The Telecom Value Fabric, what is it and how does it work?

By: Lotfi Al-Sarori

The telecommunications market is booming. According to Grand View Research, the global telecom service market was valued at 1,657.7 billion USD in 2020 and is expected to grow by a CAGR of 5.4% between 2021 and 2028 to reach 2,467.01 billion USD.

CSPs

Telecom operators are now part of a classification of service providers known as communications service providers (CSPs). According to Gartner, a CSP is a business that offers any type of service of connectivity, information, media, content, entertainment, or application over any type of telecommunication, computer, or data networks. These companies include telecom operators, content and application providers, media broadcasting providers, Cloud communications service providers, and Internet service providers (ISPs).

Why the trend towards product diversification requires intelligent billing software?

By: Omar Abdul-Hafiz and Lotfi Al-Sarori

In recent years, telecom has been shifting more towards product diversification. Instead of selling a simple SIM card, telcos are now expanding their sales to include wireless Internet, fiber optics, and cloud subscriptions among many other services. This trend generally stems from the intention of CSPs around the world to variegate their sources of revenue.

This diversity in products, however, raises a serious issue: How can we maintain a wide assortment of products while keeping the billing process smooth and hassle-free?

Business Systems: A walk down history lane

By: Omar Abdul-Hafiz

In a previous article, we briefly discussed the history of how Data Analytics became as we know it today. We talked about how it began with Statistics, and how it evolved eventually and combined with advanced information technology, led to the birth of Data Science.

Not too far from it, in this article, we will discuss a related field: Business Systems! Ever wondered how they came to be what they are today?

Well, you are about to find out!

A Cybersecurity Primer – Part II: Data Security

By: Lotfi Al-Sarori 

In our previous article, we discussed the topic of system security as the first area in our coverage of the various aspects of cybersecurity. In this article, we continue the same topic to go over another essential area of IT security, data security. So, without further ado, let’s get started.

Data Security

Data security encompasses securing it from being altered, whether purposefully or accidentally. Information security practices must protect data against theft, damage, or compromise. There are various angles to consider when discussing data security. Here, let us approach them from two perspectives: the CIA triad and data protection stages.

A Cybersecurity Primer – Fundamentals of System Security

By: Lotfi Al-Sarori

The significance of cybersecurity cannot be overemphasized. Information security has been a big concern ever since computers were invented. According to a recent Forbes article, Cybersecurity Ventures expects that there will be a new cybersecurity attack every two seconds. This amounts to more than 43 thousand attacks per day and almost 16 million attacks per year. Cybersecurity Ventures also estimate the cost of Ransomware to reach $265 Billion by 2031.

An effective cybersecurity approach ensures that authorized users have secure access to information. This is achieved by applying proven IT security principles and standards. Information security practices vary and come in numerous shapes and forms. They cover various areas from identity management and access control to data encryption, deploying network security devices such as firewalls, and more.

Key Business Concepts 101: Competitive Analysis Part II

By: Lotfi Al-Sarori

Continuing our discussion of competitive analysis, in this second part, we go into a more detailed analysis of competitors. In part I, we recommended selecting a diverse list of competitors to examine. After performing a SWOT analysis and gathering information about them such as their market share, customers, financials, and vendors, a more detailed analysis would provide further insight. It can help you in finding a better marketing positioning and creating your marketing plan.

 

Key Business Concepts 101: Competitive Analysis

By: Lotfi Al-Sarori

In the last article of Key Business Concepts 101, we started our discussion of performing competitive analysis, and focused on the very well-known Porter’s Five Forces. It is a key framework which can provide businesses with very valuable insight into their industry, market, and competition. In this article, we pick up the pace and go into more details regarding competitive analysis. 

Figure 1- Methods for Strategic Business Planning

How can bad debt impact your telecom business?

