Maximizing Carrier Profitability & Efficiency

Page Summary: BottomLine Data Solutions (BDS) has developed a proprietary equipment and circuit reconciliation process that functions in tandem with its proprietary software products to achieve accurate and comprehensive OSS reconciliation. This '9 Step Equipment & Circuit Reconciliation Process' is rock solid, having been field tested with literally hundreds of Telecom points-of-presence.

BottomLine Data Solutions (BDS) has developed a tried and true, proprietary '9 Step Equipment & Circuit Reconciliation Process' (the Process). This process has been tested by completing full equipment and circuit audits and back office corrections of literally hundreds of telecom facilities. Moreover, it operates in tandem with BDS' proprietary software products to form the BDS Solution Portfolio - Net Sync, Net Load and Net Trak.

The Process has one major objective - to have the 'virtual' representation of the Carrier's network as represented in the back office OSS (Operations Support Systems) and BSS (Business Support Systems), match the real world (or 'As-Built' Network). This begins with getting the Carrier Inventory/Order Management System (i.e.: MetaSolv, Granite, TIRKS, Cramer, homegrown, etc.) synchronized with the As-Built. Once equipment and circuit data begins gaining integrity here, you are then in a position to address data contamination issues that have occurred 'downstream' (i.e.: in Billing, Asset Management, COGS, etc.). The Process is also designed to support a leave behind solution - a Solution for ensuring the OSS/BSS remains sound prospectively.

The BDS Equipment and Circuit Reconciliation Process includes the following 9 sequential steps:

1. Determine Project Scope: determination of what OSS/BSS will be in scope, site/regional prioritization & scheduling, project plan development, value schedule production, and metrics definition.

2. OSS Data Mapped & Loaded: here, all relevant data sources are identified, quality measures are developed and implemented, and data mapping activities are initiated.

3. Field Equipment & Circuit Validation: equipment polling (if within scope) completed for all 'intelligent' devices, retrieving equipment and cross-connect data. Non-intelligent equipment and connections validated electronically in the field via BDS mobile computing software platform.

4. Reconcile OSS & Produce Reports: raw vs. audited equipment and circuit data reconciled, and exceptions noted. Equipment, circuit and financial exceptions measured and cataloged. Exceptions further qualified as errors.

5. OSS Equipment Correction & Metrics: corrections with 'no-conflict' made automatically via API export. Specific equipment fixes reflected on exception reports, with equipment database then corrected. Site-by-site equipment metrics captured.

6. OSS Circuit Correction & Metrics: corrections with 'no-conflict' made automatically via API export. Specific connectivity and circuit fixes delineated on exception reports, with OSS database then corrected. Site-by-site circuit metrics captured.

7. OSS COGS Correction & Metrics: corrected OSS provisioning data reconciled against COGS. Specific LEC disconnect/order, and payment discrepancies provided to Revenue Operations for financial recovery. LEC payment discrepancy metrics reported.

8. OSS Billing Correction & Metrics: corrected OSS provisioning data reconciled against billing system (typically retail). Customer billing and payment discrepancies provided to Revenue Operations for financial recovery. Billing financial metrics captured.

9. Ongoing Building Audit Process: Net Sync solution remains as 'leave-behind' solution, ensuring that the OSS and Network remain synchronized.