verification Process
  • Billing Cycles
  • Contracted Rates
• Billing Problem Resolution
  • Resolution Chain
  • Validation

Take Home CD-Based Tool Kit

Each workshop attendee receives a course workbook specifically designed for the session. The workbook contains invoice samples, contract samples, and project templates for use during the interactive workshop.

A workshop toolkit is included, containing valuable resources for managing your telecommunications environment. It is designed to enhance the principles and methodology learned during the workshop. The Inventory Management & Cost Control Toolkit includes:

• Cost Control Management Process Flow Diagram - This 17-step methodology defines the actions required to successfully manage telecommunications cost, contracts, inventory, and MACs.
• Tariff and Price Guide Locator - This locator supports primary IXCs and LECs, and is used to locate tariffs and service guides regulating your telecommunications service contracts.
• Uniform Service Order Code (USOC) Locator - The USOC locator enables quick and accurate identification and interpretation of service provider customer service records (CSRs).
• PIC Code Directory - The PIC Code Directory lists all toll carrier subscription codes.
• Request for Proposal Template - This template defines the primary components of an RFP and offers suggestions for managing your next contract negotiation.
• Toll Numbers to Block from your PBX - This list contains a multitude of pay-per-call numbers that warrant call blocking to prevent abuse and fraud.
• Telecom Management Resource Tool Index - A collection of quick reference links to the most valuable Internet resources available to support telecom management.
• State Regulatory Agency Locator - This locator contains links to the telecommunications regulatory agencies for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
• Telecom Invoice and Contract Management Tool Kit - This toolkit contains invoice management, contract management, and cost distribution reports with graphs.
• Invoice Analysis Template - Standardized templates for performing invoice-to-contract compliance analysis for calling card, circuit, data, voice, and wireless service types are included.
• Discovery Documentation Template - The discovery documentation template provides a standard and accurate mechanism for documenting service provider errors and tracking error correction.
• Area Code Map - This map and quick reference grid includes a list of current area codes, pending new area code dates, and area code overlay information.

Registration Fees
The per student registration fee for this seminar is $1,995, and includes the seminar, course materials, and a CD-based tool kit.
Class begins at 8:30 AM and ends at 5:00 PM.  Please arrive at 8:15 AM.
Why not bring your associates?  Register three or more attendees from your company for the same seminar and receive 15% off!

To register, use the "Book Now" button or please call (708) 246-0320

Seminar Schedule

June 16-18	Indianapolis, IN	Telecom Training Center ()
Sept 8-10	Indianapolis, IN	Telecom Training Center ()
Dec 1-3	Indianapolis, IN	Telecom Training Center ()

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Payment is due prior to the conference.  If payment is not received, a credit card hold will be required for participation.  This card will only be processed if payment has not been received within two weeks following the conference.

Cancellation Policy.  Registrants may cancel up to fourteen days in advance of the seminar start date for a full refund, less administrative fees of $400.  Or, you may transfer your registration to another member of your company at no additional charge.  Registrants cancelling within fourteen days of the seminar will receive credit, less administrative fees of $400, toward any other Resource Center seminar.  In the unlikely event that a seminar must be cancelled, you will be notified at least one week prior to the seminar date. Seminar provider is not responsible for losses due to cancellation including losses on advanced purchase airfares.

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