For present-day large enterprises (e.g., companies with a mobile device count of 500 or greater), partnering with a telecom expense management (TEM) firm for managed mobility service (MMS) support is just as necessary as traditional enterprise expense management support.
Managed mobility services are like TEM, except that the focus is on enterprise mobility services as opposed to more traditional telephony services. It represents a comprehensive and bigger umbrella approach to expense management for mobility services.
Traditional Telecom Expense Management and Managed Mobility Services
So, why do larger enterprises need MMS 3rd-party support like traditional TEM? There are various reasons why this is the case, but the main reason is the TEM provider’s decades of experience managing all varieties of both fixed and mobile communications services.
TEM providers have evolved their capabilities, both technologically, i.e., the TEM platform/applications, and the knowledge and skills of their employees. They have exponentially increased their ability to handle more communications services management needs beyond traditional “bread and butter” fixed telephony services and basic mobile device management needs.
Modern-day enterprise expense management leaders, especially those within larger enterprise organizations, are realizing more and more that they need the same level of expense management operational support and cost containment that has served the TEM industry well over time and are rightly embracing MMS programs more than ever.
Gartner Research – Managed Mobility Services Definition
Gartner, a leading IT research firm within the technology space, helped provide a more formal definition and recognition for the term “managed mobility services” circa 2011, since which time the discipline has continued to evolve and become more mainstream within the world of enterprise expense management.
According to Gartner, managed mobility services are as follows:
“Managed mobility services (MMS) comprise the vendor-provided IT and business process services required to plan, procure, provision, activate, manage, secure and support mobile devices, related mobile management systems and mobile applications.
Gartner’s coverage of MMS focuses on a provider taking over the responsibility for device acquisition, day-to-day IT management administration and support routines for mobile devices.
MMS also includes business process services — such as expense management, asset management and logistics, including forward and return logistics and recycling, ordering, and provisioning — as well as help desk services.
Enterprises seek tools, skills, process, governance and discipline related to MMS to ensure that their mobile devices are operationally effective and managed at a competitive cost (including when compared with the cost of managing the devices internally).
Consequently, enterprises’ requirements may necessitate the sourcing and vendor management of multiple providers, or the use of third-party program management (for example, multisourcing service integration).
MMS is generally consumed as bundled IT and business process services in combination with UEM software (which includes mobile device management software).”
6 Reasons to partner with a TEM for Managed Mobility Services Support
Partnering with a Telecom Expense Management (TEM) provider for Managed Mobility Service (MMS) support offers several benefits to larger enterprises. Here are some reasons why partnering with a TEM provider for MMS support is a prudent thing to do:
1. Expertise will help optimize your mobility program
TEM / MMS providers have years of experience managing telecom expenses, including mobile devices, and have in-depth knowledge of the mobile device management landscape. This expertise helps enterprise expense management organizations navigate the complexities of MMS and ensure that their mobile device programs are optimized for efficiency and cost savings.
2. Cost savings will increase
TEM / MMS providers help organizations reduce costs associated with mobile device usage by identifying unused or underutilized devices, analyzing usage patterns, and negotiating better rates with carriers.
A strong TEM/MMS provider will also assist tremendously with respect to audit and optimization analyses, both exercises of which are key to keeping costs as low as possible.
3. Centralized management will be installed
TEM / MMS providers offer centralized management of mobile device programs, which simplifies the management process for internal TEM teams. This allows organizations to focus on their core business functions while the TEM provider handles the day-to-day management of mobile devices.
4. Enhanced security will be achieved
TEM / MMS providers offer enhanced security features such as device encryption, remote wipe, and mobile device management, which help to protect sensitive company data. This reduces the risk of data breaches and any associated costs.
5. Technology platform will facilitate better results
A competent TEM / MMS provider will possess the right functionality and configurability within its technology platform to manage your mobile devices effectively and efficiently; they will do so in accordance with industry best practices and align to both your organization’s operational and cost priorities for mobility services.
6. Scalability will be increased for your organization
TEM / MMS providers offer scalable solutions that can accommodate the needs of organizations of all sizes, from mid-size businesses to larger enterprises, which most enjoy the benefits of maximized scalability.
This means that as organizations grow and mobile device programs become even more complex, the TEM / MMS provider can scale their services to meet evolving needs successfully.
Final Thoughts on Managed Mobility Services and TEM
Expense management disciplines such as traditional telecom expense management (TEM) have evolved over time to include many other services such as utilities and waste management, and therefore the name of the discipline has also evolved to reflect this expansion of scope within the disciple; it’s now also referred to as technology expense management.
Likewise, basic expense management support needs for mobile devices have also evolved significantly over time, due to the proliferation of mobile devices and the complexity of the technologies that support them, thus bringing greater managed mobility service support needs to the industry forefront.
Enterprise expense management leaders that manage 500 or more devices, should consider partnering with a TEM provider for managed mobility services support, as the return on investment will cost-justify itself when partnering with a competent TEM / MMS provider.
If you’d like to consider Tellennium in your TEM vendor comparisons, contact us to schedule a brief demo of our solution.
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