I remember, not too long ago in fact, how Telecom Managers prided themselves in managing their infrastructure with ever increasing sophistication of spreadsheets. Do you remember Lotus 1-2-3? There were very creative examples of innovation using macros, unusual function formulas, linked worksheets, charts and graphs, even pivot tables. The spreadsheet kept track of locations, circuits, people, contact info, and orders. Invoices were left to the accounting systems. Alas, the management of the data with spreadsheets was still a severe headache. Limited to a single-user operation at any given time, the spreadsheets’ up-keep became a problem. Nevertheless, this was a brave start to the new world of TEM 0.1.

Availability of database programs (e.g., Microsoft Access) addressed the scale problems of the spreadsheet. The table driven data structure also enabled more users to now join the tables to generate sophisticated analyses using database queries. Exception reports made their appearance. Databases also increased and improved the product diversity. More sophisticated products could be managed now, e.g., advanced data network services, 800 services with their routing options, etc. Budgets’ status became reliable as data exchange function with AP/GL systems became more established. But accessibility was still a problem. The data “silos” for circuits’ inventory, edge-equipment inventory, orders, invoices, and contracts remained hard to link. So, while TEM 0.5 became more useful in answering boss’s questions, it remained marooned on the desktops of their creators.

When, with the advance of Internet, broadband became more available at cost effective price points around the country, and sophisticated SQL based databases with web and applications servers became available, TEM 1.0 quickly crystallized. This generation of TEM was able to support a large number of users accessing the same data. While previous generations of TEM were low on the CIO’s priority list behind other business critical applications, browser based solutions became very adapt at enabling all telecom management team members, executives, group leaders, even end-users, to get the information they needed. The reports became sophisticated with graphs, charts, drill down functions, filters, etc. The circuits and equipment inventory became more extensive with a more timely management of expense. The contractual compliance of vendors’ performance could be more closely monitored as well as identification and recovery of billing errors.

We believe that the new generation of TEM should “talk back” to the users! It should become proactive in observing events that users consider worth watching. When the event thresholds are triggered, an appropriate alert ought to be delivered to the users. Candidate events for such alerts are contract expirations, order due-date performances, inventory mismatches, invoice spending thresholds, missed or duplicate invoices, budget over- or under-runs, etc.

We believe TEM 2.0 should manage wireless services just as effectively as wireline services in the same database. We believe this generation of TEM ought to identify savings opportunities PROACTIVELY for telecom managers to exploit. We believe TEM ought to accommodate the enterprise’s migration to IP-based services for voice and video. In fact, monitoring the data network services for the bandwidth demand placed by various applications is appropriate responsibility of the TEM system in order to link the money spent on telecom to the performance received. At the user level, as the voice usage becomes more “wireless”-oriented, TEM systems ought to help create a composite picture of what each user needs by way of the telecom bandwidths of various sort, i.e., minutes used for voice calls, VoIP calls, wireless calls, data bandwidth needs at the desk top, or data downloads needed on PDAs (e.g., Blackberry/Treo type devices), or text messages sent and received. Knowing this composite “bandwidth demand” picture, organizations can better serve their users while better managing their vendors and saving money.

The older generations of TEM systems could give an answer when correctly queried – and that was good enough then. Today, it is far better to have an increasingly “vocal” TEM, i.e., one that sends out proactive messages and reports to the right managers when specific events trigger alerts. Telecom Managers can now become far more productive when their TEM machines monitor events and become their partners in efficiently achieving the enterprise-wide business missions.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the key to being seen on the web. Obviously we all want our pages to be ranked higher. Follow a few easy tips to get started.

Keep your keywords in mind when creating a page title, white papers, meta tag, and body text. The repetition of these keywords is what your site is being graded on by the spiders. Spiders run around the web (when computer geeks try to add nature into their vocabulary) and check everyone's content. A keyword body of text and lots of incoming links can really push you higher. Make sure you don't overlook the power of using those keywords in your headlines and sub-headlines. Spiders do understand H1, H2, and H3 in the code. H2 and H3 is a perfect opportunity to repeat those keywords and also use additional keywords to substantiate your territorial claim. Sub-headlines also assist those people who will only scan your page for the part they want most, so help them out.

Spiders will not be able to read self titled heading and sub-headings. It would be a shame to waste all these great efforts only to find out it can't be seen.  Make sure your CSS (Cascading Style Sheet) is set to operate with the H1, H2, and H3.

Remember your SEO site work will not catapult you to the top. With continuous improvements you will start to see forward movement, so make as many strategic improvements as you can.

Partner Training with Live Meeting
Introducing PlanGuard, New Trade Show Program, and New Sales Sheets
October 17th, 1:00pm

CECConnect
Central East Coast Conference
Harrisburg, PA
October 21 - 24, 2007
Guest Speaker, Chet Thaker, October 22nd at 11:00am