When you run a call center, there’s a very high chance that you have to deal with a telecom company at the very least. You probably also have had to deal with some cloud services providers. These interactions can be very complicated and sometimes a little stressful, especially if you’re trying to make sure your company gets a good deal from them. Here are a few tips to help you get everything you need from these kinds of vendors.
Table of Contents
1. Shop Around
The best way to know exactly what’s available on the market is to shop around. This will give you a better idea of what the prices are and what services you can get easily. You might even be able to use the information gained from this kind of search to get a better deal with a preferred telecom company, which is always an added bonus.
2. Do Your Research
Doing research is important for any business venture, and especially when you’re trying to get more out of your telecom company. The information that you get from your research can help you get exactly what you’re looking for. Without doing the proper research, you run the risk of walking into negotiations without having any idea what’s going on and that’s never a good position to be in when you’re trying to figure out how to get the most out of your telecom company.
3. Know What You Want Up-Front
Knowing exactly what your company needs out of a telecom company means that you’ll better be able to get a package that fits your needs. It’s always a lot more complicated to try and get a suitable bundle if you don’t have this information up front, and the sales person will be very likely to ask for it.
4. Negotiate a Better Deal
Sales people exist to sell you on a product or service, and sometimes they’re able to strike a deal if it means that they’ll get the sale. As a potential customer you have a lot of leverage that you can use for these kinds of negotiations. You might even have a salesperson from your company do the negotiations because the skills that they already have line up perfectly with this task.
5. Read Your Contracts Closley
It’s always important to read over your contracts, and here it’s almost double important. Knowing exactly what you’re agreeing to can make your entire experience with your telecom company a lot easier. Sometimes contracts can be a little sneaky, and it’s always recommended to have a lawyer take a look over it if you want to be really sure that you understand what’s going on.
6. Re-Negotiate When It’s Time to Renew Your Service
As any good business person will tell you, it’s cheaper to keep a customer than to find a new one. That means that when renewal time comes around you’ll have a good deal of leverage, and you might even be able to strike a better deal than you started with. Many people use this tactic every single day to ensure that they can get better deals when its time to renew, and if your company can’t give you the deal you need all you need to do is walk away and find a new company to work with.
7. Find Out What You Don’t Need
Knowing what you don’t need is just as important as knowing what you need. This will allow you to set up the perfect bundle with everything you need and nothing that you don’t. It’s always important to be sure you know what you don’t need.
8. Talk to Other Companies in Your Field to Find Out What They Do
Your competitors may be able to help you get a better deal than you would have gotten otherwise. Nobody knows more about dealing with telecom companies than the companies that use them. You might even be able to get a region specific deal this way.
9. Ask About Introductory Deals
Introductory deals are a great way to save some money on your telecom bill, and that’s great for you and your company. Saving money on your telecom bill means that you can use that money for other things within your company that will make things run more smoothly in general.
Don’t Let the Telecom Company Get the Best of You
Sales people are always highly trained, and often highly motivated, to make the sale at any cost. With that in mind, you always want to be sure that you’re ready to play ball. Whether you’re looking to buy a car or looking to change telecom companies, knowing exactly what kind of leverage you have for the negotiation will make sure that you can get the best deal possible on the goods and services that you need.
