Convergent Billing Solutions to Aid Cost Efficiencies

Wireless service providers are seeking unified billing solutions as the diversity of services offered rise. Multiple services such as local to long distance, cable T.V. and cable modem, and so on necessitate a single billing system that not only simplifies the delivery process but also saves vast amounts of billing expenses while increasing customer satisfaction. These systems must allow a single stop billing for both prepaid and postpaid plans and overcome varying profit margins between the two options. This would grant the consumer the freedom to switch between accounts rapidly while retaining the same handset. In addition, mergers and acquisitions among major service providers is expected to drive demand for unified billing solutions that assist in consolidating billing operations in a cost-effective manner.

This Frost & Sullivan research analyzes the communications billing software market with particular reference to the telecom service, wireless service, cable and satellite, television service, and broadband service providers. The study also extends its analysis to billing software, open sound system (OSS), customer relationship management (CRM) network security, and prepaid solutions vendors. The research service provides vital information on market drivers, challenges, and restraints to aid participants in effectively capturing market share.

External Vendor Software Reduces Need for Manpower

The growing need for carriers to reduce operational expenses is propelling adoption of billing solutions. These solutions are automated, and therefore, offer carriers the flexibility of lowering operational costs through reduced internal headcount while simultaneously maintaining productivity. Unified billing solutions are also expected to increase network capacity and decrease need for network hardware.

"However, these solutions are dogged by controversy as managements within service providers are indecisive regarding eliminating positions within a department that may be redundant once the external vendor software is deployed," says the analyst of this research. "On the other hand, the lucrative benefits of cost savings are tilting the balance in favor of billing software from an external vendor.’’

Mounting Use of Communications Devices Propels Deployment of Billing Software

As the use of communications devices escalates globally, wireless and broadband subscriber growth is expected to develop at a consistent rate in the near future, particularly in regions such as Asia and Latin America.

"With the number of users (customers) and communications events (transactions) per user increasing, demand for billing solutions is anticipated to rise," observes the analyst. "This will be furthered by the influx of service providers in emerging markets and the maturing of close communications verticals." The intensification in the use of communications is likely to boost demand for effective billing software as the need to control churn rates and revenue leakage becomes an urgent priority.