What Should a Small Business Look for in a Mobile Operator?
Mobile operators are constantly looking for ways to enlarge their eroding revenues and profits. It may come as a surprise to you, especially after looking at your mobile service bill, that they are not making as much as they used to. While demand for cheap calling and text messaging plans have sharply dropped, demand for faster, cheaper, and unlimited data has skyrocketed. For mobile operators this means huge investments in network infrastructure.
As they were looking to find additional sources to increase their cash flow with, they stumbled upon YOU—the small business owner. They realized that “good things come in small packages.” What is it about you that they find so appealing? Well, small businesses are keeping the world economy going. In Western countries, the majority of businesses are small and medium. In the UK, 99% of businesses are considered micro, small, or medium, and they employ 58% of all employees; in the US and Germany, to name a few, rates are pretty much the same. Also, because many small businesses do not have IT personnel, they depend on their mobile operator not only for mobile communication services, but also for technical support, security, cloud services, etc.
Obviously, small-business owners have negotiation power over telecommunication companies, and they should take advantage of this to make mobile operators work for them, rather than the other way around. Here is how:
Dedicated Business Service Center: Small-business owners are busy running a business and cannot afford to wait in line or online to get service. You should look for an operator that has dedicated stores or a service line specifically for you. Canadian mobile operator TELUS, in Toronto, is a store that is designed to serve only small businesses. At the TELUS Business Center, owners can meet the specialized sales force, play with devices in interactive digital zones, and attend private and group lectures. In the US, the technology company Apple offers a similar service.
Custom-Made Plans: Small businesses come in many shapes and forms. Small local stores have different communication needs than high-tech companies. You should choose a mobile operator that understands this. If your mobile operator only offers structured plans and is not willing to be flexible and open to your business needs, you should look elsewhere. Maybe choosing local mobile operators will be the right choice to get this kind of service.
More than Just Calls, Text and Data: Large mobile operators can offer their customers more than just mobile communication services. They can become a valuable source for technological and business support. Verizon, for example, provides businesses with face-to-face technical support through Best Buy’s “Geek Squad” service. TELUS, which I mentioned before, manages a blog where experts write about small-business issues. Mobile operators can hold webinars and seminars and have their own executives share thoughts and ideas and offer support to small businesses.
I hope this post opens your eyes to the fact you deserve more out of your mobile service provider. If you feel you are not happy with your current service, shop around and switch. Small-business owners should never forget that they have power and they have the obligation to put it to good use.
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