Telecom billing is the process of collecting user data and information and then applying the pertinent rental and usage charges to determine the billable amount. After that, invoices are generated, payments are processed, and debt collection management starts.
Initially, this process was done manually. However, it’s been replaced by telecom billing software, which has automated the entire telecom billing process. Today’s telecom billing software solutions have improved accuracy and reduced the costs involved in generating bills for customers.
So, does your business need telecom billing software?
Erroneous billing is one of the major reasons why most businesses lose their customers. As a result, telecom billing should be timely and accurate—otherwise, you risk losing your customers and market share in large.
With that said, let’s look at three questions that you should ask yourself to determine whether you need telecom billing software:
Do you provide multiple services that require different pricing?
If yes, you need to consider telecom billing software. This will help you configure rates for different types of services.
Do you have multiple carriers?
You need telecom billing solutions that support all major carriers to ensure accurate invoices are generated for your customers, who may use any of the phone service providers.
How complex are your services?
If you have a more complex plan with different charges applied to it, telecom billing software will be useful for determining the exact amount that needs to be charged from your customers.
In addition, telecom billing software can automatically generate recurring monthly bills after configuring rates. It also allows you to specify the email addresses of the people who need to receive the bills.
Tips for choosing a telecom billing software
So, what do you need to look at when choosing a telecom billing software? The following are the most important things to consider before choosing a telecom billing software.
Emphasize customer experience
When choosing a telecom billing software, keep the “customer experience” point at the center of all your considerations. You have to think about how your customers will receive information about their bills and what they need to do next.
First, look for software that provides easy access to customer account portals to find their bills. Remember that no telecom billing software can be better than its user interface.
If you are dealing with multiple carriers, the best option is to go for a carrier-neutral telecom billing software to provide accurate invoices to your customers. So, look for companies that are involved in developing carrier-neutral billing solutions.
Finally, consider how much time you need to train your employees about using this software before generating bills for customers. After all, if too much training is required before getting started, it may not be the right product for you.
Customization
In addition to being easy to use, look for telecom billing software that allows you to configure the rates in accordance with your business type. You can determine which information is visible or hidden on bills according to your discretion. Some telecom billing software allows you to add custom fields based on what matters most in your business.
Also, keep in mind that when you select a telecom billing solution, it has to be compatible with all major carriers, so you don’t have any compatibility issues in the future. If you have more than one carrier, before finalizing a plan, check if they provide APIs for both aggregation and reconciliation so that data integration is quick and effortless.
Invest in cloud-based telecom billing software
In addition to being secure, cloud-based telecom billing software can be accessed anywhere. You can get access to bills anytime and from any device, no matter where you are. Also, it is less of a hassle for your business because there is no need to invest in servers or maintain them.
Another advantage of the cloud is that the provider will take care of regular updates and maintenance, so you don’t have to worry about technical issues when using this type of solution. However, if you do not want third-party interferences with your data, make sure that the company offers robust security measures on its end. In this case, encryption should be at least 128 bit SSL on both ends.
Accounting integrations
If your business is in line with accounting software like QuickBooks or Sage 50, make sure that the telecom billing software integrates smoothly with these platforms to avoid double data entry and save time.
Depending on your needs, look for a bill creation tool that offers integration with all major payroll software advanced (like ADP) and e-commerce services (like eBay). Some tools also integrate ERP systems so that invoice data can be sent directly into enterprise resource planning applications. This will help enhance automation in your organization.
In addition, if your business requires sending reports to management or auditors regularly, look for telecom billing software with the appropriate reporting features, including customized branding and logo options.
Data analysis
The best telecom billing software like the 5g and broadband telecom billing software by Kansys should be able to provide data analytics capabilities to get the information you need to improve your customers’ experience or fine-tune operational processes in your company. If it does not offer these analytic functions by default, include them as part of the contract so that additional fees are applied when necessary.
You should also think about analytics functionalities that help generate invoices based on previous customer behavior. This would reduce time spent on creating bills while also increasing accuracy.
