For the most part, business is conducted online. Businesses allow their customers to set up and manage accounts, including online bill paying without paper bills, send-in reminders or process paper checks and other payment methods. In some industries, the cost of paper bill generation and reconciliation may be so exorbitant that those customers who want to continue receiving them will have to pay a fee. In other industries, companies may encourage the use of online account management by offering discounts and bonuses.

The same concept applies to B2B, with many of the telecommunications carriers moving away from the practice of offering full invoices to lower their costs as well. Having these handy online account management tools can allow you, the business owner, to manage the account from anywhere in the world, as long as you have internet access. When the carrier is able to reduce costs, those savings can be passed on to the companies it serves. 

Telecommunication service providers have been working with a number of companies in finding ways to reduce their costs during economic downturns. One of the ways they do this is by renegotiating services or contract prices. They also may suggest downgrading some of the services that are being used, at least until the company is better able to afford the additional costs.

Using VoIP or other non-traditional service types is another way that the telecom services provider can assist the company to save money in this area. Dedicated services may involve serious costs for the network including the more intensive costs of keeping the traditional networks operational. Because VoIP services are provided through existing data networks, there are fewer expenses, beginning with the network itself and continuing with the maintenance. Because only one connection for voice and data services is needed, the company’s cost will be lowered. Another advantage of using VoIP is the ability for the company to establish a locally based (and toll-free) number in addition to the nationwide 1-800 option that is typical the only resort of the PSTN.

The advantages of a dedicated service, however, include using traditional and already established telecommunications networks, especially in rural or outlying areas where the newer technologies may not be yet available. SIP trunking is vulnerable to a number of security problems including being used as a channel for attacking internal networks. The amount of call/data volume should be considered along with security risks when choosing which network type is right for your company and its own situation. While these choices may be limited in some areas, in others there will be many providers that will vie for your business making it easier for you to negotiate the right price for the right services. However, if you do choose to go with the VoIP services for your company, you must consider adding extra security measures to protect both your customers’ personal information and your own internal networks.

 By Jennifer Springston