Provisioning reduces the risk of human error that is caused by an inefficient process. Provisioning management helps to ensure that everything moves smoothly and correctly. By taking the steps to automate telecom provisioning and using provisioning management, businesses can reduce the costs associated with those errors and improve efficiencies across the board.
Why Automated Provisioning Requires Provisioning Management
In today’s world, it has become imperative to work with an automated provisioning system. Automation can accurately manage provisioning and ensure that the end-user has a good experience with services. Most agree that there is a need for automated provisioning, but they haven’t gone as far as to accept that there is a need for provisioning management.
Think about the work that goes into installing a new customer – before the provisioning configuration even occurs, there needs to be a person who determines endpoints and the VLANs for fiber connection. It needs to be recorded and kept in a safe place. Someone needs to be assigned to inputting information about SAP configurations (lag number, VLAN, ingress policy, egress policy, for example), record customer-specific information into the PTSN gateway or stand-alone SIP, updating ONT firmware and ensuring it is initiated properly, and more. The margin for human error is high due to this manual provisioning. It also slows the activation process down which means fewer billable service days and less customer satisfaction.
After service activation, customers continue to need support. They may add or drop phone lines and services, change the services they have, and change speeds. All of this requires even more manual provisioning work if there is not automation software. Sometimes, customers will disconnect their services or have them disconnected for non-payment. This is a process that likely happens multiple times every day – often in groups, especially with non-payment shutoffs. Automated provisioning ensures accuracy of not only services purchased but services activated.
With all of the benefits that automated interfaces bring to provisioning, there is another huge benefit which is the integration to the billing system. By seamlessly interfacing with the billing system, customers are billed only what they ordered, 100 percent of the time. Automated provisioning management speeds up the activation and billing for both the consumer and the service provider.
Provisioning Management for FTTx Deployments
More and more FTTx deployments are underway, many built by existing utilities and municipalities. Existing and legacy billing applications are not equipped to handle the unique demands associated with fiber services and provisioning. This creates inaccuracies due to human error and manual provisioning, as well as slowing down the activation process. Provisioning management makes it possible to efficiently and accurately manage the day-to-day operations of FTTx networks. At the same time, it reduces the number of mistakes and decreases the rate of customer churn because customers are serviced professionally, accurately, and securely.
ETI’s automated service management platform allows providers to succeed with FTTx deployments, no matter the lifecycle stage. Provisioning management with ETI includes service address management, work orders, device inventory, and prospect tracking to increase the number of subscribers. This set of tools allows for the design, construction, and maintenance of passive optical networks. With the management dashboard, managers and teams can easily see service ratings, subscribers, and services while also looking at work orders, devices, and end-user billing.
Provisioning management services empower CSRs to help subscribers resolve common issues, reducing customer frustration and eliminating the need for truck rolls or escalation to higher-level technicians.
Provisioning Management for OTT Authentication
Provisioning management for OTT authentication helps customers who want to watch their favorite shows on a device that isn’t a television – a tablet, a phone, or a laptop. They want access to this content at all times at the click of a button, without restrictions. Historically, it has been difficult for service providers to manage these experiences and to ensure that the people accessing content are actually the ones paying the bills.
With ETI’s Service Management Platform, provisioning managers will be able to:
- Monitor users to ensure only subscribers gain access;
- Integrate across multiple screens without costly conversions
ETI offers the only real-time subscriber authentication platform for provisioning management. It supports live streaming directly through the content provider allowing the service provider to gain the opportunity to protect valuable assets with real-time activation and deactivations while seamlessly integrating them into the billing system. In addition, the solution works with legacy back-office systems and subscriber portals for overall management.
ETI provides B/OSS integration, service management, customer-owned device registration, administration, and provisioning of streaming video services originating from a service provider under the provisioning management umbrella.
When combined with third-party cloud-based authentication platforms, authorized subscribers will have instantaneous access to OTT videos streamed from a long list of content providers.
Subscribers are able to do most of the work themselves, creating new user accounts and authenticating their information.
