Verizon makes global billing simpler

In direct response to requests from its multinational customers, Verizon Business has created a Global Billing Report that enables top executives to see their total global telecom spending via an online tool that is provided at no additional charge. The GBR can be presented in the customer's choice of currency, and in any one of nine languages. It is already available and in use.

“We had direct feedback from our multinational customers that led to this,” said Mark Chodoronek, executive director of customer enablement and billing assurance for Verizon Business. “They told us that we provided them with a lot of information and a lot of detail, but what they needed from us was something that provided a summary of what they are buying across all regions, company units, etc. They wanted to know what the total spend was and be able to generate these reports on that.”

Verizon Business is able to offer a consolidated record in part because of the major billing transformation the company undertook, which created a single data output format, known as VZ-450, for all billing systems. That enabled billing information to be stored in a centralized database, and that information is used to create the GBR, Chodoronek said.

“This gives us a new baseline to add all of our existing billing systems – regional and international billing systems all come together into one summary environment,” Chodoronek said. “The key here is taking multiple views and rolling them together into a very summarized environment.”

Today the GBR is available for voice, data and hosting services, but wireless and managed security will be offered by year’s end, Chodoronek said, as will additional currencies, beyond the current nine that are offered. The GBR is viewable at the Verizon Enterprise Center, the global portal for Verizon Business and Verizon Wireless customers.

“We currently have a dashboard for networks on the portal, and we will be adding a billing dashboard in September to include wireline and wireless,” Chodoronek said. “It will have a pie chart, it will break [billing] out by region, percentage of revenues or product. It will provide a quick view, quick information to enable CTOs to make business decisions or decide to ask for help. It puts more information at their fingertips.”