Industry analysts such as the Gartner Group have defined the standard by which IT should measure its investments. The cost of Telecommunications only begins with product acquisition. In fact, it is the smallest part of the investment. Once the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is assessed — a cost that is spread out across a telecommunications investment's entire life cycle, the areas of inefficiency (and therein the opportunities for cost reduction) become clear. Most of those costs and the opportunities for savings fall within the domain of support.

Experience shows that most organizations with large technology investments are cognizant of the opportunities and potential economies of partnering with a telecommunications support services specialist that can manage, control and contain TCO, and the earned return on an organization’s telecommunications investment can be significant.

Cosgrove Consulting Group can assist an organization with determining if outsourcing is appropriate. CCG can also design an effective outsourcing solution and identify the best telecommunications support partner to meet the company’s needs, providing outsourcing consulting services with expertise and a proven track record. Cosgrove Consulting Group’s project methodologies are described below:

Business Problem Assessment

• Define problem area(s) and it’s impact on business
• Identify possible strategies
• Determine appropriate actions and applicable service offering

Telecommunications (Voice & Data) Operations Analysis

• Define business requirements and scope of work
• Understand current technology environment
• Analyze current technology environment against business requirements
• Identify possible options to meet business requirements
• Develop and present recommendations

Telecommunications Systems Selection, Design & Implementation Projects

• Define business requirements and scope of work
• Translate business requirements into information technology specification
• Develop specification for telecommunications equipment and associated services
• Prepare and distribute requests for proposals to qualified vendors
• Evaluate vendor proposals, conduct analysis and prepare recommendations
• Conduct project implementation management

Managed Services Feasibility Study

• Define business requirements and scope of work
• Analyze current technology environment
• Identify possible options
• Develop technical and financial models
• Develop and present recommendations

Managed Services Selection Project

• Determine Managed Services selection method (e.g., RFI, RFP)
• Prepare appropriate baseline documentation of current environment
• Prepare and distribute requests for proposals to qualified vendors
• Evaluate responses from service providers
• Present recommendations
• Select service provider
• Facilitate contract negotiations, establishing well-defined and reportable Service Level Agreements

Transition Project

• Conduct transition project with selected service provider

Operations Support Program

• Ensure appropriate organizational structure is in place
• Establish Program Management Office capability
• Establish agreed - upon baselines for Service Level Agreements
• Oversee contract compliance activities