Do You Work Directly or Indirectly With Your Telecoms Supplier?
That is the question ...
Posted by Pritesh Ganatra on 12/04/2022 @ 8:00AM
The UK telecoms market has been deregulated for the best part of 25 years now and there is what seems like an infinite amount of choice as to how you buy your standard telecoms services ...
Ensure that any telecoms supplier you choose is keeping up to date with industry standards, methods and knowledge of cybersecurity!
The dominant names are still the likes of BT, Virgin Media and TalkTalk and each has a residential and a business division. So, let's look at the all-important business sector. As a business, especially with 10 or more employees, you need to stop thinking like a residential customer.
"You are in a different league now!"
Business services and agreements offer a higher Service Level Agreement (SLA) than a residential contract. That's the first thing. Second to that is who do you want to supply you with the services? Do you go direct or indirect?
Direct means you pick up the phone to, or email one of the major companies directly and depending on the size of your company, you may get a representative out to you or just a phone call or email back to discuss your requirements.
In my vast industry experience, you could wait in a 'queue' for hours or even days to get a response. On the plus side, the pricing will be good. On the minus side, when you get a fault or need in-depth technical help for the equipment that was sent in the post, for you to set up, then the real cost of you or someone in your business spending what could be hours on the phone will become apparent.
Buying your services indirectly instead, through either a larger private company that has a sales team and engineers out on the road or better still, a local independent business that specialises in technology (such as myself) means a prompt service with flexibility on advice, pricing and implementation of the required services for your business.
Buying indirect also usually means that your business is left to your daily work, while the independent supplier deals with the networks through their own channel and deliver the same products and services without you having to make all the phone calls.
"The plus side is that you get personal service and usually, tailored advice!"
There are literally 100s of independent Telecoms and IT companies out there so let me add this: ensure that any telecoms supplier you choose is keeping up to date with industry standards, methods and knowledge of cybersecurity as well as the day to day Telecoms and IT services.
If in doubt, get an independent audit on your systems to check for any gaps in your infrastructure and seek out the right expertise.
Until next time ...
PRITESH GANATRA
Would you like to know more?
If anything I've written in this blog post resonates with you and you'd like to discover more, it may be a great idea to give me a call on 01604 926100 or take a look at my website which you can find by clicking here.
The word 'Technology' has too many connotations in today's world!
Where do we start? Simple terms like 'IT' and 'Telecoms'? or terms that appear NOT to have an actual meaning at all!, e.g. 'Internet of Things (IoT).
Technology also encompasses specialist products and services like 'Rugged' and 'Tough' android devices, Lone Worker Software, panic alarm devices, smart energy devices, low energy lighting, credit card terminal (PCI DSS) security, indoor/ outdoor Wi-Fi systems, Ultrafast Gigabit internet connectivity, access control systems, industrial IoT circuit controllers.
BTS UK can consult from simple solutions to the most complex, provide some of the products through a wholesale channel, bring together a multi-disciplined 'Task Force' to deliver and implement complete Technology 'projects'.
I am your technology problem solver and I look forward to helping you.
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