In 2020 IDC predicted investment in digital transformation could reach over $1,009.8 billion by 2025, as companies looked to build out their connectivity and networking strategies to support a more digitally focused future.
As we close in on this 2025 timeline, it's evident that embracing digital practices continues to be essential for businesses and the service providers supplying them. As does the way in which these services are procured.
It’s not surprising then that automated ways of working are fast becoming the norm when it comes to quoting, ordering and delivering connectivity services. After all, automation exists to make the customer experience quicker, easier and more seamless.
Automation doesn’t just support a digital future, it is the future!
From withdrawing money from a cashpoint, through to ordering your weekly groceries, automation is expected.
In fact, a 2022 report by Cflow, they found that 31% of businesses have fully automated at least one key business function and 41% of the respondents stated that they are using automation extensively across multiple functions. These stats are set only to rise as businesses look to merge systems further and simplify internal and external processes using automation in order to streamline business practices, increase efficiencies and reduce manual intervention.
More recently, the 2023 Global State of IT Automation Report announced that 92% of respondents enabled end-users to execute their own workflows, tools, and processes through self-service automation. The move to this more joined up way of working enabled employees to reduce time spent on laborious tasks, instead freeing up teams to focus on other key priorities.
Interestingly, the 2023 Global Sate of IT Automation report also found that automation had evolved into the automated interaction between systems, known as orchestration, with 81% of respondents stating that they are looking to develop their automation programme and 86% are planning to replace or add a new platform to support orchestration.
This is something that Neos Networks knows only too well following its own internal automation journey. In collaboration with Blue Planet and Cerillion, Neos Networks completed a seismic transformation of its BSS/OSS platforms from quoting and ordering, to fulfilment and service orchestration, resulting in an all-encompassing, customer driven solution to improve efficiencies and speed of delivery.
Automation and telcos
It is not a surprise that the typically forward-thinking telco sector are advocates of automating services.
But for automation to function, connectivity must be prevalent.
Not only does automation naturally require better levels of connectivity and network in order to deliver its promised benefits effectively, something that we’re proud to be able to offer through our far-reaching, business-only national fibre network, it’s also something that’s been driving the quoting and ordering trend in telecoms for some time.
Self-serve portals, like LIVEQUOTE from Neos Networks, is a great example of this. The portal launched in 2013, initially enabling partners to quote and order 10Mbps – 1Gbps Ethernet connectivity services without the need for manual intervention and sales support. Over the last 10+ years the tool has benefitted from substantial investment, broadening both the range of products and services it offers as well as the capacities available (up to 100Gbps).
Just recently LIVEQUOTE has evolved further, following feedback from its 550-strong partner base, to implement new and easier ways of automating and simplifying the quoting and ordering journey for its users. Some of the new features include location-based quoting, quoting multiple bandwidths and services in a single entry, enhanced Optical ordering and geo-mapping for more accurate results.
The power of automation
Automation is set to be a staple in the future of our personal lives, work lives and the eco-system in which we reside. And this can only be a great thing.
Through the power of automation and the provision of self-serve solutions we can embrace a more sustainable future that allows for ease of information, speed of service and delivers ever important time efficiencies.
Keen to learn more about how we’ve improved automation at Neos Networks. Request access to LIVEQUOTE to see for yourself.
