What is Wireless Expense Management & Why Your Business Needs It

wireless expense management, mobile device management

With inflation on the rise and talks of cost reduction permeating every level of business strategy, owners are looking in every nook and cranny of a business’s operations to save money and keep operations running smoothly. But if you’re a business like the vast majority of those running in 2023, your organization is likely powered by a fleet of mobile devices–especially now in an era of remote work and long-distance client relationships. If so, one location that is often overlooked when it comes to minimizing operational costs is not the wireless devices themselves, but their resources, data usage, and carrier contracts. This is where Wireless Expense Management (WEM) enters the scene. 

But what exactly is Wireless Expense Management (WEM) and how can it transform your business operations? Let’s take a closer look: 

What is Wireless Expense Management (WEM)? 

Wireless Expense Management (WEM) is a specialized segment of Telecom Expense Management (TEM), which focuses on the financial aspects of wireless device use, such as wireless invoices, usage, and contracts. WEM helps businesses optimize their wireless spending and ensure that they are getting the most out of their wireless investments.

Wireless Expense Management often works in tandem with Mobile Device Management (MDM), which involves the oversight, security, and management of the mobile devices themselves rather than their cost and efficiency. Both concepts are valuable for businesses; WEM can help businesses save money on their wireless bills, while MDM can help businesses protect their data and ensure that their mobile devices are used in a compliant and productive manner. However, size may play a factor in whether a business decides to prioritize WEM or MDM. 

Smaller businesses with a less expansive fleet of mobile devices may benefit more from first implementing a WEM strategy to help optimize their expenses for the technology they already own and regularly use, creating a solid foundation for the business before expanding their devices.

 

Learn how Teligistics successfully implemented a WEM strategy that resulted in monthly optimized savings of $187K to $106K at a Fortune® 500 company. 

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What Are the Benefits of Wireless Expense Management (WEM)

Cost Savings

Arguably, the most immediate benefit of wireless expense management is the potential for significant cost savings. This may be realized through:

  • Elimination of Overcharges: Without active oversight, it’s common for businesses to face incorrect billing, unused services, or overage charges. WEM solutions actively monitor your wireless expenses, ensuring that you pay only for the services you utilize.
  • Optimized Plans: By analyzing the usage patterns of employees, WEM can recommend the best pricing plans and features. This prevents overbuying or underbuying, ensuring that your business has the most cost-effective plans in place.
  • Reduced Roaming Charges: For businesses operating across borders, roaming charges can quickly add up. WEM tools can help by alerting users before they incur hefty international roaming fees or by suggesting cost-effective alternatives.

 

Increased Visibility and Control

In addition to cost savings, WEM provides organizations with better visibility into their wireless usage and expenses through: 

  • Detailed Reporting: WEM solutions offer comprehensive reports that break down wireless usage by department, individual, or device. This transparency helps businesses identify trends, anomalies, and areas for improvement.
  • Policy Enforcement: With clear visibility, companies can enforce wireless usage policies more effectively. Whether it’s limiting data usage, restricting certain types of calls, or managing the downloading of apps, WEM ensures compliance with company policies.
  • Real-time Monitoring: Advanced WEM solutions provide real-time insights into wireless expenses, enabling businesses to make proactive decisions and quickly address issues before they escalate.


Enhanced Productivity and Efficiency

An often-overlooked benefit of wireless expense management is its impact on productivity as a whole. For some businesses, enhanced productivity may look like: 

  • Streamlined Processes: By automating many of the tasks associated with wireless expense monitoring, WEM solutions free up staff time, allowing them to focus on more strategic tasks.
  • Avoiding Downtime: With WEM, potential issues such as depleted data plans or suspended services can be quickly identified and addressed, ensuring that employees remain connected and productive.
  • Better Decision Making: With the detailed insights provided by WEM, businesses can make more informed decisions regarding their wireless needs, ensuring that employees have the tools and resources they need to succeed.

 

Optimizing Wireless Expense Management (WEM) with Teligistics

In today’s mobile-centric business environment, being equipped with a solution that offers both cost-saving and efficient management of wireless expenses isn’t just an advantage—it’s essential. Enter Enterprise Mobility Management from Teligistics. This state-of-the-art web-based mobile expense management tool empowers your organization with the ability to seamlessly manage and monitor your enterprise wireless plans through an intuitive, single-sign-on portal. EMM+™ is a Wireless Expense Management (WEM) solution that provides:

  • Comprehensive Insights: Dive deep into your billing and inventory data to identify potential cost-saving opportunities. With centralized digital statements, daily usage data compilations, and intuitive visualizations, EMM+™ brings clarity to your mobile expenses.
  • Streamlined Device Management: Whether you’re deploying, managing, or updating devices, EMM+™ ensures smooth operations, simplifying processes with step-by-step directions and latency-free execution.
  • Empowered Employees: With the “Buy Your Own Device” feature, employees can purchase their devices while the company retains ownership of the plan, transferring equipment costs and ensuring corporate compliance.
  • Top-Notch Customer Support: Experience seamless customer support with a complimentary help desk service, direct access to professionals, and an efficient trouble ticket submission process.

Much like the Fortune® 500 company that slashed its monthly spend by a staggering 43% with over 1,800 devices, your enterprise too can harness the power of EMM+™ to drastically optimize mobile expenses.

Take the Next Step with Teligistics

Isn’t it time your business had an edge in mobile expense management? With EMM+™, you’re not only adopting a tool but partnering with a legacy of telecom experts dedicated to your success. Companies should be averaging around $50 per device, including overages and roaming. Let EMM+™ align your expenses with this benchmark.

Request a free demo and experience the Teligistics difference firsthand. Or reach out to us at (800) 530-1063 to get in touch with an expert.

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