Selecting a Successful OSS Billing Strategy By Suzanne Finch, Director Marketing Communications Rodopi Software

With the emergence of more sophisticated communications technologies (satellite, cable, wireless, etc.), along with government deregulation of telecom on a worldwide scale, the demand for IP services has reached an unparalleled level. This explosive growth has prompted service providers to examine and upgrade their networks to lessen the burden for their IT and support staff without compromising customer care. Enter Operations Support Systems (OSS) software.

It is well documented that the most successful service providers are those that offer a variety of services and bundled service plans that cater to a wide range of customers. An OSS system that is customizable, can seamlessly integrate with other applications, and support new services is crucial for organizational success and service providers know it. With new services being added to their product line-up, providers have invested more heavily in OSS systems year after year and there are no signs of slowing down. In fact, overall sales for OSS software is expected to reach nearly $27 billion by 2007 (see figure below).

Source: Insight Research

Of course, while OSS software offers service providers the ability to provision and activate services, the billing functionality is the primary reason that most IT professionals give when asked why they selected one system over another. Their concerns about their systems' billing are well-founded. With worldwide telecommunications revenue totaling $2.1 trillion in 2004 and a projected growth of 9.5 percent annually there is clearly much at stake in terms of finding an OSS system that can scale as the number of customers and services increase.

Additionally, studies have estimated that service providers are losing out on 13.7 percent of their potential revenue because of errors, fraud, and flawed processes on a worldwide basis. This adds up to approximately $137 billion per year in lost revenue. In fact, a recent survey showed that limited billing capabilities are cited as the number one issue among ISP executives when asked about their business concerns (see chart below).

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