| Telecom billing systems are a breakthrough in the | | | | Detail Records of the customer. In a similar way, |
| technological world. In this rapidly rising industry, an | | | | outgoing calls are also saved. These details are |
| efficient system is required to map the consumer | | | | reflected in the bills as well. Whenever a customer |
| usage of its services. The system should be very | | | | calls a customer support number, the call details |
| effective in turning the mapped data into a bill | | | | are recorded. These details can lead to manual |
| that can be presented to the customer. | | | | changes in the billing system, such as errors |
| Firstly, the services used by the customers need | | | | reported, discounts offered or description of the |
| to be segregated. Then a detailed bill needs to be | | | | complaint for future reference. The complaint |
| generated, giving a clear picture of customer | | | | history of a customer and call history can help the |
| usage. The billing department and the customer | | | | telecom company in case it is needed in the |
| support have to work in unity to keep the | | | | future for solving issues. |
| customers happy. Let us find out how a telecom | | | | Every month a computer generated invoice is |
| billing system works. It starts with customer | | | | sent to the customer in the form of a bill. |
| application for a new account with the telecom | | | | Customers whose records show no payment |
| company. The customer records are checked by | | | | processed for the earlier month/s are sent a |
| the telecom company and then a unique | | | | warning message or their service will be |
| customer ID is provided to the new customer. | | | | temporarily deactivated. |
| The customer account is then activated. | | | | A bill will be generated finally. It will be based on |
| The unique customer ID will save all the usage | | | | the Automated Message Accounting System, |
| records of the particular customer. The system | | | | Interim Standard 124, Network Data Management |
| will use the chosen tariff plan by the customer | | | | and many such billing standards. The entire |
| and update the bill as per the Call Detail Records | | | | system costs are calculated depending on the |
| (CDR). Long distance call charges and roaming | | | | money invested in the call center, the hardware |
| charges will be added to the system once the | | | | and the software, the collections, the billing cycles, |
| outside supporting telecom operators send in the | | | | etc. Sometimes printed bill costs are also involved |
| details. | | | | when the customer request bills through postal |
| Wireless internet usage data will be charged | | | | mail instead of e-bills. Printing costs are also |
| separately depending on the data usage tariff plan. | | | | involved for sending out communication mails to |
| Details like call duration, caller number, call start | | | | customers. |
| time and call end time will be recorded In the Call | | | | |