How to Take Home Field Advantage with Carrier Value Assessments, Explains Alsbridge

– The results of a carrier value assessment, whether they are sub-par or super-par, represent game-changers for the buyer organization, explains Alsbridge Inc., a benchmarking, sourcing and transformation advisory firm. The firm’s latest report- Assessing The Value of Network Carrier Relationships-explains how carrier value assessments can help buyers ascertain and gain real, sustainable and business strategy-aligned value from their carrier partners on par with market standards.

“Today's enterprises struggle with assessing the value - or lack thereof - that their relationships and contracts with their carriers actually deliver in support of their strategic, cost, and operational goals,” says Chip Wagner, CEO at Alsbridge.

Alsbridge benchmarking data proves that even though carrier price points are declining, the 30 to 40 percent price spread it regularly sees during client engagements makes it clear that the savings aren't being actively passed on to customers. Even when buyers ask for and receive price concessions, most lack the benchmarking data-based knowledge to help them determine what the market will bear, resulting in less than optimal savings. 

“It's Up to Buyers to Take the Home Field Advantage with Carrier Value Assessments,” adds Wagner. “To ensure alignment with strategic imperatives, the buyers must instill carrier accountability and make certain pricing, service levels, and terms and conditions on par with market standards.”

Alsbridge recommends enterprises undertake comprehensive carrier value assessments every 12 to 18 months. The assessments should addresses revenue, expense/profit, operations and image, both in and of themselves, and in relation to current carrier practices and industry trends.

Their next step should be engaging in a multiple vendor RFP at least 12 months before their contract expires, unless the carrier value assessment results drive RFP tendering farther in advance of agreement expiration. The RFP should include all full-service and business grade providers, and specialty players as appropriate, in order to enable evaluation of all proposed solutions, service levels, and contract terms.

For further details on how buyer organizations can ascertain and gain real, sustainable and business strategy-aligned value from their carrier partners, download the complete whitepaper Assessing The Value of Network Carrier Relationships.

About Alsbridge Inc.

Alsbridge is a global consulting firm that provides data-driven sourcing advisory and benchmarking services for IT, Finance and Sourcing executives.  We’ve helped hundreds of companies reduce costs and get more value from their vendors.  Our experienced consultants leverage proprietary tools and information databases to identify and engage the optimal vendors for your situation, negotiate best practice terms at fair market prices, and improve the way you work with your vendors.  Alsbridge clients utilize the most cost effective and value added sources globally for IT infrastructure services, hardware and maintenance, network services, software and maintenance, application support and development, business processes and cloud services. Alsbridge was ranked the #1 outsourcing advisor in the world by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP) based on the value delivered to clients.  This commitment to delivering value to our clients has made Alsbridge a distinguished member of the 2010 Inc. 500 fastest growing privately held companies in America.

EDITORS/WRITERS: Journalists interested in covering the topic or interviewing one of our SMEs, please contact:

Scott Tims
Office: 214-378-7970 ext. 278
stims@thepointgroup.com
www.alsbridge.com