This document discusses using an outside telecom consulting firm to assist with reducing telecom costs. It notes the industry turmoil, budget challenges, and value a third party can provide. Third parties can identify billing errors, negotiate prices, help with technology selections, manage implementations, provide ongoing optimization and support, and maintain vigilance. They offer an independent and objective review to free up internal resources. The document discusses various third party models and highlights the advantages of the firm Schooley Mitchell, the largest independent telecom consulting firm in North America.

1. 11
Using Outside Sources to AssistUsing Outside Sources to Assist
with Telecom Cost Reductionwith Telecom Cost Reduction
Jerry Pollio, Managing PartnerJerry Pollio, Managing Partner
Schooley Mitchell Telecom ConsultantsSchooley Mitchell Telecom Consultants

2. 22
AgendaAgenda
Industry Turmoil and Confusion
Budgets and Challenges
What can a Third Party Do to Help?
Third Party Value Proposition
Choices in Third Party Business Models
The Schooley Mitchell Way

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Telecom ConfusionTelecom Confusion
 Multiple Rates, Tariffs,
Contracts, Plans
 Constant Technology Changes
 Mergers, Acquisitions,
Bankruptcies
 Constant Change among
Vendors
 Thousands of Disparate Billing
Platforms
 Extensive Billing Errors
 Differences – State By State

4. 44
Multiple ServicesMultiple Services
 Local ServiceLocal Service
 VoIPVoIP
 WirelessWireless
 Long DistanceLong Distance
 Data (WAN)Data (WAN)
 Remote AccessRemote Access
 InternetInternet
 Calling CardsCalling Cards
 Audio, Video, Web ConferencingAudio, Video, Web Conferencing
 PagingPaging
 Web Hosting / Co-locationWeb Hosting / Co-location
 Network Security, Data Backup,Network Security, Data Backup,
Disaster RecoveryDisaster Recovery

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Budget ProcessBudget Process
 Manage & Fund Important InitiativesManage & Fund Important Initiatives
 Understanding the Issues – PrioritizeUnderstanding the Issues – Prioritize
ProjectsProjects
 Limited Internal ResourcesLimited Internal Resources
 Phone by Phone, Line by Line,Phone by Phone, Line by Line,
Feature by Feature Analysis to CreateFeature by Feature Analysis to Create
Found MoneyFound Money
 Optimization is a Challenging ProcessOptimization is a Challenging Process
 Maintaining VigilanceMaintaining Vigilance

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Why Get Third PartyWhy Get Third Party
Assistance?Assistance?
 Independent & ObjectiveIndependent & Objective
ReviewReview
 Free up Internal Resources forFree up Internal Resources for
More Strategic and CriticalMore Strategic and Critical
InitiativesInitiatives
 Hire Experts Who Will Do theHire Experts Who Will Do the
Work For YouWork For You
 Focus on Core CompetenciesFocus on Core Competencies

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What Can a Third PartyWhat Can a Third Party
Do?Do?
 Identification of Billing ErrorsIdentification of Billing Errors
 Conduct Price NegotiationsConduct Price Negotiations
 Help With Technology Platform andHelp With Technology Platform and
Vendor SelectionsVendor Selections
 Implementation/Project ManagementImplementation/Project Management
 Continuing OptimizationContinuing Optimization
 Ongoing Support (Single Point ofOngoing Support (Single Point of
Contact)Contact)
 Resource for All Telecom- RelatedResource for All Telecom- Related
Subject MattersSubject Matters

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Billing ErrorsBilling Errors
 81% of Surveyed
Organizations Incurred
Billing Errors
 Looks the Same, Weighs
the Same – Pay It
 Elimination of Redundant
Services
 Are you Provisioned forAre you Provisioned for
What You Need?What You Need?

9. 99
Price NegotiationsPrice Negotiations
 Tools to Understand Best-in-Tools to Understand Best-in-
Class Price Points by VendorClass Price Points by Vendor
and Service Categoryand Service Category
 Understanding a Carrier’sUnderstanding a Carrier’s
Financial Approval ProcessesFinancial Approval Processes
 Bundling of Services vs. BestBundling of Services vs. Best
In BreedIn Breed
 Does your Rep Really KnowDoes your Rep Really Know
the Best Price?the Best Price?
 Fishing versus KnowingFishing versus Knowing

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Ongoing VigilanceOngoing Vigilance
 Once Your Environment Gets
Optimized Keep It That Way
 Know the Agenda of Who
You Hire
 Keep Apprised of New
Technologies / Trends
 Bill Review for Accuracy

11. 1111
Customer SupportCustomer Support
 Coordination of Implementation / Project
Management
 One Point of Contact to Deal with All Carriers
and Service Issues
 Subject Matter Expertise Across a Wide Range
of Services
 Understanding of the Client’s Entire Telecom
Environment
 Validate Savings/Bill Accuracy on a Monthly orValidate Savings/Bill Accuracy on a Monthly or
Quarterly BasisQuarterly Basis
 Stay on Top of Industry Trends, FTC Rulings,Stay on Top of Industry Trends, FTC Rulings,
Vendor Shake-UpsVendor Shake-Ups

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Unbiased ExpertiseUnbiased Expertise
 Industry Knowledge WithoutIndustry Knowledge Without
Being SoldBeing Sold
 Right Product, Right Supplier,Right Product, Right Supplier,
Right PriceRight Price
 Apples-to-ApplesApples-to-Apples
ComparisonsComparisons
 Objective AdviceObjective Advice

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Choices in a Third Party ModelChoices in a Third Party Model
Telecom Agent/BrokerTelecom Agent/Broker
 Can Explore a Variety ofCan Explore a Variety of
SuppliersSuppliers
 One Point of Contact forOne Point of Contact for
SupportSupport
 Thorough IndustryThorough Industry
KnowledgeKnowledge
 Paid by Suppliers as aPaid by Suppliers as a
Percentage of CurrentPercentage of Current
Spend / PartialSpend / Partial
Contingency or RetainerContingency or Retainer
FeesFees
Independent ConsultantIndependent Consultant
 Can Review Any Supplier
– No Ties to Carriers
 One Point of Contact forOne Point of Contact for
SupportSupport
 Thorough IndustryThorough Industry
KnowledgeKnowledge
 Contingency Based Fees
– Only Paid if Costs Go
Down

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Who Is Schooley Mitchell?Who Is Schooley Mitchell?
 Largest Independent Telecom
Consulting Firm in North America
 60+ Locations Across United States,
Canada & Caribbean
 Established in 1980
 Millions of Dollars of Client Telecom
Expenditures Under Management
 Average Savings of 23-28%
 Independent & Objective
 Price Benchmarking Tools

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Key AdvantagesKey Advantages
 Vendor IndependenceVendor Independence
 True ObjectivityTrue Objectivity
 60+ Consultant Offices – Wide60+ Consultant Offices – Wide
Range of Subject MatterRange of Subject Matter
ExpertiseExpertise
 Specialized Tools – PriceSpecialized Tools – Price
Benchmarks From ThousandsBenchmarks From Thousands
of Clientsof Clients
 No Risk, Results OrientedNo Risk, Results Oriented
Business ModelBusiness Model
 Congruent Agenda With ClientCongruent Agenda With Client

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Thank You!