CAB Test
Carrier Access Billing & Order Management
Our Team.
With our “Managed Services” suite of solutions, JSI proudly continues its 60-year tradition of providing clients with all of the resources and support that they need to succeed – both in their day-to-day operations and during periods of rapid, unexpected growth. Take a moment to learn more about how JSI’s suite of Managed Services, which includes our “Carrier Access Billing & Order Management” services, can provide you with the critical resources that your company needs to scale its operations quickly and efficiently.
Our Services.
To learn more about the range of essential Carrier Access Billing & Order Management services that our team offers, please select any of the service groupings listed below.
Carrier Access Billing
Carrier Access Billing Overview
Audits & Reconciliation
System Selection
Mediation
Validation
Order Management
Created specifically to meet the needs of service providers in a dynamic industry, JSI not only has the expertise to assist clients in finding an access billing system that meets their needs, but also the ability to provide the monitoring and collection services to protect their clients’ access revenues.
We don’t take a cookie cutter approach to the access billing process because we understand that no two companies’ CABS needs are the same. Whether you’re billing LECs, CLECs, interexchange carriers or wireless providers, we can offer an effective solution.
Given the complex nature of access billing in the current telecommunications industry, it has become particularly critical that service providers are matched with a CABS system that meets their specific needs. We can offer you the option of using one of our platforms or your own existing system, and we can help you determine which option works best for your situation.
Audits and reconciliation are essential components of the revenue assurance process. To ensure that you arere billing all appropriate charges, good reconciliation procedures are critical.
Whether switched access, special access, or interconnection charges, JSI's reconciliation procedures ensure that all usage is billed, and billed at the proper rates. Our processes look at every ordered product or minute-of-use and then verify that the billed amounts are correct.
Companies want to be assured that the access bills they are generating are accurate, and they want to be assured that all charges are appropriate. JSI's reconciliation and bill validation processes can give you those assurances.
Our Audit & Reconciliation processes will:
• Verify usage from all vendors, including internet, cable, and wireless providers
• Reconcile all usage from receipt, through mediation, to the bill
• Verify minutes-of-use billed
• Verify all interconnection, recurring, and non-recurring charges
• Verify usage for special services, such as 8xx
• Reconcile inventory with billing
• Ensure that you are maximizing your access revenue stream
• Provide a detailed assessment of our findings, and offer solutions where applicable Notably, we will also take the mystery out of so-called Phantom Traffic. The fact is, this elusive traffic can be tracked and identified. The first step in tackling this issue is knowing where to start, and JSI is here to help you with that process. In particular, our processes will:
• Identify terminating traffic
• Compare EMR/EMI to switch records
• Provide detailed records to support the billing of newly-identified usage
• Provide usage data related to wireless providers for negotiation purposes
• Provide jurisdictional information
• Generate client-specific reports
• Verify usage from all vendors, including internet, cable, and wireless providers
• Reconcile all usage from receipt, through mediation, to the bill
• Verify minutes-of-use billed
• Verify all interconnection, recurring, and non-recurring charges
• Verify usage for special services, such as 8xx
• Reconcile inventory with billing
• Ensure that you are maximizing your access revenue stream
• Provide a detailed assessment of our findings, and offer solutions where applicable Notably, we will also take the mystery out of so-called Phantom Traffic. The fact is, this elusive traffic can be tracked and identified. The first step in tackling this issue is knowing where to start, and JSI is here to help you with that process. In particular, our processes will:
• Identify terminating traffic
• Compare EMR/EMI to switch records
• Provide detailed records to support the billing of newly-identified usage
• Provide usage data related to wireless providers for negotiation purposes
• Provide jurisdictional information
• Generate client-specific reports
For additional information on our Carrier Access Billing & Order Management services, simply click here to be connected with a senior member of our team.
Whether you need a new billing system or simply need to upgrade your current system, JSI can help you select or design a system that meets your access billing needs.
Our process includes identifying a system that takes into consideration your future needs and growth, while also integrating with your current hardware and operational procedures. The appropriate support systems will help to maximize the efficiency of your back office operations and enhance your overall productivity.
JSI's goal is to match you with a product that provides both timely and accurate access bills. Once that solution is in place, JSI will test your system to ensure that it is fully operational. Further, if a problem were to arise, then our team would be available to assist you.
For additional information on our Carrier Access Billing & Order Management services, simply click here to be connected with a senior member of our team.
In order to ensure that your access bills are both accurate and timely, mediation rules need to be clearly defined. While EMI – the industry standard output format – is preferred, custom formats are also used, particularly for in-house systems. Regardless, without mediation, switch data can’t be billed.
