When Service Providers Make Buying Network Services Convenient, Customers Win
In the modern business world, convenience is key for both the customer and the business. The migration toward convenience can be seen in the use of technology to evolve a process in the effort of enhancing efficiency. The ATM is an example of a technology that has transformed an everyday task to one of convenience. Prior to the ATM, a money transaction required a multistep process. The task involved driving to the bank during certain hours of the day, parking, walking in, waiting in line, being serviced, and driving back. The primary inconveniences were that of time constraints and location demands. Because of the introduction of the ATM, it is possible to make these transactions any day, anytime. This greatly enhances banking by allowing people to bank at their convenience, according to their schedule and needs. Instead of the bank determining when the customer banks, the customer determines when the customer banks.
Customers of service providers are increasingly seeking this same convenience. Traditionally, a service provider’s customers go through a time-consuming formal process including face-to-face meetings and a contract negotiation phase in order to purchase network services. All considering, the process takes a few weeks not including additional time to actually set up and activate the network before it can be used. At best, the network would be up and running within 90 days. This was sufficient for a long time because the customer knew nothing better. As new Cloud-based competitors have entered the marketplace with unmatched speed and efficiency in selling and implementing network services, this has become an unsustainable way to operate.
The process offered by these Cloud giants is much more rapid and efficient. The customer is often able to use an online pricing tool to receive an instant quote based on their customized needs for bandwidth, latency, and security. After completing the purchase at the bottom of the page, the connection is available for use almost immediately. This negates the excessive negotiation, lengthy wait-time, and maintenance required for purchasing and implementing these same services from a modern day service provider. Much like the ATM, these Cloud-based companies have revolutionized the industry through this process of enhanced convenience. In order to counter these new and highly efficient competitors, service providers need to update the way they operate.
Sonus’ VellOS is a software defined WAN (SD-WAN) solution that allows the service provider to do just that. With VellOS a service provider can offer clients the services they desire at a high level of convenience. This software-defined solution allows customers to use a web portal to customize the size, efficiency, and number of links throughout the network, and receive an instant quote. With the immediate activation of the connection, service providers can compete with the speed of their Cloud-based competitors. By deploying the VellOS platform, service providers can now enable their customers to easily manage and view the network using the centralized control platform. Customers can also implement changes in real-time, as opposed to waiting weeks for the adjustment to be made by the service provider. Through the use of VellOS, service providers are able to provide their customers with the ATM of networking; enhancing networks’ operability for ease of use and flexibility for the customer.
