Abstract: Today's usage of Decision Support Systems (DSS), combined with vetted CRM knowledge bases, allows organizations to save time and money, achieving better and more reliable/fully-documented decisions, a quantum improvement over the widely-used subjective process of selecting complex enterprise software...

Abstract: Many businesses today rely on telecom expense management (TEM) for mission-critical functions ranging from sales to service to customer relationship management. But despite its overall importance, nearly one-third of a telecom staff’s time is spent on processing orders and invoices. Maximizing the potential of a telecom system requires a data-driven approach. Find out how Map-To-Win is helping businesses do just that.

Abstract: All too often, telecom companies try to innovate in scattershot ways that make it difficult to identify market opportunities. They dedicate valuable resources to developing services, only to see these services fail in the marketplace. That’s why telecom companies need to implement better approaches to innovation. Learn about effective processes for identifying, developing, and bringing innovative services to market.

Abstract: As networks, devices, and media converge, telecom companies have increasingly complex catalogs of products and services on offer to customers who are, in turn, becoming more aware that they can switch to other providers. These companies need to find ways to effectively and consistently engage with customers to optimize the entire sales experience and capitalize on competing influences rather than losing out to them.

Abstract: Performance reviews are an essential and productive use of employee and manager time. A well-defined competency model can discover insights into individual, workgroup, and even entire workforce performance, helping enterprises gain true business advantage in their industries and marketplaces. Employee consultations and reviews, appraisals, and developmental decisions no longer need to exist as isolated business functions.

Abstract: Want to know more about distributed agile best practices for software development projects? Find out about the challenges and lessons learned from this implementation of distributed agile for teams distributed across US, Europe, and India. Discover how this large, globally distributed project for a large telecom vendor realized such benefits as better collaboration, higher quality product, and on-time delivery.

Abstract: Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) technology has become a money-saving telecom option that brings the power of a computer to a user’s phone. VoIP devices, however, require more complicated configurations than the average network client. Indeed, without reliable and properly configured domain name system (DNS) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) services running on a network, VoIP services are impossible.

Abstract: Thanks to pressures in the telecom equipment manufacturing industry, application-ready platforms (ARPs) in Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture (ATCA) are increasingly indispensable. ARPs must provide standards-based platforms to support diverse sets of applications. The ATCA ARP provides such a platform, but in light of the ATCA specifications that define the basis for the platform, ARP implementations still present some interesting challenges.

Abstract: When telecom operators interconect to send or receive different types of traffic, call detail records (CDRs) are generated at both ends. These CDRs need to be reconciled periodically to find errors, if any. While there are industry standards for resolving these errors, comprehensive reconciliation solutions do exist that focus on the issue from a billing perspective.

Abstract: Early adopters of radio frequency identification (RFID) are beginning to look at enterprise scale solution design and integration are emerging as key focus areas. Infosys has designed an optimal RFID architecture strategy based on lessons learnt from early adopters and Infosys experience in providing real time control and data acquisition solutions in the telecom and process control industries.

Abstract: According to an announcement by International Business Machines on Thursday December 16, 1999, IBM is working with German telecommunications services company Deutsche Telekom to assemble the largest data warehouse in the world. When complete, the warehouse will contain up to 100 terabytes of customer and call records, to be used for Customer Relationship Management (CRM) applications.

Abstract: Even in challenging economic times, companies still need to use technology to communicate with customers, partners, suppliers, and employees. Cutting back on spending can have a negative effect in a long downturn. You’ll have fewer options when conditions improve—and a disadvantage compared to competitors that continue to invest. Learn about 10 steps you can take to maximize use of communications, while minimizing costs.

Abstract: The communications landscape has never been more complex nor offered so many choices and solutions as it does today. As more employees go mobile, companies need to be able to offer better communication capabilities to their people. The convergence of technologies involved, however, can cause service provider issues and create confusion for customers. To solve these issues, several questions need to be asked.

Abstract: As telecommunications networks grow in size and complexity, enterprises and service providers are faced with an increasing burden on operating expenses. In particular, the amount of power consumed and heat dissipated within even a single rack of communications servers is now a very real budget consideration. Clearly, lowering these numbers is the concern of all communication platform designers.

Abstract: A global telecommunications provider was mired in a hardware-centric architecture for its network applications. Even with a sizeable computing infrastructure investment, failure of server components was inevitable, and application failover schemes were risky. The provider needed a more cost-effective way to scale its operational support system (OSS) applications—without sacrificing dependability.

Abstract: Investing in a customer relationship management (CRM) system can increase sales productivity and represent an addition to, not a subtraction from, your company’s bottom line. But a return on investment (ROI) from CRM software depends on whether you’ve identified strategies that leverage the CRM system’s sales productivity. Find out how to formulate CRM strategies before you choose a CRM solution, and compare CRM products.

Abstract: Hearing confusing messages from your customer resource management (CRM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) vendors? You may be dealing with dozens of software vendors and system integrators, each one praising the benefits of his solution. Among these proposals, one claims not only to efficiently manage the entire customer life cycle, but also to take full advantage of your previous technology investments. Your incumbent ERP system vendor also has a CRM solution, and praises the benefits of the tight integration of both systems. The question then is, how do you know whether this solution is the best for you? Request your copy of Integrating CRM with ERP compliments of Baseline Consulting. The report gives you the criteria to use when formulating your strategy of integrating CRM with ERP, best practices of CRM implementation, dealing with ERP integration, and how to integrate CRM with ERP impacts the value chain.

Abstract: Customer relationship management (CRM) is rapidly morphing from a customer management model to one of customer engagement. Social networks, podcasts, blogs, and wikis are enabling customers to become advocates, and not simply the targets they were in the traditional CRM process. The same techniques are also being used within the CRM industry itself to create a content-rich, social media environment for CRM professionals. Find out what these sweeping changes mean to businesses and CRM professionals alike, as TEC's director of research Wayne Thompson sits down with Paul Greenberg and Bruce Culbert of BPT Partners, a leading CRM consulting firm.

Abstract: Microsoft's foray into the CRM arena has not been a bed of roses, despite its indisputably large marketing muscle and R&D investment, its strong channel, traditionally attractive pricing policies, and the aura and experience within the market segment. Microsoft CRM remains both a threat and an opportunity for the most nimble mid-market CRM vendors. Microsoft’s entry with CRM evangelism through an array of seminars nationwide has bolstered the market’s awareness of the need for CRM applications.