Setting up a revenue assurance function within a local telecommunications company

Abstract

This project was submitted in fulfilment of the convergent Masters in Information Technology. In this study we look into the revenue assurance functions of telecommunication companies and identify the type of problems being faced by revenue assurance practitioners. We also address the best practices suggested by worldwide revenue assurance professionals as well as the mitigation measures adopted by revenue assurance functions of local telecommunication companies. Recommendations on the findings noted on local companies are also raised with respect to both the set up and the individual controls adopted. It is well worth pointing out that this project deals with IT (Information Technology) controls used for technologies adopted by telecommunication companies to provide their services. Revenue assurance in the telecommunication industry mainly relates to: a. securing company revenues, which are usually associated to finance practitioners, and b. to the review of technologies used by telecommunication companies to provide their services In this manner it is attempted to link together the finance profession and the IT profession via revenue assurance and it is also concluded that ideally such functions should contain a hybrid of finance and IT skills. This is very much in line with the degree for which this project is being submitted whose scope is to give detailed IT knowledge to students who are professionals in other areas such as finance, pharmaceuticals etc. Indeed this project provides extensive insight on the knowledge revenue assurance practitioners should have on the technologies adopted by the telecommunication industry. Other conclusions resulting from this project relate to the manner in which IT tools can add value to the work performed by revenue assurance professionals and to the way in which the complexity of mobile services have helped the revenue assurance profession gain greater importance in the past years.