It’s important that all usage – whether recorded by you or received from other sources – is recorded accurately; however, getting that usage to the customer’s bill is the ultimate goal. That’s where your mediation platform comes in; if it’s not effective in converting your switch records, you could see a potential loss of billable usage, and ultimately revenues.
Whether you prefer a standard EMI format or you require a custom format, JSI will work closely with you to eliminate the guesswork from the mediation process and will ensure that your call records will go through the appropriate conversion for billing.
For additional information on our Carrier Access Billing & Order Management services, simply click here to be connected with a senior member of our team.
Bill validation is vital to an effective carrier access billing process because it protects against billing errors, and minimizes disputes. And all providers know how time consuming and frustrating the dispute process can be. The more important impact on your operation is the payment delays that result when carriers hold payments hostage pending the outcome of their disputes.
Companies want assurance that the access bills they’re generating are accurate; they also want assurance that all charges are appropriate and that all appropriate charges are billed. CSS has established bill validation processes that can give you those assurances.
We can work with you to ensure that:
Charges reflect the appropriate tariff or ICA rates
The appropriate carrier-specific jurisdictional factors are applied to usage
Usage levels are within normal parameters – and if not, identify the reason for any anomalies
Through its bill validation processes, CSS can help you avoid unnecessary disputes, and verify that your usage is properly managed all the way from the switch to the bill.
For additional information on our Carrier Access Billing & Order Management services, simply click here to be connected with a senior member of our team.
Today, the ever-increasing number and types of service providers in the market make it more important than ever for you to have an effective order management process in place.
Interexchange Carrier Service Code (ICSC) Management:
JSI has the ability to serve as your company's ICSC department. We have experts on staff with years of ASR experience, which would give your company an advantage. If JSI became your ICSC department, we would:
• Work with carriers so that correct orders are received, validated, and tracked
• Coordinate with other companies and departments for service activity
• Communicate with your billing group for completed orders with accurate rating Access Order Management: JSI will help you to define an access order process that will manage all of your orders from receipt, to implementation, to billing. We will define standards designed to prioritize orders and establish timeframes for completion, resulting in an efficient and effective order management process. If you are an ILEC, we can:
• Train your staff in the proper handling and disposition of access orders
• Develop company-specific processes designed to ensure the effective internal handling of orders, including tracking and pricing mechanisms
• Flow order information to CABS vendors on your behalf
• Issue specific ASRs on your behalf for the provision of the local, interLATA, and intraLATA networks If you’re a CLEC, we can:
• Notify carriers of your switch deployments
• Track and follow up on your access orders
• Work with switch translations personnel to ensure that orders are transmitted properly
• Issue ASRs on your behalf and manage them through the interconnection process with the ILEC
• Submit local service requests and oversee the management of the service
• Prepare and oversee provisioning plans to ensure that all services are coordinated and managed properly Service providers need to establish a documented process flow that ensures validation of all orders prior to implementation, and JSI can help you get that process in place.
• Work with carriers so that correct orders are received, validated, and tracked
• Coordinate with other companies and departments for service activity
• Communicate with your billing group for completed orders with accurate rating Access Order Management: JSI will help you to define an access order process that will manage all of your orders from receipt, to implementation, to billing. We will define standards designed to prioritize orders and establish timeframes for completion, resulting in an efficient and effective order management process. If you are an ILEC, we can:
• Train your staff in the proper handling and disposition of access orders
• Develop company-specific processes designed to ensure the effective internal handling of orders, including tracking and pricing mechanisms
• Flow order information to CABS vendors on your behalf
• Issue specific ASRs on your behalf for the provision of the local, interLATA, and intraLATA networks If you’re a CLEC, we can:
• Notify carriers of your switch deployments
• Track and follow up on your access orders
• Work with switch translations personnel to ensure that orders are transmitted properly
• Issue ASRs on your behalf and manage them through the interconnection process with the ILEC
• Submit local service requests and oversee the management of the service
• Prepare and oversee provisioning plans to ensure that all services are coordinated and managed properly Service providers need to establish a documented process flow that ensures validation of all orders prior to implementation, and JSI can help you get that process in place.
For additional information on our Carrier Access Billing & Order Management services, simply click here to be connected with a senior member of our team.
