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: 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: In PLM, there is no single vendor that can meet all of the requirements, and the market is still immature, so almost every product can be the right solution provided a certain set of requirements. In this part of the article we review 3 vendors who offer products to the PLM market - IDe, Thetis, and PDMware - as a demonstration that selecting the appropriate solution is highly dependant on the prioritized needs of the business.

Abstract: I'm Larry Blitz, editor of Technology Evaluation Centers’ (TEC) Vendor Showdown series. Welcome to our latest: ERP - Distribution Showdown. You’ll notice this one has a broader focus than Showdowns we’ve done in the past. Again we’ll be comparing three vendor solutions head-to-head, but not just on functionality. This time we’ll also look at the industries these solutions support, how well they cover different portions of the mid-market segment, and how their installed bases break out geographically. Of course, functionality is again a key component of this Showdown, broken down into four main distribution areas and 13 subareas. We hope you find today’s Showdown helpful and informative, and invite your comments and questions at showdown@technologyevaluation.com.

Abstract: There are two types of extract transform and load (ETL) vendors. Business intelligence (BI) vendors integrate ETL functionality into their overall BI framework, while best-of-breed data integration vendors, who provide enhanced ETL functionality, have an increased focus on data cleansing and integrity.

Abstract: This part illustrates how selecting the right ERP product depends on each client's requirements. Epicor, QAD, and Ramco Systems' rank can change with different sets of client requirements.

Abstract: Here's a handy checklist to make sure you cover all the bases and ask all the right questions when you go about comparing banks.

Abstract: Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is an approach to decision making that involves structuring multiple choice criteria into a hierarchy, assessing the relative importance of these criteria, comparing alternatives for each criterion, and determining an overall ranking of the alternatives

Abstract: Decision matrix: a decision-support tool allowing decision makers to solve their problem by evaluating, rating, and comparing different alternatives

Abstract: Decision matrix: a decision-support tool allowing decision makers to solve their problem by evaluating, rating, and comparing different alternatives

Abstract: Customer relationship management (CRM) functionality can fall into four categories: core functionality; non-core functionality; vertical, industry-specific features; and accounting-related features. When evaluating and selecting a CRM solution, enterprises must be aware of the potential issues associated with functions and features that are not part of core CRM functionality.

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.