As Gartner states, Telco-Grade Middleware is the software “glue” that helps programs, applications, components and databases work together, which is vital in assisting Telcos in developing new innovative and personalised value-added services that aim to enhance market competitiveness and profitability. Below we answer the question, “Why is Telco-Grade Middleware so essential and how is Adapt IT Telecoms NextGen v.Services Middleware impacting the industry as we know it?”
What is Telco-Grade Middleware?
To understand the importance of Telco-Grade Middleware, it is essential to understand what this technology is and how it works.
Telco-Grade Middleware refers to a specific type of software infrastructure that is designed to meet the specific and complex requirements of the telecommunication industry. This is the layer between the underlying network infrastructure and the applications and services running on top of it.
Within the industry, you will usually hear about two specific middleware categorisations. This includes the following:
- Enterprise application integration middleware – this enables programmers to create business applications without needing to custom-make integrations for each new platform. In this way, middleware helps the software to work together and provides functionality for data consistency and business-to-business integration.
- Platform middleware – this supports software development and delivery by providing a hosting environment for application program logic. This kind of middleware often includes tools to help application development and delivery. There are embedded and external communication platform middleware which allow different communication tools to work together for application and service interaction.
How does Telco-Grade Middleware work?
In simple terms, Telco-Grade Middleware enables developers to build applications without making customised integrations whenever they need to connect to application or service components. This is essential, especially when considering how complex the network is and how difficult it is to integrate new applications and components with existing systems. This technology enables the different applications, components, and services to communicate and function using common messaging frameworks that integrate within the networks.
Telecommunication operations, specifically Mobile Network Operators (MNO), Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO), Mobile Virtual Network Enablers (MVNE) and Mobile Virtual Network Aggregators (MVNA), are therefore able to use this technology to streamline application development and speed up the time to market. Over and above this, Telcos will experience the following benefits when utilising Telco-Grade Middleware:
- Easily and efficiently create value-added solutions and services for customers to drive brand loyalty and reduce customer churn.
- Increase competitiveness by developing innovative product solutions unique to your specific business and customer needs.
- Provide your customers with the ability to find information, communicate, interact, connect and engage anywhere and anytime.
- Plan new or upgraded services and send the relevant settings directly to the user’s device.
Adapt IT Telecom’s NextGen v.Services Middleware
From the above, it is clear that Telco-Grade Middleware fulfils an essential role for Telcos, or Telecommunication Operators, looking to develop new services and offerings that can easily integrate within the network. As is with all technology, having the right software in place is vital to the successful deployment of these various value-added services and offerings, which is where Adapt IT Telecoms NextGen v.Services Middleware comes in.
This software was designed with the complexity of Telco networks in mind and addresses several different pain points. We examine these in more detail below:
Pain Point: Patched Legacy Systems
It is no secret that many Telcos are using legacy systems that have been patched to ensure network integration. The problem with this is that these are often not reliable or consistent, which leads to negative customer experiences, which can create customer churn.
One of the main benefits of NextGen v.Services Middleware is that it allows for the seamless integration of legacy systems, ensuring that all applications and solutions can run effectively. This enhances the uniformity and consistency within the network and ultimately improves customer experience, and reduces customer churn.
Pain Point: The Need To Develop New Services Quickly
We live in an on-demand society which means that customers demand more services, personalisation and value. Telcos have gone from wanting to create solutions and services that meet these needs to needing to develop them to remain competitive within the market.
NextGen v.Services Middleware enables a Telco to easily and quickly develop new services or applications to speak to the changing needs of consumers. This not only adds value to the customer but can also create new revenue streams that increase profitability and business growth.
Pain Point: The Need for Omnichannel Capabilities
Over the years, technology has continued to develop and evolve. We have seen a need for Telcos to move with the times and provide their customers with more value-added services across several channels. Omnichannel technology makes this possible.
NextGen v.Services Middleware is an omnichannel enabler which means that this technology will allow Telcos to implement various value-added services on the same framework across multiple channels. In simple terms, this technology will enable MNOs to utilise multiple Rich Communication channels, including USSD, SMSC, Mobile Apps, WhatsApp Channels, social media (Facebook and Instagram), website portals, digital channels and more, from one integrated framework.
By utilising this technology, Telcos can provide customers with fast, accessible, and easy-to-implement services across multiple channels, simplifying the complexities of integrating these into the network infrastructure. This technology allows Telcos to deliver seamless cross-channel experiences to customers.
Pain Point: The Need For Engagement and Interaction with Consumers
In today’s world, customers demand more interaction and engagement with service providers, and Rich Communication Services (RCS) are central to this.
RCS allows for the sending and receiving verified messages that can carry information, like photos, videos, and audio messages. RCS are usually provided to Telcos by third-party providers or Wireless Application Service Providers (WASPs), who deliver RCS services and content independent of mobile operations. Third-party RCS provides mobile operators with a way to add value to their customer base by providing services that enhance customer experience and ultimately boost revenue. This form of customer interaction can generate leads, provide opportunities to upsell or enhance Telco service visibility and awareness. NextGen v.Services Middleware makes integrating these services within the network possible and facilitates the use of RCS.
Conclusion
The Telecommunications industry is highly competitive, with many Telcos fighting for the biggest slice of the pie. One way to achieve differentiation is by developing new and innovative services and solutions. This is made possible through implementing Adapt IT Telecoms NextGen v.Services Middleware. This technology provides Telcos with a fast and effective way to create new services and solutions that can be easily integrated into the network and all legacy systems. As a Telco, this gives you the opportunity to develop new revenue streams and add more value to your customer base, enhancing market competitiveness, profitability and revenue growth. This is why Telco-Grade Middleware is a revenue-driving enabler. Read more on this technology and how it impacts your Telco business.
Discover how CDR is key to making effective revenue and churn decisions in the Telco industry and why call data records are the lifeblood of telecommunications.
Experienced in the Telecoms & IT industries, encompassing services and solutions from the traditional to the evolved digital communication networks, embracing profound knowledge and proficiency in both the technical and sales disciplines. Product Management, including construct, software lifecycle, roadmap strategy and market leadership of Adapt IT’s portfolio of Next Gen Value Added Services (NG-VAS) solution stream.
