Off-Net Voice Cost Optimization Services

 

The last few years have seen a lot of competitive change in the voice arena.  Cable companies have increased their penetration into local/LD telephony; SIP carriers have emerged; non-traditional providers like Skype and Google have entered the market; intermediary “tandem” operators have emerged to bypass some of the traditional telcos; and wireless traffic has continued to grow at a blazing rate.  Due to these and other changes, maintaining optimal voice costs has become very difficult.

 

To help address these challenges, Source Loop offers a comprehensive set of voice cost optimization services for carriers and other large consumers/providers of voice services such as hosted VoIP, call centers, cable MSOs, e-commerce enablers (i.e. click to call, voice blast, etc.), etc.  These services focus on optimizing the analysis, sourcing, routing and audit of off-net voice traffic.

 

The following diagram depicts our voice network cost optimization service portfolio:

 

 

 

 

Usage Analytics/Business Intelligence (BI)

 

In order to be able to identify cost optimization opportunities and to prescribe/implement the appropriate solution, we first must leverage our analytical tools to determine the current state.  At the core of all of our voice cost optimization services is our Usage Analytics platform which provides the capability to load large volumes of internal and supplier call detail records (CDRs), run a comprehensive set of analytics, re-rate/cost CDRs, develop LCR route guides from multiple carrier rate decks and perform detailed audits on carrier CDRs.

 

Our Usage Analytics platform provides answers to the following and other questions as to what factors are driving voice costs, revenue and margins:

 

• What is my average cost per minute by terminating carrier, by terminating destination (i.e. OCN, country, etc.)?
• What does my cost and margin trend look like across providers, destinations, etc?
• How much exposure do I have to high cost terminations (i.e. free conferencing providers in rural areas)?
• What % of my subscriber base and which subscribers are making these calls?
• What does my traffic growth look like?  What type of traffic is driving the growth?
• Who are my largest trading partner relationships?
• Are there any unusual usage patterns among my various customer segments?

 

The following images depict some of the analytical capabilities offered by our application and service:

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Sourcing

 

Once a current baseline has been established utilizing our Usage Analytics capabilities, voice costs can be analyzed and benchmarked to determine opportunities for savings.  Source Loop has access to an extensive amount of current rate decks for a wide range of carriers and spend levels and is able to leverage this data source to secure attractive rates for its customers.   Source Loop also possesses expertise and in-depth market/pricing knowledge for fixed services such as IP transit, TDM access, MPLS, private lines, etc.

 

Furthermore, Source Loop’s principals have been negotiating carrier contracts for more than 15 years and have the expertise to drive world class contract T&Cs that offer increased flexibility in addition to hard dollar cost savings.  Click this link to learn more about Source Loop’s sourcing process.

 

When combined with other services like LCR and Audit, voice Sourcing services can add significant value to a carrier’s bottom line.

 

Sourcing services are offered on a per project basis or as part of a managed service.

 

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Least Cost Routing (LCR)

 

Securing world class rates is simply not enough to ensure success in the ultra-competitive voice services marketplace.  These rates must also be implemented within a routing plan in an optimal manner to achieve the lowest cost per minute possible.  Other factors such as contractual commitments and service quality must also be factored in to the routing decision.  The ability to control routing is also one of the more useful levers in the sourcing process.

 

Source Loop provides services that help its customers understand and realize the potential related to optimal least cost routing:

 

Carriers Without LCR Capabilities:

 

·         Assess the potential benefits of LCR by repricing traffic under a single carrier model vs. a multi-carrier LCR model

·         Assess and recommend suitable network routing infrastructure (i.e. session border controllers, centralized route servers, etc.) to    

          support client’s unique LCR needs

·         Generate LCR route guides and feed selected routing platforms

 

Carriers With LCR Capabilities:

 

·         Analyze and assess existing LCR program effectiveness

·         Administer/maintain existing LCR platforms

 

LCR services are offered on a per project basis or as part of a managed service.

 

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CDR Audit

 

A voice cost optimization program would not be complete without performing analytics/audits to ensure that voice costs have been correctly billed based on carrier contracts and rate decks.  Source Loop provides a comprehensive and effective CDR audit service which consists of the following components:

 

·         Supports the loading and automated processing of over 30 different carrier CDR formats.  Additional CDR formats can be added

          within hours of request.

·         Provides thorough analysis and re-rating capabilities, including the independent recalculation of all major inputs (Lata, OCN,

          Jurisidiction, etc.)  to the rating process using industry databases such as LERG, etc.

·         Performs switch to bill CDR reconciliations

·         Identifies  a comprehensive set of audit findings:

·         Incorrectly billed rates

·         Lata/OCN/Jurisdictional issues

·         Incorrectly default rated calls

·         Indeterminate Jurisdiction issues

·         Incorrectly billed volumes

·         Incorrectly calculated call surcharges

·         Duplicate billed calls

·         Anomalous calls (i.e. very long durations, etc.)

·         Service includes dispute identification, filing and resolution along with detailed reporting covering all activities

 

CDR Audit services are offered as a stand alone service or as part of a managed service.

 

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Off-Net Voice Cost Optimization Managed Service

 

Are you interested in optimizing your voice costs, but don’t think you have the necessary resources available to make it happen?  Don’t worry, Source Loop offers all of the service capabilities to fully optimize voice costs on a managed service basis.

 

Our experts will deliver the following services on a monthly basis:

 

Usage Analytics/BI:

 

·         Identify and deliver a comprehensive package of usage analytics that will be provided on a monthly basis via web portal

·         Conduct additional analyses as need merits

 

Sourcing:

 

·         Analyze usage costs each month to determine cost position

·         Identify destinations that offer rate reduction opportunities

·         Source new provider/rates on regular basis (typically quarterly)

·         Work with client to implement new contracts/providers

 

LCR:

 

·         Analyze routing performance continually

·         Develop new route guides, as required, in response to new rate decks, changes in network quality, attainment of commitments, etc.

·         Ensure accurate loading of LCR route guides

·         Provide reporting on LCR performance

 

Audit:

 

·         Gather internal and vendor CDRs, rate decks, etc.

·         Load CDRs, rate decks into application

·         Perform audits/analyses

·         Identify/present disputes to client

·         File disputes with vendors

·         Manage disputes to resolution

·         Provide reporting on audit process

 

Our Off-Net Voice Cost Managed Service is offered on a gain share basis where our compensation is determined by the level of savings we drive for our customers, subject to a modest minimum fee, so ROI is virtually guaranteed.

 

Please click here to speak with a member of the Source Loop team about this service.

 

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