 By: Omar Abdul-Hafiz

 Vector created by pikisuperstar - Freepik

In telecom, as in any other business, bad debt can become a very dangerous matter if not dealt with in a systematic and effective fashion. The image gets even darker if we learn that some cases of bad debt may actually be cases of disguised fraud. In fact, according to statistics, about 5-20% of bad debt is, in essence, fraud. Furthermore, according to Gartner, research showed that bad debt has increased by 26% in 2020 alone amid the height of the COVID pandemic.

But what exactly does bad debt do to your business if left untreated? In this article, we will focus on 3 major effects bad debt can have on your telecom business.

Key Business Concepts 101: Porter’s Five Forces

By: Lotfi Al-Sarori

Continuing our topic on tools for strategic business planning from our previous article, today we further our discussion on the topic and discuss performing competitive analysis using Porter’s Five Forces framework.

To perform competitive analysis for your business, you would need to evaluate the market, and study the competition. A good start would be to explore market reports related to your industry. These are things like market size, key players, industry trends, etc., which can provide you with valuable insights. Understanding the different aspects of your industry and knowing your competitors is crucial to the success of your business. One particular model that is very useful in this area is by Michael E. Porter. It can provide you with a holistic view of where you stand relative to your competition and the industry in general.

Key Business Concepts 101: Strategic Planning Tools- PESTLE and SWOT

By: Lotfi Al-Sarori

In a previous article about Key Business Concepts 101, we covered the topics of business process and how to improve their quality. The article was an introduction into the world of business management and its concepts, and it was planned to be the first article in a series about business management and planning topics. Continuing our discussion on the topic, in this article, we take a look at strategic business management aspects and the common techniques used in strategic planning.

Establishing and running a business requires careful planning. Strategic planning is the first step in strategic business management. It requires thorough analysis and proper preparations to make sure that the work to be done is based on careful study and a justified approach.

How a powerful CRM system can enhance your collection process

By: Omar Abdul-Hafiz

In a previous article, we talked about the 6 components of resilient collections management system. In particular, we discussed the 3 main systems: the dunning and collection system, the dispute management system, and the legal management system. We also touched upon three essential elements in powerful collections management: personalized collections scenarios, automatic action reversal, and the ability to integrate easily with 3rd party systems.

In this article, we will discuss in some detail the question: How does the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system help in enhancing your collection process?

4 promising trends in the 2022 Cloud landscape

By: Omar Abdul-Hafiz

In a previous article, we discussed 3 major trends in telecom that are likely to make some noise in 2022. Of these trends, we touched upon Cloud-based systems. And truth be told, the Cloud industry has made a name for itself as a big player on the tech scene in recent years. Its numerous advantages compared to in-house systems cannot be overlooked.

Thus, it would be interesting to have a look at some of the hottest topics on the Cloud landscape. In this article, we will discuss 4 rising Cloud trends for 2022.

How telecommunications have become inherently integral to our lives

By: Lana Bawaneh

The word telecommunications comes from the Greek prefix tele-, which means "distant," combined with the Latin word communicare, which means "to share."

From the beginning of time, people tried to figure out many ways to communicate remotely with each other. Starting with the primitive methods of communication to deliver some kind of messages, such as drums and smoke signals to mechanical communication devices such as the telegraph. Back then, the telegraph helped a lot in shortening the communications from days, weeks, and even months to only hours.

The technology also extended with new inventions such as the telephone, the radio, television, and later, video telephony, satellites, mobile phones, and the Internet. All of these technological advances changed how people live and communicate.

6 essential components of a resilient telecom collection management system

By: Omar Abdul-Hafiz

In the business world, there’s a general rule that must be obeyed for any company to survive and grow. It is quite simple. As a business, just as it is important for you to produce high-quality products and offer customers a great user experience and support, so should your customers pay their dues so you can continue to make them happy!

Failing to collect customers’ payments is what is generally known as bad debt.

Bad debt is a very major problem in business at large. According to Gartner’s finance research, the year 2020 witnessed a 26% increase in bad debt cases. This should give you an idea of how this is a very serious matter.

