Runaway IT Expenses: How to Gain Control Now!

Runaway IT Expenses: How to Gain Control Now!

IT managers have a lot on their plates, and one thing that often gets overlooked (until budgets get tight) is how much money is quietly slipping away on telecom expenses. If you’re running an IT department, you probably already know that telecom costs are usually one of the top three operating expenses. Chances are, that’s true for your organization too.

The challenge is, you’re already being asked to stretch your budget across everything from maintaining infrastructure to rolling out new technologies and supporting a more complex, hybrid workforce. So every dollar counts.

With the new fiscal year coming up, most IT leaders are already knee-deep in planning and budgeting. That makes this the perfect time to dig into your telecom spend and look for ways to cut the fat. And trust us, there’s almost always fat to cut.

Here are some key areas where you may be able to find significant savings:

Unused or Underutilized Services

Over time, companies accumulate lines, circuits, mobile devices, and services that are no longer in use but are still being billed. These often include legacy systems, dormant data connections, or mobile plans assigned to former employees. A thorough audit can quickly reveal these unused services. And canceling them can free up significant budget.

Contract Misalignment

Many organizations are paying for telecom services that no longer match their needs. This includes outdated contracts with inflated rates, over-provisioned bandwidth, or service tiers that exceed actual usage. A professional services team can use their skills to renegotiate these agreements or switch to providers that better align with your current needs, both of which can lead to substantial savings.

Lack of Centralized Oversight

In decentralized organizations, telecom services are often managed independently by different departments or locations, leading to fragmented purchasing and inconsistent contract terms. Centralizing telecom management allows for better volume pricing, standardization, and greater control over spend.

Missed Optimization Opportunities

Even when services are necessary, they’re not always configured for maximum efficiency. For example, consolidating services, upgrading legacy systems, or moving certain functions to the cloud can yield better performance at lower cost. A proactive approach to network design and service delivery can reveal smarter, more cost-effective solutions.

Billing Errors and Overcharges

Telecom invoices are notoriously complex and prone to errors. In fact, industry studies have shown that billing inaccuracies occur in a high percentage of invoices. Without regular audits, these overcharges often go unnoticed and unchallenged. Reviewing your bills line-by-line is one way to do it, but it takes time away from serving your end users. A more efficient way is to work with a telecom expense management (TEM) provider to uncover discrepancies and help recover lost funds.

The good news is that we can help.

For IT managers, freeing up funds from telecom overspending is one of the most immediate ways to create budget flexibility without sacrificing service quality. Every dollar saved is a dollar that can be reinvested into innovation, security, or user experience.

Our WinBill® TEM system can automate the process of reviewing invoices by identifying errors, overbilling, and other anomalies so that you can gain immediate control before these costs get away from you. Our professional services team provides deep forensic audits to help you save thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars on your annual telecom spend.

Give us a shout. We’ll be happy to learn more about your budget challenges and help you find additional dollars to invest in new technologies and provide the level of support your team has been trained for. We’re here to help!