Contractual commitments vs. Market dynamics:
Most often CSPs are bound in a traditional ADM methodology by contractual and financial commitments. Nevertheless, they are expected to provide accurate forecasts to their vendors to help right-size their development teams. Additionally, there is also a need to forecast the market and identify the early trends so that new services can be launched to stay ahead of the competition. As an IT service provider with many years of industry experience, we understand how difficult this is for CSPs in an industry which is dynamically changing. Cognizant has served Tier-1 Service Providers for many years, helping them across the value chain -- from strategic consulting, improving business process efficiencies, and maintaining and developing their systems to heighten customer satisfaction.

Multiple vendors SLAs vs business KPIs:
COTS-based products with standard integration help to speed achievement of business goals. Therefore, many CSPs have multiple COTS-based products in their IT shop that are maintained, supported or enhanced by multiple vendors. For a typical business function, such as provisioning or customer care, there are usually several vendors for each sub-area, each servicing part of the business function. Each of these vendors have SLAs based on the specific sub-area, which means there is no cohesive vision. The Service Provider’s operations team is unable to develop an overall picture of how the total business function is performing. Moreover, the individual SLAs tied to each sub-area often can’t be combined to provide comprehensive KPIs.

Capabilities:

Cognizant has significant experience across strategic planning, process design, system integration, and operations and support. All of our clients enjoy the benefits of these services under one roof, at the most competitive rates and with the best quality. Cognizant’s technology centers of excellence keeps our Communications practice abreast of all the latest technical details for everything from designing an application for high availability to resolving a specific technology platform production issue.

Our capabilities span the BSS and OSS areas. Our team consists of highly energetic, trained and experienced professionals from diverse backgrounds such as consulting, program and project management, strategic planners and business analysts, network management, and database/Web server/application server administration/configuration professionals. Our proven Knowledge Transition methodology ensures a swift, efficient and seamless transfer. We have effectively transitioned a bevy of applications for many of our clients using this methodology.

Services:

• Assembly Line Methodology:
  Our assembly line methodology helps reduce forecast related tasks and financial burdens due to inaccurate commitments. While simultaneously supplementing CSPs focus on business, we partner to deliver services that meet business goals – all at a fixed cost. Specialized teams work in each of the SDLC towers or sectors, developing re-usable components and performing tasks for which they are best suited, thereby speeding time-to-market.
  
• Managed Services Model
  Our Communications practice has developed a managed service model through which we manage other vendors within high level and sub-areas to provide real-time performance about the health of key business functions. So, while the client spends more time in assisting the business and planning for the future, Cognizant helps to keep a close watch on business KPIs.