Compare and See How We are Different
We are asked by many potential clients, “why use you when I already have a direct rep with the carrier?” It’s a good and valid question and one that we enjoy answering. Please, keep reading.
We have a clear understanding of Telecom pitfalls, products and services between all carriers. Providing recommendations based on industry knowledge that encompass a broad range of clients, applications and requirements so the client can focus on their critical projects.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Sales is already known as a high turnover profession, but the recent rash of mergers and acquisitions in telecom make it highly unlikely the representative who signed you to your term agreement will still be there to assist you when you are ready to reevaluate. By using an Independent Telecom Agent, you can be sure that regardless of continued merger activity or bankruptcies, your Independent Telecom Consultant will continue to be your representative for your business with the same contact phone number and email address.
Single Point of Contact
Regardless of whether your Independent Telecom Consultant or Agent recommends a single carrier solution or a multi-carrier solution, you still have a single point of contact who knows your account best. During the pricing and evaluation process for a new carrier, it is typical to get at least 3 bids and have multiple appointments with at least three carriers. The number of appointments you have to schedule could easily reach up to a dozen or more before an educated decision is made on your company’s communications. If you use a qualified Independent Telecom Consultant or Agent, you can spend that time determining the best course of action, and evaluating the best options available in your market in for less time. Having a single point of contact is a huge time saver!
We understand your company, how you make decisions, and why.
Your Independent Telecom Consultant or Agent acts as an assistant buyer once he/she understands your business needs and preferences. He/she gets to know your organization, your goals and long range needs, and how you make decisions and why. Why would you want to repeat that process every couple of years?
You get to hear the truth! Unbiased opinions of multiple carriers and their product lines.
When you use an experienced Independent Telecom Consultant or Agent, you tap into a wealth of knowledge and experience of someone who has been in the field for many years and with multiple carriers. Your consultant or agent has experience dealing with multiple carriers in your market, and can tell you how they really perform. Who has the most reliable network? Who has billing problems? Who can make the desired install date? When using an Independent you don’t have to listen to “The Company Story” for each carrier – you get to hear the truth.
Consultants or Agents are invested in your success long term
When you work with a direct sales representative from a telecom company they may be here today and gone tomorrow. In the world of corporate sales, compensation plans drive behavior, and sales reps are told, “If the customer has a problem, send them to Customer Care or the Help Desk. Do not get involved. You are paid to bring in new business”, despite the direct representative’s best intentions. Independent Telecom Agents are commission only and residual based, earning a small percentage of the monthly bill, it takes them, in many cases, up to 24 months to get paid what the direct representative will get paid in the first few months after the sale. The motivation for someone becoming an Independent Telecom Agent is to build a book of business of happy customers that don’t have to retrain someone new every couple of years. This relationship only makes sense for the agent if you stay with them for over 24 months, so they have EVERY motivation to assist you in solving any service issues that you may ever have. A good Independent Telecom Agent isn’t just another business associate; they become part of your team.
Same or Better Pricing
The same standard or special pricing is used in the carrier channel and the direct channel. In spite of all of the additional knowledge you can tap into with Independent Consultants or Agents, you can be sure you are not charged any extra for it. For large projects, special pricing is available to both Agent and direct channels at the same amounts. This model ensures all clients are treated equally.
They understand Current and Next Generation Technology
Independent Telecom Consultants or Agents will typically be better versed in MPLS, IP-VPN, VOIP, hosted solutions, call center applications, and SIP technologies since they need to understand multiple carriers’ offerings and have attended their trainings. Direct representatives will know their individual product line but they will not have the overall understanding of all that is coming with new technology. No carrier can be the master of all technologies and master of all niches. So it follows that a direct representative will most likely not have the same breadth and width of exposure to all the carrier solutions that you are facing decisions on. Business is fiercely competitive, and implementation of some of the new technologies correctly can literally save larger companies hundreds of thousands of dollars. That may be the competitive advantage your business needs in your marketplace for security, marketing, recruiting, or even retention. Likewise, implementing a bleeding edge technology that is not “baked” or ready for prime time may cost you the same. Using an experienced Independent Telecom Consultant or Agent who is looking out for your best interests may make all the difference.