Network-to-Network Billing
Network-to-Network Billing Overview
Billing Management
As the telecommunications industry continues to evolve, so do the opportunities to offer new services and products. As providers continue to expand their repertoire of product offerings, they also look for consultants that can work with them to bill those products and services. The billing needs of the wholesale carriers are unique, and require the expertise of industry professionals in order to ensure that bills are accurate and timely. Whether you’re a new provider in the carrier’s carrier arena or a seasoned provider looking for billing assistance, JSI has both the experience and expertise to ensure that your bills are correct and submitted on time. Whether switched access, special access or interconnection services, JSI’s network-to-network bill management procedures ensure that all usage and facilities are billed correctly. Our processes look at each ordered product and verify that it is being billed properly.
For additional information on our Carrier Access Billing & Order Management services, simply click here to be connected with a senior member of our team.
Regardless of the venue, revenue streams are dependent on the billing process; ineffective procedures or inadequate oversight can negatively impact your company’s cash flow. JSI’s network-to-network bill management process will mitigate billing headaches, and enhance billing effectiveness.
Our Network-to-Network billing program emphasizes quality control. To ensure accuracy, we work directly from your customer database to generate your monthly bills. Specifically, we:
• Run trial bills each month
• Apply rates and any applicable adjustments including prorations and credits
• Review trial bills for accuracy and then submit them to you for approval
• Generate the actual bills
• Mail or email customer invoices
• Run company-specific reports, including Accounts Receivable reports
JSI will work with you to implement a program that provides exceptional oversight while incorporating your specific network-to-network billing needs. Our End User Audit process:
• Scrutinizes all of your billing information
• Ensures that billed amounts are reflective of product rates
• Compares billed rates to tariffed/published rates
• Ensures that individual bills reflect ordered products and services.
• Starts with the service order and ends with the customer bill
• Includes a detailed summary of our findings and recommendations, where appropriate
While the audit process provides useful information to the provider and is often the catalyst for corrective action, it is also an important factor in determining your customers’ level of satisfaction with your service.
Our Network-to-Network billing program emphasizes quality control. To ensure accuracy, we work directly from your customer database to generate your monthly bills. Specifically, we:
• Run trial bills each month
• Apply rates and any applicable adjustments including prorations and credits
• Review trial bills for accuracy and then submit them to you for approval
• Generate the actual bills
• Mail or email customer invoices
• Run company-specific reports, including Accounts Receivable reports
JSI will work with you to implement a program that provides exceptional oversight while incorporating your specific network-to-network billing needs. Our End User Audit process:
• Scrutinizes all of your billing information
• Ensures that billed amounts are reflective of product rates
• Compares billed rates to tariffed/published rates
• Ensures that individual bills reflect ordered products and services.
• Starts with the service order and ends with the customer bill
• Includes a detailed summary of our findings and recommendations, where appropriate
While the audit process provides useful information to the provider and is often the catalyst for corrective action, it is also an important factor in determining your customers’ level of satisfaction with your service.
For additional information on our Carrier Access Billing & Order Management services, simply click here to be connected with a senior member of our team.
End-User Billing
End-User Billing Overview
Audits
System Selection
LSR Order Management
Effective end user billing can be critical to the success of your company; it can make or break your relationship with your customers. With the increasing number of service options available to subscribers, it’s more important than ever to be positioned not only to offer new and varied services, but to be able to accurately bill for those services. Offering the “must have” products and services becomes a moot point if you do not bill for them, or if your billing is fraught with errors. Subscribers will quickly jump ship if they find they’re spending too much time with customer service personnel trying to resolve billing issues. And your accounting staff will quickly let you know when the balance sheets are anything but balanced. Well-defined order management procedures, in conjunction with a fully operational and accurate billing system, are the linchpins in a robust end user billing operation.
For additional information on our Carrier Access Billing & Order Management services, simply click here to be connected with a senior member of our team.
Before you can determine the effectiveness of your End User billing process, you must first determine the accuracy of your billing and back office operations. Audits are a core component of JSI’s palette. Our detailed audits allow us to examine all support processes associated with End User billing, from the inception of the order to the generation of the customer bill. We determine if these processes correctly identify products and services, and properly bill your customers.
Our End User Audit process:
• Scrutinizes all of your billing information
• Ensures that billed amounts are reflective of product rates
• Compares billed rates to tariffed/published rates
• Ensures that individual bills reflect ordered products and services.
• Starts with the service order and ends with the customer bill
• Includes a detailed summary of our findings and recommendations, where appropriate
While the audit process provides useful information to the provider and is often the catalyst for corrective action, it is also an important factor in determining your customers’ level of satisfaction with your service.
