Communication with customers and employees is the lifeline of any business. It’s crucial that your company’s telecommunications system is effective and efficient. Of course, you get what you pay for, so you have to be ready to invest in a reliable telecom vendor to insure you receive the high-quality results your business deserves.
You can still find ways to save on telecom expenses without sacrificing quality, but to be able to do that, you need to familiarize yourself with all the fees telecom vendors ask you to pay.
Telecom Vendor Fees
Most telecom vendors charge non-recurring fees (NRC) at the start of service. These fees are typically for cost of installation, equipment, and other necessities related to setting up a telecom system. These are often one-time charges, and will not appear in later invoices. You can expect the initial bill to have different items compared to the succeeding ones.
Next, pay attention to the monthly recurring charges. Some services may be billed according to usage per minute, so you’ll see variable costs in your invoice every month. These are usually long-distance calls, international calls, inbound calls from toll-free numbers, etc. Their rates also vary depending on whether they’re local calls, data calls, or Internet calls.
Knowing all the fees charged to your company will help you understand exactly how the billing works. This will make it easier for you to spot any so-called hidden charges. Take note that most of the time, only the discount is fixed, and not the actual base rate. When the base rate increases, your monthly bill will increase even when the usage stays the same.
Selecting a Telecom Vendor
After arming yourself with knowledge, it’s time to go shopping for the best telecom vendor. The great thing about telecommunications is that you have several providers to choose from, so you can find the best one that suits your needs.
What Telecom Services Do You Need?
Determine what services your company frequently uses then ask vendors for discounts and deals they’re willing to give you. Request a consolidated quote to give you a clear idea of how much you’ll be spending on telecommunications as a whole. Piecemeal quotes add up to a considerable total sum, which take many companies by surprise when they receive their first invoice.
Better Telecom Quotes
For better telecom quotes, look for vendors that are offering their services with newer technology. Old solutions are not as efficient and end up costing more.
The secret to getting a good deal lies in your commitment to be proactive. Ask detailed questions, seek specific answers, and request more options. Don’t let your company get tied up in a contract without an easy way out. Make sure that all contracts with your chosen telecom vendor have coterminous expiration dates, and avoid over-commitment. Instead of meeting the ceiling amount (e.g. $2,000 a month in total expenses) to get your money’s worth, work toward lowering your telecom expenses and pay any amount that goes over. In the long run, you’ll save more with this approach.
[author_bio username=”Ken” name=”yes”]
