{"id":1205,"date":"2025-12-04T08:21:58","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T08:21:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/temforce.com\/?p=1205"},"modified":"2025-12-04T08:21:58","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T08:21:58","slug":"why-tem-implementations-fail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/temforce.com\/new\/why-tem-implementations-fail\/","title":{"rendered":"Why do some TEM implementations fail?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When enterprises signup to \u201cTEM\u201d Telecom Expense Management what they typically need is Telecom Category Management BUT<\/u>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>unfortunately, after usually 3 years of wasted time, lots of frustration and money, learn they\u2019ve purchased nothing more than an invoice billing engine that summarizes invoices that are deemed \u201cready for payment\u201d with a breakdown summary of cross charge allocation.<\/p>\n

Usually TEM companies do a great job of getting organizations hypedaround \u201chow you\u2019ll finally be able to understand your carrier invoices\u201d and be in a position to \u201cfind savings.\u201d\u00a0 If you would like to understand how TEM generates savings, here\u2019s a blog post on where the savings will come from.<\/a><\/p>\n

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An enterprise TEM purchase cycle typically goes something like this:<\/h3>\n

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Year 1 \u201cThe Setup”<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Enterprise and TEM vendor work on gathering invoices, changing the bill to address to TEM provider, meetings held with TEM provider regarding program status. TEM provider working on finding those \u201csavings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Result:<\/strong>Everything is setup TEM vendor found the low hanging fruit savings.\u00a0 TEM vendor takes cut of savings high-fives and beers internally.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Year 2 \u201cThat Clarity\u201d TEM Vendor processes invoices:<\/span><\/h3>\n

Presents batch reports for accounting, enterprise pays.<\/p>\n

Usually in month 18 TEM vendor meets with enterprise to discuss TEM billing cost \u201ctrue up\u201d a.k.a. now that we understand your invoices our cost to manage your billing isn\u2019t $20 per line it\u2019s $100 per \u201cline.\u201d<\/p>\n

Result:<\/strong>After a few months of contract disputes the enterprise and TEM provider come to an agreement on the TEM solution costs.\u00a0 No savings delivered, but invoices are processed and paid.\u00a0Enterprise has spend data, line item count (because this is what your TEM vendor gets paid on) enterprise has pretty charts with pointless data provided.<\/p>\n

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Year 3 \u201cThe Confusion Begins\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n

Enterprise is confused why their telecom supplier spend continues to fluctuates monthly TEM vendor tries to present vendor spend numbers but unfortunately don\u2019t provide answers to the fluctuation question. \u00a0Enterprise asks for inventory summary only to be sent a half-ass created inventory of bill data detail which is full of holes. \u00a0TEM vendors argues well our day one goal was to process and pay your invoices and we don\u2019t have clarity from your team won hat any of this data is.<\/p>\n

Result:<\/strong>Internal team pressured for savings reverts to internal hacks hires consultants and finds 20% – 30% in TEM waste management areas they thought the TEM provider was focused on.<\/p>\n

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Year 4 \u201cPissed\u201d<\/span><\/h3>\n

Enterprise is now pissed off, still lacks transparency and is no better off than before.<\/p>\n

Result:<\/strong>Boom! Enterprise issues TEM RFP, terminate TEM vendor on to the next solution.<\/p>\n

Year 1\u00a0<\/strong>next TEM vendor hyping enterprise on savings and invoice clarity\u2026.<\/p>\n

Vicious cycle right?\u00a0 Or maybe this sounds familiar?<\/p>\n

TEM \u201cTelecom Expense Management\u201d an industry term created to explain what some define as a way for enterprises to validate billing and inventory management that leads to \u201csavings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Most businesses are looking for Telecom Category Management e.g. \u00a0\u00a0An extremely tight, trust worthy, detailed network inventory source that is used by the enterprise to gain transparency that enables transformation of your IT network infrastructure. a.k.a. Euphoria.<\/p>\n

Some ideas on how to get there\u2026<\/p>\n

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Define what Telecom Category Management means for your business<\/span><\/h3>\n