The Unrealistic Expectation Placed on IT and Procurement

In today’s fast-paced business environment, Executives frequently expect their IT or Procurement departments to expertly manage telecom expenses. However, this expectation often overlooks the sheer volume of data involved and the depth of industry-specific knowledge required to identify and secure cost savings effectively.

Telecom billing systems and contractual structures are notoriously complex. They do this on purpose to crowd you out with complexity and sheer volumes of data.

Without specialized knowledge and tools, IT and Procurement teams risk missing substantial savings opportunities hidden within the data. Furthermore, telecom management requires significant resources to continuously monitor usage, resolve billing issues, and ensure savings are properly implemented and maintained over time.

Executives often overlook the fact that IT and Procurement departments are already stretched thin, with competing priorities requiring their attention. As a result, telecom management can become a burden that diverts focus from more strategic initiatives, leaving businesses vulnerable to overspending and service inefficiencies.

5 Tips for Managing Telecom Spend like Torch Does

• Conduct Comprehensive and Regular Telecom Audits With an estimated 18% of telecom bills containing errors, regular audits are essential. Rather than relying on manual checks, leveraging a TEM (Telecom Expense Management) tool like Torch’s Spotlight streamlines the audit process, providing visibility into every aspect of telecom spending. Torch’s automated audits help detect discrepancies and ensure compliance with contractual terms, reducing unnecessary costs and enhancing accountability.
• Benchmark Contracts to Ensure Market-Competitive Rates Legacy contracts can quickly become outdated and uncompetitive, leading to unnecessary costs. By regularly benchmarking telecom contracts against current market rates, companies can secure more favorable terms. Torch Services supports this process by negotiating directly with carriers, utilizing industry insights to ensure that clients pay only for relevant, cost-effective services, and saving IT and Procurement teams time and effort.
• Centralize Telecom Management and Reporting Decentralized telecom oversight can result in inefficiencies, uncontrolled spending, and limited visibility into cost allocation. Torch’s Spotlight platform integrates with essential systems like ERP and HRM, centralizing telecom data across all carriers, devices, and services. This unified approach provides IT and Procurement with a clear picture of telecom costs, making it easier to identify savings opportunities and providing management with strategic insights to drive informed decisions.
• Implement Usage Policies and Real-Time Monitoring Establishing usage policies and utilizing real-time monitoring can help prevent unauthorized expenses. Torch’s tools allow for detailed policy enforcement and usage alerts, enabling IT and Procurement to catch and correct deviations before they impact budgets. By actively managing consumption and adherence to policies, companies can minimize wasteful spending and maintain budget compliance.
• Develop a Proactive Cost Management Strategy Reactive telecom management often leads to missed savings and inefficiencies. Torch’s TEM services empower companies with a proactive strategy that includes ongoing contract reviews, continuous vendor audits, and proactive cost control mechanisms. With Torch’s tools, IT and Procurement teams can anticipate and address cost challenges, reducing telecom expenses and achieving lasting cost efficiencies.

“BUT!”, I hear you say, “…as great as these tips are – they are completely impractical.”

“Where are IT and Procurement departments supposed to find the time, resources and expertise to do these audits?”

“How are we supposed to benchmark – against what industry data? How do I get all the networks to make their data visible in one place?”

“I would need more people to manage the user related queries that would be created by implementing fair usage policies properly.”

“I don’t have the time to comb through the bills and find the minute errors and forgotten infrastructure.”

That’s where Torch comes in – this is what we do.

Torch Services: Empowering IT and Procurement to Meet Expectations

At Torch, we understand that addressing telecom complexity requires more than advice—it demands dedicated expertise and specialized tools. Here’s how Torch steps in to make these essential goals both achievable and practical:

• Time, Resources, and Expertise for Audits Torch has spent decades honing our audit processes and developing tools that streamline the complexity of telecom management. Our Spotlight cloud based platform is built to consolidate data and invoices from all networks in one place, making it easier than ever for our team of telecom experts to conduct thorough audits on your behalf. With Torch, your IT and Procurement departments gain the benefits of telecom audits without having to manage them directly.
• Benchmarking Against Industry Standards Accurate benchmarking can be elusive for internal teams, but it’s essential for controlling costs. Torch’s independence from telecom vendors, coupled with access to up-to-date industry insights, means we can benchmark your telecom contracts against the best available rates in the market. Our data-driven approach, enabled by our proprietary software TorchLight, allows us to negotiate transparently and deliver the best terms for your business, securing savings and accountability that go beyond standard vendor contracts.
• Managing User Queries and Fair Usage Policies Implementing fair usage policies can lead to increased user inquiries, creating a demand that’s often difficult for in-house teams to handle. Torch’s managed services take over the entire user support process, while our Boost SMS tool empowers users with 24/7 self-service options for routine requests like limit increases and SIM suspensions. This means users get immediate assistance while your team remains free to focus on more strategic priorities.
• Identifying Billing Errors and Forgotten Infrastructure Digging through telecom bills to find hidden costs is time-consuming and complex. TorchLight, scans invoices from all carriers, flags discrepancies, and identifies unused infrastructure, giving us a complete view of your telecom spend. Additionally, our bespoke BI tools provide visibility into IT budgets versus actual expenses, allowing your team to track spending in real time and make proactive budgetary decisions.

Torch provides IT and Procurement teams with trusted expertise, powerful technology, and ongoing support that transforms telecom expense management from a burden into a strategic asset. With Spotlight and our BI solutions, you gain clarity and control, helping you meet executive expectations while keeping your team focused on what drives your business forward.

Managing this complexity does not have to be give you sleepless night anymore. Let Torch take the reins on your telecom management?
Contact us today to see how Spotlight and our BI tools can help you unlock hidden value in your telecom environment, enabling your team to focus on initiatives that fuel business growth.