Why Should I Use A TEM Provider if I Have Spreadsheets?
For years, many small and mid-sized enterprises with less than $1 billion in annual revenue have avoided contracting with a Telecom Expense
Management (TEM) vendor and tried to perform the same functions and activities to the same extent through spreadsheets.
These organizations typically have been reluctant to spend on a TEM provider, not realizing that the benefits they would gain would far exceed the
financial outlay. In most cases, too, these firms would save money after fees because they would avoid costly, often recurring, mistakes.
So, when it comes to the question of why to use a TEM provider rather than spreadsheets, the answer is this:
TEM has grown into far more than just telecom. These days, TEM encompasses managing enterprise mobility
(including mobile device management), cloud (including hybrid cloud), unified communications, SD-WAN, the
internet of things, and so much more – all while needing to keep traditional telecom in check, too. In fact, think
of TEM as Communications Lifecycle Management (CLM), a holistic approach to the telecom, mobility and
information technology environment.
Another key reason why spreadsheets do not stand in for true TEM is that organizations, especially smaller ones, often lack the resources for handling
contract and lifecycle management on their own. Much of the ability to accurately track agreement expiration to prevent tariff rates, device upgrade, and
other important change dates relies on automation and specially developed software. Spreadsheets further do not necessarily, or easily, include plugins
for monitoring order implementations or flagging changes in invoice amounts against contracts. In addition, the element of human expertise remains
paramount. And dedicating a full-time employee or two just to contract and lifecycle management is not possible for many end users.
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