subject: Telecom Billing Software: Detailed Know-how [print this page] The telecom billing software is a breakthrough in the technological world. In this rapidly rising industry, an efficient system is required to map the consumer usage of its services. The system should be very effective in turning the mapped data into a bill that can be presented to the customer.
Firstly, the services used by the customers need to be segregated. Then a detailed bill needs to be generated, giving a clear picture of customer usage. The billing department and the customer support have to work in unity to keep the customers happy. The telecom billing software helps with this.
Let us find out how a billing system is created. In a standard system, a customer will apply for the services with the relevant documents. The credibility of the person is checked and the wireless service will be provided. The customer preferences are saved and their account is activated.
The unique customer ID will save all the usage records of the particular customer. The system will use the chosen tariff plan by the customer and update the bill as per the Call Detail Records (CDR). Long distance call charges and roaming charges will be added to the system once the outside supporting telecom operators send in the details.
Call Detail Records updated the system with the call details such as Caller number, call duration, call start time, call end time and call duration. The customer is charged for data usage based on the data usage plan. All the calls made to the customer support are recorded and errors or faults are updated in the system. The customer support records every customer call for later reference.
An invoice is generated by the system every month as per the automated entries saved throughout the month of the bill cycle. These automated entries are saved on the basis of call records, data usage, complaints received, earlier payments and under-process payments. The amount is automatically debited from the bank account of the customer if that was preset as per the consumer request. Defaulter consumer accounts who failed to pay earlier will be sent alert messages automatically or their account will be deactivated on a temporary basis.
At the end of the month a bill is generated as per the billing standards such as Network Data Management, Interim Standard 124, Automated Message Accounting System, etc. The system also carries costs that are based on the collections, billing cycles, software, hardware, call center and printing. Printed material is needed for sending bills or other communication via postal mail.
