The Workshop

Thursday 23rd March 2006

Key practical issues of requirements analysis and procurement management for next generation billing and OSS

To reap the benefits of next generation services, telecom operators and service providers, both fixed and mobile, need to put in place solutions to bill customers flexibly for a rapidly changing line-up of services and content; to facilitate vastly increased interworking with a wide range of partners; and to simplify the interface for the user. Further, they must do this while continuing to support existing customers and services, bringing down opex, and working within capex budgets. Through a series of "seed" presentations, case studies and interactive sessions, this workshop answers your critical questions about how best to approach the challenge of making the right choices to exploit the benefits of next generation products.

Session 1: Why change? The role of strategy and organization structure on billing / OSS change (Leader Steve Roberts)

• Introductory case study
• Identification of the main drivers of billing system change
• Identification of the consequences of billing systems change: what other systems and processes may be impacted? What processes outside the billing department need to be considered?

Session 2: What are the options? Identification of potential suppliers of products and services (Leader Danny Dicks)

• Assessing the options for change
• Who do you know? And how do you know they can do an appropriate the best job?
• Are there new suppliers with innovative approaches? How to separate hype from reality?

Session 3: Who's the best supplier for you? Determining detailed requirements and managing the procurement (Leader Mike Pearson)

• Introductory case study
• Optimising the requirements analysis process
• Best-practice procurement management in billing and OSS

Steve Roberts (Associate Director, Catalyst IT Solutions) has over seventeen years' experience in telecoms, and has demonstrated his flexibility to adapt and change to the ever-demanding needs of the customer. He has shown the ability to utilise his technical experience, enhancing and developing bespoke customer solutions based upon specific business requirements. This involved identifying needs and expectations, proposing technically and commercially viable turnkey solutions, generating project plans, and implementing seamless installation.

Danny Dicks (Principal Analyst, Analysys Research) joined Analysys in 2000 to head up the company's research programme in telecoms billing systems and OSS markets. He is currently Project Director of Analysys Research's Billing & OSS Markets online market intelligence service. He has also undertaken a number of consultancy and custom research projects in the field of telecoms software for equipment vendors, operators and finance houses. Danny was the lead author of the Analysys Research report Business-to-business E-billing and co-author of Interactive Consumer Broadband: Sex, Sport and Shopping?. He has a degree in physics and several years' experience in the telecoms field as a marketing communications consultant and author.

Mike Pearson (Principal Consultant, Mason Communications) has extensive knowledge and experience of fixed and mobile telecommunications businesses and associated technologies, including access, transmission and switching networks, Intelligent Networks and telecom software. He has over 18 years' technical and management experience in a diverse range of industrial segments which include the telecoms, defence, automotive and gas industries. Before joining Mason he was a key member of the corporate strategy team of a world-leading equipment manufacturer.

Analysys Mason Group occupies a unique position in the global telecoms market. We are the only specialist telecoms consultants able to provide both strategy and implementation consultancy. Trusted throughout the world for our expertise, impartiality and ability to get the best results for clients, we work with an increasing range of regulators, public sector bodies, policymakers, financial institutions, private sector companies and operators. This breadth of experience gives us unique insight into all aspects of telecommunications, both wireless and fixed, and makes our input an indispensable part of any major telecoms project.