PlanNet Consulting lead and managed a new Telecom Carrier Services Contract and rate negotiations project for Epicor Software’s global telecommunications services needs for over 50+ global and domestic locations. Due to Epicor’s recent merger, this project allowed Epicor to better leverage the merged companies economies of scale and discount levels and significantly lower the overall telecommunication costs by negotiating new rates and terms.
PlanNet’s SOW included the following three phases:
- Phase 1, Information Gathering and Validation: PlanNet reviewed Epicor’s existing telecommunication services contracts and met with the project teams to validate inventories, existing contract rates including carrier SLA’s. A project schedule and timeline was also developed and presented during this phase.
- Phase 2, Telecom Carrier Services Request for Proposal: The information gathered in Phase 1 was incorporated into a single Request for Proposal (RFP) for all agreed telecommunication services. PlanNet created and drafted the RFP and worked with the project team to obtain input, review and issue the RFP to multiple Global Carriers.
- Phase 3, Proposal Evaluation and Carrier Selection: PlanNet worked with the project team to develop evaluation and selection criteria which was used to evaluate the Carrier responses. In this Phase, PlanNet worked with the Carriers to normalize services and contract rates to enable “apples-to-apples” comparisons, managed carrier work sessions with the finalists, and conducted evaluation, rating criteria and selection meetings with the project team to review the responses and reach consensus on the final selection. To close the project, PlanNet oversaw the final Telecom Carrier Contract and terms negotiation process through signing. The project successfully resulted in a 40% – 50% annual cost savings.
