As you are no doubt aware, the increasing number of companies adopting BYOD policies have triggered an increase in BYOD-related challenges. How to measure productivity? How to track usage for reimbursement? How to ensure security and compliance?

  

CDR-DATA recently came across a 2013 cell phone audit report from the Comptroller office of a major U.S. municipality. Out of respect for privacy we will not identify the city or the individuals involved in the audit. The process and findings, however, are insightful and useful for other organizations struggling to get control over BYOD. The full report is 18 pages, but we've decided to summarize the recommendations for you below.   

• Conduct a thorough audit: If you are currently handling cell phone contracts at the department level you may be paying thousands of dollars needlessly. By calculating usage at the company level, you can aggregate contracts and save significant dollars on your telecom spend. See below for a chart of the savings realized by the municipality after doing so:

• Develop a standard policy regarding cell phone and mobile device utilization and management: What is your policy?
  Do you have one that everyone understands? It should address: 1) oversight and usage monitoring, 2) device issuance, activations, returns and deactivations and 3) device and call plan change control management.
   
• Develop inter and intra-department procedures concerning cell phone and mobile device processes and controls:
  It should address: 1) process management (list of personnel authorized to approve mobile usage), 2) usage call monitoring and change control management, and 3) inventory

  accountability and tracking.
   
• Develop and implement a standard "Business Needs Evaluation and Approval" form: This form will document the business need and the parameters used to render approval for procurement or issuance of a call phone or mobile device to personnel. It should require the signature of the supervisor rendering final approval.

• Require the use of an application for the submission and processing of cell phone and mobile device procurement, issuance and service modification requests: This can be in the form of a 'trouble ticket' and can be submitted for all cell phone and mobile device procurement, issuance, upgrades or device service change requests.

We hope these guidelines are helpful for you. The bottom line is that BYOD is here to stay. Yes, there are many challenges to surmount. But you have to start somewhere. Ironing out the wrinkles is a process that requires adopting standards and processes that are clear, easy to follow and provide the flexibility to adjust to an ever-changing world.

 

Feel free to contact us with your questions or to learn more about how CDR-Data can help you with the right tools to allocation and control 'the true cost of your calls'.  

 

-Kevin Young, CEO/Founder, CDR-Data 

eBill-Back®: Fast, accurate telecommunications billing system for business centers, shared-tenant environments and any business requiring bill back of end users.

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cdrinfo@cdrdata.com. Visit