Our End User Audit process:
• Scrutinizes all of your billing information
• Ensures that billed amounts are reflective of product rates
• Compares billed rates to tariffed/published rates
• Ensures that individual bills reflect ordered products and services.
• Starts with the service order and ends with the customer bill
• Includes a detailed summary of our findings and recommendations, where appropriate
While the audit process provides useful information to the provider and is often the catalyst for corrective action, it is also an important factor in determining your customers’ level of satisfaction with your service.
For additional information on our Carrier Access Billing & Order Management services, simply click here to be connected with a senior member of our team.
The selection of an end-user billing system will determine the effectiveness of your process. While name recognition often elicits a favorable reaction, it is not the only – or necessarily the best – criteria for system selection. Companies often find that they have invested considerable resources – both time and money – in a system that is not compatible with their end-user billing requirements. Once that investment has been made, there are usually few options other than trying to fit the proverbial square peg into the round hole – trying to make the system function according to company-specific needs.
Deciding whether to supplement or replace your current system depends on the capability of the system, and its effectiveness in properly billing ordered services. JSI has both the knowledge and experience to walk you through the decision-making process and help you find the system that fits your budget and meets your needs.
Our End User System Selection processes include:
• Documentation of your current end-user billing requirements
• Review of your current system’s capabilitiesDevelopment of a needs assessment
• Preparation of proposals for the enhancement/upgrade of existing systems
• Preparation of proposals for the purchase of new billing systems
• Implementation of end-user billing systems
JSI will work with you to identify an end-user billing system that will sustain you through the rapid growth and expansion that characterize today’s marketplace. And if it is determined that new support systems are needed, we will guide you through the selection and design process, all the way to implementation.
Deciding whether to supplement or replace your current system depends on the capability of the system, and its effectiveness in properly billing ordered services. JSI has both the knowledge and experience to walk you through the decision-making process and help you find the system that fits your budget and meets your needs.
Our End User System Selection processes include:
• Documentation of your current end-user billing requirements
• Review of your current system’s capabilitiesDevelopment of a needs assessment
• Preparation of proposals for the enhancement/upgrade of existing systems
• Preparation of proposals for the purchase of new billing systems
• Implementation of end-user billing systems
JSI will work with you to identify an end-user billing system that will sustain you through the rapid growth and expansion that characterize today’s marketplace. And if it is determined that new support systems are needed, we will guide you through the selection and design process, all the way to implementation.
For additional information on our Carrier Access Billing & Order Management services, simply click here to be connected with a senior member of our team.
Whether you are an ILEC or a CLEC, an effective order management process is critical; it is the only way to track the products and services ordered by your customers. Just as importantly, it is an effective way to track the growth of your company and can provide data that is useful from a marketing perspective.
If your company is not razor-focused on the order management process, and if your company is not processing orders with a sense of urgency, your customers and ultimately your business may suffer the consequences. Our thorough analysis of your order management processes will allow you to determine the effectiveness of your current order procedures.
We will track the order:
• From the point of origination
• To provisioning:
• When the service is implemented
• If the ordered service is provisioned
• Through the bill system:
• If the ordered products/services are billed
• If the proper rates are applied
• To the customer’s bill
We will help you establish a documented process flow that requires validation of all orders prior to implementation, and results in the successful billing of products and services. JSI can also assist you with the LSR process. Whether you are generating or processing LSRs, we will confirm that the orders meet industry standards, and comply with FCC regulations relating to the local competitive environment. We will help you implement procedures that ensure you properly manage the provisioning process from start to finish.
If your company is not razor-focused on the order management process, and if your company is not processing orders with a sense of urgency, your customers and ultimately your business may suffer the consequences. Our thorough analysis of your order management processes will allow you to determine the effectiveness of your current order procedures.
We will track the order:
• From the point of origination
• To provisioning:
• When the service is implemented
• If the ordered service is provisioned
• Through the bill system:
• If the ordered products/services are billed
• If the proper rates are applied
• To the customer’s bill
We will help you establish a documented process flow that requires validation of all orders prior to implementation, and results in the successful billing of products and services. JSI can also assist you with the LSR process. Whether you are generating or processing LSRs, we will confirm that the orders meet industry standards, and comply with FCC regulations relating to the local competitive environment. We will help you implement procedures that ensure you properly manage the provisioning process from start to finish.
For additional information on our Carrier Access Billing & Order Management services, simply click here to be connected with a senior member of our team.
Customer Service Products
Customer Service Products Overview
Operational Assessments
Training
Customer service can be an extremely effective tool for building and strengthening client relationships. It often serves as the first – and sometimes last – impression of your company. With extensive service offerings, and bills that are sometimes confusing, it can be very reassuring to know you’re able to rely on a staff of well-trained customer service professionals to answer questions, and meet the needs of your customers.
