Just about every business today relies heavily on a strong communications infrastructure. High-speed internet connectivity is the backbone of daily operations for businesses of all kinds. However, navigating the landscape of carrier options, contracts, and ever-changing service rates can be a very time-consuming and costly endeavor.
This is where Speros’ carrier management specialist, Dee Taylor, steps in, offering strategic solutions specifically tailored for our customers’ needs. She’s an expert at providing services to streamline your communications and uncover major cost savings.
If you’ve recently worked with Speros, there’s a good chance Dee has worked hard behind the scenes to save your company money. Dee is an essential part of the team at Speros, so we got some of her insights on how carrier management can benefit your business, and more.
Get to Know Dee Taylor,
Speros’ Carrier Management Specialist
Where are you from?
My hometown is Wagener SC, but I live in Aiken, SC now– I’m one of the few remote employees for Speros. My employment story is very cool and a blessing within itself!
What led you to working in carrier management? Where did you start out in your career?
This is the best story of all! I was working at Clearwave Fiber as a Customer Success Specialist and our division was eliminated. I had helped [Speros VP] Heather with several renewals, and we had developed a great relationship. I was calling clients to let them know that my job had been eliminated and that it had been great working with them, and Heather offered me a job! I’m thankful to God and Speros every single day!
Any relevant education, training, or other professional experience you’d like to mention?
I’ve been in telecom for 8 years now, after being in newspaper publishing for more than 20 years– ending that career as an advertising director. I was recruited into technology sales and have gleaned information through training offered by those providers (Atlantic Broadband/Breezeline, Uniti Fiber and Clearwave Fiber). I had a great sales engineer at Uniti Fiber, Jude Collins, that really worked with me to teach me about the industry!
Favorite thing about working at Speros, or working in carrier management specifically?
Taking care of the wonderful customers that Speros has gained and continues to gain, over the last 40 years! Each day brings new opportunities to help customers tackle technology challenges so business owners can focus on what’s important to them: running their business!
I love the focus on customer service and customer experience, here at Speros.
What are the biggest challenges you face in managing carrier relationships for our customers, and how do you overcome them?
Managing expectations with installation times, making sure communication is always open with clients. Getting information from providers about outages takes time– sometimes too much time. I’m glad we handle that for our clients!
Can you describe a specific instance where you identified a cost-saving opportunity through carrier negotiations?
Have our sales team bring your bills to me! I can almost always find a solution that will either save money or improve bandwidths/speeds, and sometimes both. I audit the bills, line by line, to find items the client might not even realize that they’re paying for.
For example, I’ve found phone lines that were being paid for that were actually disconnected– even some that were being billed for hundreds of dollars. One I found recently was over $1000!
What are some key negotiation strategies you use to secure the best possible rates and terms for our customers?
Taking the time to engage multiple carriers. This is something our business owner clients just don’t have time to do. My role is more of a courtesy role for clients.
Beyond cost savings, what additional benefits do you negotiate for our customers in their carrier contracts?
Some circuits, like dedicated internet, come with SLAs– however, we do have partnerships that can get faster service through wholesale buying power to get faster service calls through cable internet providers.
What advice would you give our customers about their carrier contracts?
When Heather, Rik, Owen (or anyone from our sales department) visit your business, give them your current telecom bills and give us a chance to save you money and improve your technology services so you can run your business more efficiently!
What do you do when you’re not at work?
Spend time with family, especially our two-year-old grandson Henry! Travel with my husband Larry. Find treasures at thrift stores. Walking our Jack Russell girl, Molly.
What is carrier management?
Our carrier management goes beyond the logistics of physical goods. It’s a specialized service focused on optimizing your communications infrastructure. Here’s how we can help:
Expert Negotiation: Our carrier management team leverages extensive industry relationships and negotiation skills to secure the best possible deals with internet service providers (ISPs), cloud providers, and other communications technology service providers. We’ll negotiate competitive rates, flexible terms, and service level agreements (SLAs) that perfectly align with your business needs.
Inventory Management Made Easy: Juggling multiple carrier contracts and bills can be a logistical nightmare. We simplify this process by providing a consolidated view of your entire communications inventory. This includes details like contract terms, pricing structures, and service expirations, all in one centralized location.
Bill Auditing and Cost Optimization: Hidden fees and discrepancies in communications bills are all too common. Our carrier management specialists meticulously audit your bills, identifying errors and ensuring you only pay for the services you receive. We analyze your usage patterns and recommend cost-saving strategies like bandwidth optimization or exploring alternative carrier options.
Proactive Management and Support: We go beyond reactive problem-solving. Our team proactively monitors service performance, identifies potential issues before they disrupt your operations, and escalates them to carriers for timely resolution. Additionally, we serve as your dedicated point of contact, ensuring effective communication with service providers whenever needed.
Benefits for Your Business: Maximize Security, Minimize Costs
Cost Savings: Through expert negotiation and bill auditing, we can significantly reduce your communications expenses. Imagine reinvesting those savings back into core business activities or enhancing your security posture.
Increased Efficiency: Managing multiple carrier contracts and bills can be incredibly time-consuming for your internal IT and security teams. Our carrier management services streamline this process, allowing your team to focus on what’s really important to you.
Improved Service Quality: Maintaining reliable communications shouldn’t be a battle. We ensure consistent and high-performance connectivity by proactively monitoring service performance and ensuring adherence to SLAs.
Expertise at Your Fingertips: Staying on top of the ever-evolving communications landscape is challenging. Our team possesses in-depth knowledge of carrier options, pricing structure, and market trends. This expertise translates into securing the best possible deals for your business, ensuring a secure and cost-effective communications environment.
Enhanced Security Posture: Vulnerabilities in communication infrastructure can be exploited by attackers. Our carrier management service contributes to a more secure environment by ensuring robust SLAs with clear data security provisions.
Focus On Your Core Business, We’ll Manage Your Communications
Offering carrier management sets us apart– we’re committed to reducing your costs while increasing operational efficiency.
As your trusted MSSP partner, we’ll handle the negotiations, bill audits, and ongoing management of your communications infrastructure. This allows you to focus on what matters most– securing your business and driving success!
Contact us today to learn more about how our carrier management services can optimize your communications and save your company money.
