14 Reasons Why You Should Work with a Technology Agent For Your Technology Services.
Most business owners and top IT executives deal with technology and data service agreements and negotiations without sufficient preparation. Decisions are frequently made without objective direction and generally by following the recommendations of a direct salesperson. Using a "one solution fits all needs" approach may cost your company more money. Ultimately, this representative is solely interested in getting the sale so they can go on to the next call.
What is a technology agent?
Technology agents are independent experts who help customers with all aspects of technology solutions, such as telephony, video, and data communication services. Because their priority is to their clients, they do not represent any specific vendor.
With the evolution of next-generation technologies, the number of technology solution providers as grown tremendously, introducing new perspectives when evaluating vendors. Vendors may offer more innovative services with enhanced security and a more appealing pricing structure. However, not all have the proper systems and practices behind their offers and the quality of service your company needs.
As technology consultants, technology agents have access to a broad range of vendors. Still, they are careful about the suppliers they work with and endorse. Agents are engaged in their industry and understand the advantages and disadvantages of each carrier. They put their reputation on the line, so they will not propose a provider if they do not believe it is a good fit for your needs.
Technology agents are motivated by the trust that each customer place in them. They want to be their customers' trusted advisors in their field, and they want long-term business relationships. As a result, agents' loyalty is to their customers instead of the carriers.
How Can a Technology Agent Assist?
A technology agent can help you in many ways and bring your business many benefits. A few of the most crucial are listed here.
1. Getting both knowledge and expertise on your side
No need to feel overwhelmed while negotiating a technology service with a direct representative. An agent or consultant will bring their experience to your side of the table, removing the possibility of signing up for an agreement that does not meet the demands of your business. The technology decisions are often left to the office managers or the company administrators. Technology consultants and agents don't take away their ability to make decisions. When you bring a consultant, you provide your team with a valuable resource to help them make an informed decision.
Finally, a technology agent gives expertise in finding the best alternative for your company at the best pricing.
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2. Insight regarding rapidly evolving services
Technology services are constantly evolving. New voice and data communication services are becoming accessible, and understanding these new services might be complex. Consultant firms are up to date on the latest technology and the pricing strategies behind them. Service contracts are usually for 36 months. Assuming your staff is always in contact with the provider. In that instance, they most likely gained some understanding. However, they are likely unaware of newer technologies and more efficient and cost-effective renewal alternatives. Technology agents and consultants work with these solutions regularly and understand how the technologymunications industry is evolving to keep up with the latest offers.
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3. Every decision gets supported by trusted experience.
Twenty years ago, telephone companies were the dominant service providers with a limited number of services in their portfolio. This enabled them to give tailored training to their team. Also, their representatives were searching for a long-term career in the industry, resulting in a relatively limited turnover of employees. That is no longer the case. Traditional phone companies are no longer the industry's primary supplier. The service portfolio has expanded significantly, making the service offering even more dynamic. Due to additional options, sales reps face a more competitive market. The carriers are still committed to keeping a dedicated sales team in-house. However, they are the ones who back up consultants and agents because they can connect with customers in a way that direct teams can't.
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4. A project manager that works for your business
Having a dedicated project manager is a crucial advantage. For a technology agent, customer satisfaction is paramount. Getting the best value for the right services is excellent. Despite this, things could go south if the implementation of these services turns out to be a nightmare. Project managers at consulting firms focus on project implementations to ensure everything runs smoothly and nothing slips through the cracks. Consultants have a team of engineers in the back office who support you during the implementation of your solution, ensuring that goals are met on time. Technology agencies have people they can talk to at different levels of the technology carriers so that any problem can be fixed as quickly as possible.
Because technology agencies are not paid until services are fully operational, they are the first to expect a successful implementation.
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5. Actively attempting to avoid complications
Consultants work for their customers, not the vendor. Their recommendations are for the best option in the industry, within the appropriate price range, and do not compromise operability. Regularly, they steer their clientele away from unreliable companies, products, and options. They won't recommend a vendor that isn't reliable, even if it would make them more money.
Technology consultants are notoriously cautious. As mentioned, technology consultants care about their reputations. When there are problems, services are often canceled, which means money is lost and relationships and reputations are hurt. Most technology consultants avoid offering their customers unproven services to prevent bad experiences.
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6. Ongoing assistance when contracting technology services
It is well known how tedious it is to queue for long periods. It gets even more unpleasant when a Tier-1 agent eventually answers and offers pre-canned answers based on the knowledge base they have in front of them.
Technology consultants are driven by their relationships with their customers and their continued satisfaction with the services they recommend. Technology agencies have a team of experts who are always ready to support you in case of any problem arises with the services you've contracted. Your technology specialist is now a direct point of escalation.
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7. Advice that is free from bias during the sales process
Direct sales representatives work for carriers, while consultants work for their customers. The best interest of direct sales reps is with their employers. Their pay is determined by how much money their clients spend on their services (i.e., phone service, internet, MPLS, SD-WAN, etc.). The best interests of technology agents are the customers. Their goal is to get you the best service as quickly as possible and look for ways to help you save money to show you how valuable they are. A commission is paid to the agent if the customer continues to use the agent's recommended service. They are paid a monthly residual as long as the service is active.
Even after you sign your service contracts, technology specialists will keep an eye on them. They will write down expiration dates, conditions for auto-renewal, and notice requirements for cancellation so that you can keep improving your services without any limits.
