Finding the best telecom vendor for your company can be a difficult task. You have to find a vendor that meets your needs now and in the future. How does your company know which telecom vendor is best for your specialized needs?
To start the telecom vendor selection process, you must first know how to differentiate telecom vendors so your company will get the best telecom solutions possible.
Telecom providers are broken into 3 tiers which are based on their size and core competencies:
Tier 1
Tier 1 vendors are full service providers, such as AT&T and Verizon, who take care of your complete telecom needs.
Tier 2
Tier 2 telecom vendors specialize in a specific product type such as Internet. Examples of vendors that fall into this tier are Sprint, CenturyLink, XO Communications, and Level 3.
Tier 3
Tier 3 telecom vendors are carriers that concentrate on a regional scope or niche market product. Examples of tier 3 vendors are Windstream, Time Warner, and LightPath.
Now that we’ve covered telecom vendors at their most basic level, let’s explore how they can be different.
4 Differentiators of Telecom Vendors
Full Service Telecom Providers
Engaging in service with a Tier 1, full service telecom vendor will get you efficient telecom services. All of your company telecom services will be hosted, and in most cases invoiced, through one vendor. This approach also leaves the option for bundling, which can save you money on your telecom services.
Product Type Telecom Service
Selecting a Tier 2 telecom provider is a solid option if you need a telecom vendor that hosts core competencies in a select service area. With this approach it’s important to keep in mind that you will have to manage multiple telecom vendors, and in turn, multiple telecom invoices. Although this can be more to juggle, using tier 2 vendors can be worth the effort.
Niche Market Specialization
Niche Market Specialization remains a Tier 2 telecom vendor option and it’s essentially a division of product type services. You can select a specialized individual service or product. Niche market specialization is especially helpful when you’re attempting to establish a competitive advantage, or to position yourself on the cutting edge of a new product or service.
Regional Telecom Specialization
A tier 3 option is regional telecom specialization. If the bread and butter of your business is hosted on a local level, regional telecom specialization can be your best option. Not only are regional vendors in tune with your service needs, they’re also privy to local information and techniques that other telecom vendors outside your area may not know. Regional telecom support can also offer benefits that national level telecom vendors cannot provide.
It’s a smart option to enlist in a Tier 3 telecom vendor if your company is seeking an add-on service that your current telecom vendor does not provide.
The most important information to take away from this blog post is that your company does not have to settle with poor telecom services – you do have options!
When it comes to pursuing a new or supplementary telecom vendor, be open minded and explore your options. In order to get the best, most optimized service, you will need to do your due diligence but it will pay off.
[author_bio username=”Ken” name=”yes”]