Provisioning Management for IPTV Network Automation
One of the biggest hurdles for service providers is managing video services – a necessary loss leader. ETI designed a solution for provisioning management that seamlessly integrates legacy billing systems with any video middleware platform out-of-the-box, including industry leaders Minerva, MediaKind, and others.
ETI’s provisioning management solution works with any IPTV and middleware platform out of the box. With a user interface that is simple, service providers gain access to full subscribe management, package and services assignment, inventory management, bandwidth management, PPV and VOD governance, enhancement features, and more.
Provisioning Management for Devices
Devices are the crux of the customer experience and they are absolutely vital to the success of any relationship. When devices work properly, everything is smoother. Every interaction with a device should be easy for the customer to navigate. While there are undoubtedly going to be problems, customer service representatives (CSRs) need to have the tools to help them and address queries. With provisioning management for devices, it is easier to get an overview of those problems and then solve them.
ETI’s solution helps with device installation, maintenance, and support as needed. With the tool, it is possible to reduce the number of trucks deployed, prioritize jobs, shorten the time spent on support calls, and expedite the installation process.
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Provisioning Management For Wireless Services
Telco companies are continually trying to reduce infrastructure costs, especially in rural areas. Many utilized fixed wireless solutions to do just that, but they run into challenges with provisioning management. ETI Software provides a comprehensive, fully integrated solution that helps with provisioning management for fixed wireless services, including remote management of fixed wireless customer premise equipment, service maintenance, and a dashboard with all data displayed on a single screen.
At the same time, ETI, ETI’s provisioning solution, makes it easier to identify the best tower site locations to maximize each new build. With OSS services, provisioning management can check inventory capabilities for electronics and wireless devices that have been installed with flow-through service activation.
Provisioning Management Tackles Three Major Pitfalls
Provisioning management allows for oversight and tackles three major problems telcos, munis, and broadband service providers face, including:
Centralizing information: Businesses of all sizes and scopes have found that having a central repository for data creates efficiency and saves time and money. Entire departments will have full access to workloads, pending orders, historical data, and other information needed to excel. Managers, in particular, will use provisioning management to monitor where teams are in relation to KPIs, milestones, or new services. CSRs can reconcile service order activity with inventory, billing, and contracts, and easily gain secure but higher-level insight into the services and use of resources.
Automation: Any business that can automate specific tasks sees an improvement in output. With ETI’s provisioning management software, businesses can automate their workflows. Automation can do many things, including restricting options for only approved vendors, eliminating the need to access individual carrier portals, auto-populating information and prompts, and reducing the number of lengthy phone calls and wait times for customers. Automation will streamline the entire experience, helping to reduce the amount of friction when there are new offerings and product roll-outs.
Cutting Costs: When everything is streamlined, provisioning management provides greater accuracy, eliminates the need for rework, and frees up resources for higher-value jobs.
Provisioning Doesn’t Have To Be Complex & Provisioning Management Can Change Everything
Telecom, muni, and broadband provisioning management can free up resources, reduce churn, and make the day better for CSRs and customers alike. With increased efficiencies and reduced costs, expansion opportunities and customer satisfaction increase at the same rate.
ETI’s provisioning management solution gives service providers the ability to select and implement those modules that are necessary. Providers benefit from purchasing only what they need while still maintaining the integrity of all components.
ETI’s provisioning management tool, ETI, allows complete integration of systems and carries out simple tasks and more complex ones, including:
- User Authentication
- Set Limit of Devices Per Account
- Set Limit of Simultaneous Device Usage to Manage Bandwidth
- Assign Account Administrator
- Register Device
- Add/Remove Device
- Assign the Device Name
- Set Parental Controls by Device
- Set PPV/VOD order/ Dollar Limit per Device
- Set Time Usage Limits Per Device
- Display Viewing History
Provisioning management is a constant challenge. With ETI’s solution, implementing new services while managing back-end systems is possible without any subscriber downtime or interruption, which is crucial for subscriber satisfaction. This OSS solution is versatile, powerful, and multi-faceted, providing end-to-end coverage for subscribers and CSRs.
ETI OSS’s rapid integration with upper-level billing, order entry, and CRM systems makes it the system of choice for service providers across the globe. For more information, contact us today.