Before competition there were no choices for telecommunications services, much less service providers; now customers have a choice. If your customers or potential customers have a negative experience, or if they are put off by the way they are treated by the frontline personnel, they may very well take their business elsewhere. Ensuring that your Customer Service staff is capable and professional becomes a good business decision.
Making customer care a priority, through operational assessments and regular training, will allow you to provide the best possible service to both new and existing customers.
For additional information on our Carrier Access Billing & Order Management services, simply click here to be connected with a senior member of our team.
The provision of good customer service is the result of several factors. It encompasses attitude and behavior, product knowledge, and clearly defined job functions. In order to determine if you’re providing good customer service, you must first identify what your company’s processes and policies are, and then assess how your CSRs are performing.
Of course, your perception of how you are responding may be quite different than that of your customers. JSI can help you grade your customer service operations by conducting a detailed Operational Assessment that incorporates on-site observations of your customer service operations, review of process documentation, and one-on-one discussions with your customer service personnel.
Through our on-site observations and review of your procedures, we can identify the positive aspects of your customer care processes, but also shine a light on any areas that need improvement.
Specifically, we:
• Analyze a broad range of your CSRs’ skills sets
• Gauge the CSRs’ knowledge of product/services and related pricing
• Assess your CSRs’ relationship with their customers
• Assess your Customer Service personnel’s ability to identify customer needs
• Evaluate your CSRs’ ability to make product recommendations
Once our on-site assessment is complete, we provide a detailed written analysis compiling all of the information obtained from our review of documentation, our observations, and our discussions with personnel. This comprehensive report includes recommendations on how to effectively improve customer care processes, as well as how to reinforce the positive components of your customer service operation.
Of course, your perception of how you are responding may be quite different than that of your customers. JSI can help you grade your customer service operations by conducting a detailed Operational Assessment that incorporates on-site observations of your customer service operations, review of process documentation, and one-on-one discussions with your customer service personnel.
Through our on-site observations and review of your procedures, we can identify the positive aspects of your customer care processes, but also shine a light on any areas that need improvement.
Specifically, we:
• Analyze a broad range of your CSRs’ skills sets
• Gauge the CSRs’ knowledge of product/services and related pricing
• Assess your CSRs’ relationship with their customers
• Assess your Customer Service personnel’s ability to identify customer needs
• Evaluate your CSRs’ ability to make product recommendations
Once our on-site assessment is complete, we provide a detailed written analysis compiling all of the information obtained from our review of documentation, our observations, and our discussions with personnel. This comprehensive report includes recommendations on how to effectively improve customer care processes, as well as how to reinforce the positive components of your customer service operation.
For additional information on our Carrier Access Billing & Order Management services, simply click here to be connected with a senior member of our team.
Not only is effective and timely training critical to the establishment of good customer service procedures, it is also critical to the reinforcement of good practices. Exceptional customer service creates loyalty and can give you the edge over your competitors; it can make the difference between losing a long-time customer and making a long-time proponent.
The customer service culture within an organization determines how personnel will respond to their customers, and whether or not they’ll “go the extra mile” to ensure customer satisfaction. In a highly competitive and fluid industry, companies can’t risk losing their base because the first line of contact is ineffective, ill-informed, or worst of all, apathetic. Each contact provides the opportunity for a company to define itself through the image it projects – do not throw away that opportunity; ensure that your customer service staff is prepared to provide exceptional service.
CSS offers Customer Service training in the following areas:
• How to provide customer-focused service
• Projecting a positive attitude
• Honing communication skills
• Developing product knowledge
• Knowing your customers (and what they want)
• How to sell
• Up-selling
• Cross-selling
• Regulatory Issues
• CARE
• CPNI
• Current hot-button issues
• Tariffs
• State
• Federal
• Local
All of our training can be customized to your specific needs and can be presented in a group setting or in a one-on-one environment.
• How to provide customer-focused service
• Projecting a positive attitude
• Honing communication skills
• Developing product knowledge
• Knowing your customers (and what they want)
• How to sell
• Up-selling
• Cross-selling
• Regulatory Issues
• CARE
• CPNI
• Current hot-button issues
• Tariffs
• State
• Federal
• Local
All of our training can be customized to your specific needs and can be presented in a group setting or in a one-on-one environment.
For additional information on our Carrier Access Billing & Order Management services, simply click here to be connected with a senior member of our team.
