MNO Perspective: Importance of tailored Data and Connectivity Management solutions
It is no secret that the telecommunications industry is incredibly competitive, with several MNOs competing for the same piece of the pie. This has meant that MNOs must look at ways to differentiate themselves within the market, find new ways to bring in revenue and improve customer experience to reduce customer churn. Key to this has been answering the new digital needs of customers. Digital transformation has taken centre stage across all industry verticals, with increasingly more organisations utilising IoT and mobile devices to enhance operations and create a digital workplace. This move has resulted in the need for tailored data and connectivity management solutions, which is the perfect opportunity for MNOs to expand their service offering, add value to their clients and increase revenue. Below we answer the question, “Why are data and connectivity management solutions important for MNO success?”
Understanding Mobile Data & Connectivity Management
To understand the importance of mobile data and connectivity management solutions from an MNO perspective, it is essential to understand what these solutions do.
Within the telecommunications industry, mobile data and connectivity management refers to the strategies, technologies and processes employed by MNOs to effectively manage and optimise the usage of mobile data services and ensure seamless connectivity for mobile devices. These management practices are crucial for providing high-quality service to mobile users, improving network performance, and controlling costs for service providers and their customers.
From an MNO perspective, these strategies, technologies, and processes include the following:
- Data Usage Monitoring and Control: this refers to the tracking and analysing data usage by individual users or devices to ensure they stay within their data allowances, avoiding overage charges and managing network capacity.
- Pooled Data: this is a simple and effective way for organisations to better allocate their data and manage their connectivity.
- APN Management: providing customers with an effective tool that manages connectivity so employees can safely access the internet or company resources as well as information anytime and anywhere.
- Roaming Management: refers to handling the seamless transition of users between different mobile networks when they roam outside their home network coverage area, ensuring uninterrupted service.
- SIM Card Management: includes managing the activation, deactivation, and provisioning of SIM cards for mobile devices, as well as handling SIM card-related security and authentication procedures.
- Network Security: refers to implementing robust security measures to safeguard the mobile network from potential threats, attacks, and unauthorised access.
Mobile data and connectivity management are critical elements that enable MNOs to deliver reliable, high-performance mobile services that meet customer expectations and needs. Several different challenges come with managing mobile data and connectivity.
Challenges of Managing Mobile Data and Connectivity for MNOs
Customers are expanding their IT ecosystems at an accelerated rate and are struggling to manage the mobile data usage, allocation, and connectivity elements related to this. This results in several queries and administrative resources spent by MNOs to assist customers with managing these elements. Not only does this cost time and money, but if the customer query is not addressed fast enough, it will directly impact customer experience.
When a customer is frustrated with the service received and the time taken to get the answers they need, it can lead to a decrease in brand loyalty and, ultimately, customer churn. This significantly impacts the MNO’s bottom line because keeping customers costs less than acquiring new customers.
So, what is the solution to this challenge? The answer lies in utilising technology and specialised software that will enable MNOs to reduce the number of queries and questions and allow customers to completely control their IoT ecosystems. A solution that was built for this specific purpose is Adapt IT Telecoms’ Pooled Data and Connectivity Management Solution.
Pooled Data and Connectivity Management Solution
Adapt IT Telecoms’ Pooled Data and Connectivity Management solution has been designed specifically with the challenges of MNOs in mind. This solution allows customers to completely control their mobile data ecosystems themselves. This includes the ability to define data bundles, define data quotas, set up reports and authentications, arrange quota TopUps, lock or unlock SIMs and more, all from an easy-to-use self-service platform.
This solution offers several features allowing customers to directly control their mobile data and connectivity services. These features include the following:
- Flexible connection options – this solution offers end customers various flexible data connectivity configurations to suit their unique customer environment and needs.
- Integrated radius and data bundle management – this widely deployed technology provides authentication, authorisation and accounting for customer network access. With this, customers gain more control over their mobile data, consumption, and allocation.
- Real-time, in-session data control – customers can control and manage data usage in real time with this platform. This enables customers to identify problems or issues related to data management proactively.
- Static and dynamic IP pool Management – this functionality enables customers to segment connectivity and data traffic and apply business rules across different areas within their organisation.
- White-labelled solution – this platform can be white-labelled to reflect a customer’s business identity and brand.
- Comprehensive report library and self-service analytics – with this solution, the customer can gain insight into their data through flexible and customisable self-service reports and analytics.
From an MNO perspective, the deployment of this solution and the features above reduces the resources needed to handle customer queries and questions and saves on costs. This also enhances customer experience and adds value to the customer, which will positively impact brand loyalty and reduce customer churn, which is vital to the success of an MNO.
Why should MNOs consider tailored Data and Connectivity Management solutions?
We have already identified that this solution adds value to the customer base and influences customer experience. Over and above this, there are several other benefits related to implementing this solution within MNOs.
In this highly competitive sector MNOs are always looking for ways to increase their market share. This solution is not just built for the telecommunications industry but can be utilised by organisations across all industry verticals. For example, this kind of solution can work for fleet management, widespread country deployment projects, smart city projects, smart buildings, manufacturing, construction, and so on. This allows MNOs to create new revenue streams by offering these services to organisations across different industries.
The knock-on effect of this is increased profitability and market share. This also enables the MNO to differentiate itself and enhance its competitive edge, especially where perceived customer value is concerned.
By implementing this solution, customers will see the value in having complete visibility over their spend, data and connectivity options. This will give customers the insights and information to make better business decisions which will positively impact their brand loyalty.
Conclusion
From the above, we can confidently say that data and connectivity management solutions are essential for MNO success. These solutions allow MNOs to expand their services to organisations outside the telecommunications industry to increase revenue and drive profitability. Adapt IT Telecom’s Pooled Data and Connectivity Management solution enables an MNO to create new revenue streams, add value to their customer base, as well as to differentiate themselves in the market to increase their competitive edge. For more on how this solution can grow your MNO business, please visit:
Effectively manage your IoT ecosystem with IoT Connectivity
In my 20+ years’ experience within the information technology and telecommunications industry, I have assisted businesses in successfully delivering and managing various technology solutions and consulting projects to a multitude of organisations spanning across Telecoms, FMCG, Financial Services, Banking, Retail, ICT, Manufacturing, Public Sector and Mining. My strength and passion lies in the mediation of technology and business with a focus on successfully integrating software solutions that assist organisations in delivering on their strategic objectives through improved business insight to ultimately improve business performance. At Adapt IT I am privileged to work with an experienced team that is equally passionate about utilising technology to drive business efficiencies specifically focusing on Mobility.
