Choice
Accountability
Relationship
Experience
CHOICE
• Agents represent multiple carriers and offer you different options to solve problems.
• Direct Carrier/MSP representatives who can only show you one way to solve the problem.
• Choice of Solution (MPLS or Ethernet? Switched or Dedicated LD? SIP VoIP, Hosted, or Traditional TDM)
• Choice of Price Point for same or similar solution
• Most businesses do not know they can use an agent! Once they do, they seldom go back.
ACCOUNTABILITY
• Agents confirm the carriers they represent to assure their service works, bills are accurate, and support is available
• Agent customers are encouraged to contact the agent not the carrier at all times for any and all issues
• Agent customers enjoy an un-biased opinion
• Agents are their own business (less turnover than at large Carriers/MSP’s)
RELATIONSHIPS
• Agents survive market and technology changes by having long term established relationships with end-user clients and carriers/MSP’s
• Customers who embrace an agent relationship enjoy a tremendous resource for multiple departments including IT, Accounting, Engineering, Marketing, Sales and HR.
• Many Agents can also provide PBX, firewall, router, switches, WiFi, cabling, etc.
EXPERIENCE
• Agents are professionals with many years’ experience
• The old Bell companies started using Authorized Agents in the early 1990’s
• Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) Services began in 1997
• Established agents have seen market and technology changes and know the difference between what works and what is hype
• Ongoing education by both the carriers and the industry at Trade Shows, Seminars, Webinars.
• Agents are not afraid to tell you “NO” when an idea does not fit your solution
• Established agents have experience across a wide spectrum of businesses; auto, medical, legal, education, government etc. and are familiar with the systems and practices of your industry.