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8. Extend the range of possibilities available to you.
Direct reps confine their recommendations to their company's offerings, attempting to match your business to their solutions rather than the other way around.
Technology consultants recommend services provided by a diverse set of vendors while keeping in mind that not all of these carriers are appropriate for all sorts of enterprises. Technology agents strive to match the right vendor with the right customer. They will also introduce you to potential providers with whom you may not be familiar but have an outstanding reputation in the business.
For example, a company may be ready to shift its communications to the cloud but requires a service provider with local experts to assist with deployment and on-site support. A technology consultant will be familiar with the leading local vendors with good reputations and experience and the appropriate product mix for the customer's needs.
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9. A systematic approach to the discovery process
Choosing the correct vendor can be time-consuming. It can be exhausting to look for potential vendors, comprehend their product offerings, and get prices and estimates. When dealing with your day-to-day responsibilities simultaneously, these steps can take longer. Because of time constraints, many people are forced to narrow their options or make hasty selections.
Technology consultants take care of all of these tasks for you. They are responsible for discovering the best matches based on your specifications. They only present you with qualified prospects, allowing you to make a well-informed decision. They will also handle follow-ups, allowing you to return to your regular obligations. The best aspect is that once a relationship is established, they understand your business so well that the engagement process becomes much more efficient.
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10. Better Pricing
Expertise and customer satisfaction are significant benefits when having a technology consultant on your side, but securing low rates is essential. Technology agents work with several carriers and negotiate on your behalf to bring you better pricing.
A widespread misconception is that technology agents charge for the services they recommend when the opposite is true. Agents usually get the best prices because carriers' pricing managers know they are negotiating with different vendors.
Technology consultants can access everyone's prices; carriers know this and conduct business accordingly.
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11. Assistance with audit of current services and their cost
After determining the required services, your technology agent will consider ways to lower your overall prices. The technology sector is very competitive, and as new technologies emerge, prices fall yearly. Your technologymunications consultant will monitor this for you.
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12. Identify and removal of unnecessary services
When reviewing your service contract, people often forget to take out services that aren't needed. So many companies keep paying for services that they no longer use. Analog lines that are no longer required, services that have never been used, or numbers that are on the account but have never been utilized.
When looking for better ways to handle specific needs, your consultant will help you find services you're not using or suggest alternatives.
An analog line used for a fax machine that is rarely utilized but nonetheless required can cost the organization hundreds of dollars per year. Using an eFax provider could drastically minimize this expense. Consider additional faxes and modem lines, as well as wire maintenance, phone features, and ISP services. There are numerous opportunities to save money. Some businesses have services that they are entirely unaware of.
Technology consultants will help you make an inventory and analysis of your current services and come up with a plan to save money.
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13. Consolidation of services
It's no secret that business owners and managers increasingly turn to third-party solutions to supplement their core operations. The problem comes when there is no way to keep track of all these subscriptions. Even more frustrating is when services are contracted without knowing they are part of another service or subscription contracted by another department.
Consolidation of services is crucial for every organization. Companies usually subscribe to services that promote remote work and improve collaboration, such as screen sharing, video conferences, and web collaboration. Even though these services are now essential for most businesses, they are included in Cloud Communications solutions.
For example, transferring your phone system to the cloud will result in phone service cost savings. But it will also let you eliminate the standalone subscription services you use now.
Additionally, combining these services and streamlining billing and administrative operations are associated with cost benefits.
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14. Introducing Gains from New Technologies
Legacy technology becomes pricey. Not only is it more challenging to maintain, but also because new technology is more accessible. Hosted services are becoming very affordable, and expensive hardware is no longer needed. A technology consultant will introduce you to next-generation technologies that will keep your business up-to-date with the least amount of trouble. Supporting your company's digital transformation and ensuring your business is ready for the future.
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What is the actual cost of a technology agent?
The cost of hiring your services through a technology agency is 'Zero.' Technology carriers pay technology agents a residual commission for as long as the service is used. This is why technology consultants always get you the best deal. Carriers know that agents will bring other vendors to the negotiating table.
A further point to consider is that technology agencies will offer many communication tiers since they know the significance of escalation in the event an issue emerges.
Why Use a Technology Agency instead of going directly to a service provider?
The response to that question is straightforward.
With the help of a technology agency, you could bring a group of knowledgeable and experienced technology specialists, including consultants, engineers, and project managers. They will represent you and focus on what is critical to your business. A technology consultant always gives recommendations that are free of bias and doesn't favor any vendor. The best part is that this would be free for you; it won't cost you anything extra.
TeleSwitch is an established technology agency and consulting firm.
TeleSwitch is an independent consulting firm that assists businesses in connecting with the services they require. We act as trusted consultants on behalf of our clients, looking out for their best interests. We have partnered with a wide variety of phone and data communications companies to bring you a comprehensive selection of services. Our services consultancy is entirely commission-based and is paid by the service providers once your services are active.
Our experience includes traditional voice and data communication services like phone services and bandwidth, as well as SaaS-based solutions such as cloud telephony, contact center as a service, security, SD-WAN, collocation, data hosting, and many more.
Still, hesitating?
Contact our communications specialists for a consultation on your particular needs.
We have seen it all and would enjoy assisting you as well.