The telecom industry is no exception from this serious dilemma. And to overcome it, you should look for a powerful collections management system. Therefore, in this article, we will take a detailed look at the major components that you should look for in a resilient collections management system.

So, here we go!

3 trends to look out for in the telecom sector by 2022

By: Omar Abdul-Hafiz

As the world continues to witness radical changes on the economic and technological landscapes, we can see a lot of rapidly trending changes in how we do business. For example, Deloitte, the multinational professional services network, told its staff earlier this year that they can work from home, forever! This tendency of many companies around the world to include working from home into their normal business policies thus leaves a lot of pressure on providing them with better, more reliable communication tools. After all, a remote work environment is simply futile without a reliable Internet connection and handy voice and video conferencing tools.

As such, the race towards better, more advanced telecommunication technologies will only continue to intensify. In light of this, here are a few of the most trending communications technologies to look out for in the next couple of years.

Once upon a pandemic: Reflections on Crisis Management and Disaster Recovery

By: Omar Abdul-Hafiz

Around this time last year, the world was still freshly coping with the sudden and forceful impact of the COVID pandemic. Lockdowns were still strictly applied in many parts of the world and the vaccines were still in their early research stages.

Numerous studies and articles were written about the different aspects of the pandemic and lessons that we can pick up from it for the future. All these studies, however, point in one direction:

In order for businesses to survive through perilous circumstances, they need a strong ability to adapt, make well-informed on-spot decisions, and also learn from mistakes and improve accordingly.

In light of that, this article sheds the light on some of the core elements that need to be in place for successful crisis navigation.

Key Business Benefits of Dashboard Software Systems

By: Lana Bawaneh & Omar Abdulhafiz

In the past, business people could spend a lot of effort collecting, monitoring, and analyzing data from different data sources in order to generate reports that help them in making decisions. This process requires a lot of time that could otherwise be better utilized in managing business and making business improvements.

The past is behind us now, however, or so it should be. Today, there’s a need for a digitalized tool that can get this job done automatically with minimal time and effort. In fact, businesses nowadays need more than a tool that processes and aggregates large sums of data quickly and efficiently. What they need, in addition to that, is a tool that produces elaborate visual representations of data related to business operations, performance, and other sophisticated industry-specific metrics.

But there’s no need to worry, as this has become possible now with the invention of the advanced business dashboard system!

7 Key Benefits of Document Management Systems

By: Ola Azzouqa 

Documents are an essential component of work in any company. Managing business information from various sources can be a demanding task that requires a lot of effort and takes too much time.

We have previously discussed the 8 Features Every Document Management System Must Have. And in this article, we will go over 7 key benefits of having such a system.

There are numerous challenges associated with dealing with documents. Employees usually spend a lot of time searching for documents as well as archiving them and managing their releases and versions.

The evolution of data analytics

By: Omar Abdulhafiz

Throughout the past several years, the world was inundated with different interrelated terms such as “data”, “data analysis”, “data analytics”, “business intelligence”, “predictive analytics, and many more. This has caused a lot of confusion over what each of them means and what it is for. This confusion is problematic among many professionals including HR staff, which often leads to misleading job positions.

In this article, we will try to tackle this dilemma by briefly tracing the history of data science and how it came to be the way we know it today. As we go, we will clarify the most critical terms the contributed to this mix-up. This shall enable you to differentiate between these terms more easily.

 

So, let us begin.

Top 4 Benefits and 5 Key Features of Implementing a Robust Workflow Software for Business Process Management

By: Lana Bawaneh

Workflows are considered a vital element in any successful business. The smoother and more organized they are, the more capable the business will be to achieve its strategic goals efficiently and effectively. But what exactly are workflows and what makes their role so essential?

To answer these questions, let us begin by defining what workflows are.

According to Investopedia, the term “Workflow” describes the steps in a business work process through which a piece of work passes from initiation to completion; and how these steps can be executed and automated according to a set of procedural rules.