A must-have guide for businesses looking to find the right business mobile service provider
Finding the right service provider is never easy and mobile is no exception. Today, your provider should be examining usage from as far back as 18 months ago alongside recent reports to properly understand how your business mobile demands have changed throughout the global pandemic – and what they might look like afterwards. To help you identify the best mobile service provider for your business, we caught up with Opus’ Mobile Sales Director, Juliette Lee, to discover the top 10 questions you should ask when reviewing business mobile providers.
1. How many mobile network choices are there?
While you’ll probably be familiar with a range of mobile network providers, there are only three main business mobile networks: O2, EE and Vodafone.
2. Will the contract be direct with the network?
Different mobile service providers offer different contract types. If your mobile estate is small, this might suit you, but businesses with complex requirements will be better served by independent agreements. One contract type is not necessarily better than the other. You might not want to be tied into a network contract because there’s no flexibility. Contracts offered through independent partners provide more agility.
3. Is there an app/portal that delivers insight post and pre-billing?
The majority of mobile service providers offer billing portal access. A way of qualifying whether or not a new mobile service provider is right for your business is how well they have developed their portal offering.
4. Does the portal allow any element of self-service?
The functionality of your customer portal should extend beyond reporting and analytics to account administration.
5. How are account managers selected for new clients?
Your account manager will be your point of contact with the service provider. As the person managing your account, it’s important you trust them and their capabilities. The first things I look at when appointing a new account manager are the sector in which the client operates, their size, and the complexity of their solution. Using these criteria, I’m able to allocate an account manager with the right skill-set, seniority and experience while ensuring that the individuals across my team are never overloaded.
6. What industry sector experience do they have?
Many mobile service providers offer suites of technology solutions across a wide range of industries and sectors, giving them invaluable experience.
7. What other mobile services do they offer? What services can be procured that layer on top of the mobile airtime product?
While you might just be reaching out to providers for a core mobile airtime product now, it’s likely that your mobile requirements will grow and change in line with your business.
8. Are DEP (Device Enrolment Programs) and Zero-touch devices available?
Finding a provider who offers DEP/Zero-touch devices could unlock multiple efficiencies and make it much easier for you and your team to manage the company’s mobile estate.
9. Are agile contract terms available such as co-terminous agreements?
Learn how to check to make sure that the contract you are signing includes a co-terminous agreement, allowing you to terminate multiple contracts at the same time.
10. Will they provide a free audit on the current mobile estate?
There are many reasons why it’s beneficial to clarify whether or not the provider will offer a free audit on your estate.
