• The Top Three Goals for TEM: Improving inventory and service order activity management, increasing audit capabilities, and creating greater control over mobility costs top the list of the most important goals by organizations.
• CIOs and CFOs are Most Often Involved in TEM: 85 percent of respondents named the CIO as a key executive involved in managing telecommunication expenses. 47 percent cited the CFO as heavily involved. Other key executive handling TEM included the chief procurement officer (CPO) and the chief operating officer (COO).
• Tracking TEM Success: An overwhelming 69 percent of respondents compare expenses to budget by business unit as a key performance indicator (KPI) for monitoring the performance of their TEM solution. The second most commonly cited KPI, at 58 percent, is the actual cost reduction savings. Increased operational efficiencies and improved management was the third most cited KPI of success of TEM programs.
• Enterprise Budget Plans: 35 percent of respondents plan to reduce spending on telecom and infrastructure services, while only 16 percent will increase spending in these areas. The other respondents have either not determined a 2010 budget (19 percent) or plan to spend the same as they did in 2009 (30 percent).

“The survey findings are particularly relevant now because with 2010 budgets either offering little or no room for expansion, companies have to find ways to cut expenses with the telecom programs currently in place,” said Thierry Zerbib, CEO and co-founder of Telesoft. “There are growing complexities that organizations are facing, from increasing mobile workforces to data rich services. The feedback we are hearing from our customers is that by using Telesoft’s automated TEM solution, they are not only able to gain enhanced visibility into their usage and programs, but also save millions.”

To provide further context on what CIOs should be aware of when it comes to TEM, Telesoft recently released two eBooks titled, “Seven Things Every CIO Should Know About Telecom Expenses” and “Seven Things Every CFO Should Know About Telecom Expenses.” Each eBook identifies critical areas within an organization where companies are losing millions of dollars by not successfully managing their telecom expenses. Since telecom is among the largest expenditures for companies today, managing these expenses should be a priority for the chief information officer and chief financial officer.