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Telephone Bill Headache For Local Government Could Be Cured By Independent Audit
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
UK Local Authorities could be saving millions of pounds if they restructured their telecoms infrastructure according to Audits Unlimited, a leading independent utility consultant.
These comments follow the publication of a pilot study by the London Regional Centre of Excellence(*) which looked at the feasibility of carrying out an independent audit of telephony services. The pilot, carried out in collaboration with the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) and the London Boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham and Barking & Dagenham, concluded that telephony audits can make significant savings (averaging 20%) on current telephony costs. Furthermore, the report recommends that all London Boroughs give consideration to using a specialist audit company to carry out a telephony audit.
Amongst the recommended suppliers of such services cited in the report Audits Unlimited is the only truly independent consultancy.
"A detailed analysis of existing fixed and mobile phone bills can reveal huge potential cost savings," said Donald Maclean, Managing Partner of Audits Unlimited. "The cost of redundant lines, costly equipment rental, inappropriate tariffs and event using the wrong directory enquiries number can all mount up not to mention straightforward telephone misuse."
He added, "The study revealed that introducing a personal call management service whereby staff could pay for personal calls made on work mobiles could make huge savings for local government. One London Borough has already made direct savings of over £215,000 per annum by implementing such a service."
Maclean concluded: "By conducting a completely independent audit of telephony services local government will be able to identify savings and demonstrate best value procurement to the taxpayer."
(*) "Delivering savings through telephony audits" London Regional Centre of Excellence: Outcomes from London pilot ? 16 June 2006.
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