The Telecom Retainer FAQ

It's a longer-term retainer agreement whereby Teleconvergence essentially acts as the telecommunications manager for a client, possibly working to complement IT staff in areas where they lack specific telecom expertise. Your existing staff continues to administer the day-to-day telecom function.

These functions theoretically can be outsourced:

• Infrastructure, Systems, and Strategy
• Operating Administration
• Clerical Administration

These functions shouldn't be outsourced:

• Corporate infrastructure strategy
• Finance and budgeting

We perform only the first -- Infrastructure, Systems, and Strategy -- and we help train client staff to properly control the others.

On a non-recurring or project basis we work on:

• Strategic Investigation and Evaluation and implementation Planning
• Determination of Specific Objectives
• New systems, software, and procedures to satisfy changing requirements
• Establishment of Financial Parameters
• System, Facilities, and Infrastructural Assessment
• Contractual Obligations Assessment
• Department and Individual Needs Assessment
• Telecom Contingence and Business Continuity Planning
• Procedural Strip Mining and Business Analysis

Our recurring functions include:

• Periodic Audits and Reviews Of Billing
• Periodic Review of Demands, Changes, And Opportunities
• Contract Management and Renegotiation

On a demand or planned proactive schedule we actively monitor:

• Changes In Client's Plans, Size or Direction of The Organization, Opportunistic Events
• Additions or Deletions in Number of Locations or Employees Assigned to a Particular Location
• Acquisitions and Divestitures
• Relocations, Movement of Workers From or to Home Office Functionality
• Creation of Virtual Offices, Partners, Establishment of Offices In Shared-Tenant Locations, Etc.
• Strategic Shifts in Direction Of Distribution, Call Center Orientation
• Changes In Requirements for Communications (Voice/Text/Fax/video) in Foreign Languages, Translate Among Languages, Convert From/Among Fax/Text/Voice.
• evaluate Technological and Regulatory Risks and Opportunities
• New Opportunities to Reduce costs and/or increase productivity

Finally, we help the client manage internal control and administration over:

• Telecom and other billing and contractual obligations
• Work orders
• Configuration tracking and management
• Fraud and abuse control

Not at all. In fact, we may simplify it, since we know which invoices require constant scrutiny, for example, and which need only be looked at on anniversary dates. Similarly, we work diligently to streamline procedures and automate activities wherever possible.

We think you'll be pleased to discover how reasonable it is, especially compared to what you'd have to spend for full-time professional staff to do the work. It's a forward-looking process that assumes significant time usually being expended at first, then a leveling out after a while. We try to negotiate flat payments largely independent of monthly workload, similar to how one pays a utility when ignoring seasonal fluctuations.

Generally not, because initial estimations and activities are subject to ongoing mutual review to ensure that the client agrees with our priorities and activities.

First of all, outsourcing to Teleconvergence is a financial decision, not a strategic one, So there are no long-term or irreversible implications. Secondly, by outsourcing with Teleconvergence, there's no need to be concerned about regaining control because you never lose control. You're not putting authority into anyone else's hands; by retaining us, you're simply allowing us to share the responsibility with you.

These are all reasonable questions. You should only commit to what seems reasonable to you.  The initial commitment is generally for three to six months, if we've not done project work for you before. Regardless of the size or the term of the commitment, our retainers are always cancelable by either party on reasonable notice, and all terms and conditions are spelled out in clear English (or Spanish) in our retainer agreements.

You should begin at the beginning, with what you need the most. If it's a single project, we'll do that. If it's a few of them, that's OK, too. If you have some projects that must be done, but you're really not prepared to administer the projects or the function, we can set priorities and manage the situation properly.

But we have to start at the beginning, by finding out what you need and determining if and how we can best be of help, no matter what sort of label we pin on it. If that sounds reasonable to you, why not begin by calling us to discuss your situation?