An integrated asset library is essential for providing predefined components and devices for IT, data centers and telecommunications. The software solution can also determine whether a card will need to be taken out of the warehouse or whether a purchase order must be triggered.

With a comprehensive solution in place, all changes performed in the planning view can be recorded and necessary work orders for the field technician on site can be automatically generated. All steps for the planned work order will be provided in a clear list and all assets to be installed can be easily identified with relevant technical details. This enables the entire planned work order and all technical data to be quickly and efficiently passed to the on-site field engineers for installation as a PDF file or a Microsoft Excel file. After the field engineers have installed and patched the card, the status will be switched from ‘Planned’ to ‘Realized’ and transferred to the “As-Is” documentation view. This approach ensures always correct, comprehensive documentation of the network infrastructure.

Lastly, a comprehensive software solution must offer billing and incident management functionalities. Customers can then be assigned to their respective connectivity services within a central database and automatically be informed if a connectivity failure or other incident occurs. These functionalities are vital for informing affected services and customers when maintenance is planned, and also make it possible to provide all relevant service and performance data for the customer billing process.

The quantifiable outcomes MTDCs will benefit from include the avoidance of manual rework, the improved quality and faster execution through automated work orders, the comprehensive documentation of heterogeneous technologies of transport networks from different vendors into one central database, and the consolidation and replacement of various legacy solutions into one integrated inventory database.

Putting Customers Center-Stage

Overall, it is crucial for MTDCs and hosting providers to put the customers center-stage when defining the service portfolio in a highly competitive market. From a customer’s perspective, value is determined by the service quality and associated delivery parameters as well as clear presentation of the options available (i.e. available variants such as space, power, storage, third party services, hybrid options, version of IP, access, security, remote hands, back-up, etc.), performance parameters, contractual terms and pricing.

MTDC and hosting providers must be able to deliver these services and products with a standardized level of quality, at clearly defined prices, and with defined service levels in order to win in a competitive environment. A product-oriented approach will overtake the traditional project focused response. Soon, we will see more providers using product catalogues to present available services rather than start a new service from sketch over and over again. 

To stand out with connectivity products and services, infrastructure management teams and network operations managers need to properly plan, manage and document the network and communications infrastructure in one central network and asset database. An appropriate solution can provide complete visibility and transparency throughout the data center, ensuring optimal power consumption, network connection, uptime and that SLAs are being met.

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