Network Voice Services Category Procurement Intelligence Report

Several macro changes in the dynamics of overall Networking as well as Network Voice Services procurement trends are poised to change the business practices and procurement thumb rules. The ecosystem of Network Voice Services is part of an industry which is developing a host of new transformative technologies. Billions of dollars are being invested into this industry, and companies are in cutthroat competition to discover the next game changing technology, hardware, software, and services.

The supply market has undergone several structural changes including introduction of several new vendors every year, M&As and vertical integration efforts of suppliers. This has resulted in some issues such as erosion of previously established supplier relationships but has also opened new opportunities to onboard new suppliers that offer a solution with better fitment or a wider range of offerings in .

In a bid to differentiate themselves in an overcrowded technology space, suppliers are now focusing on creating industry-specific specialized products. Buyers see this trend as an opportunity to procure more targeted solutions and are developing internal capabilities to identify and leverage innovations in the supplier base.

Category managers need to take note of the potential of these developments and reassess the changes required in their procurement practices.

Sometimes, procurement functions are unable to timely alter their practices while responding to market conditions. Industry experts acknowledge that periodically reviewing procurement best practices and adopting learnings from across procurement categories can help procurement teams respond to market needs in a more agile way. This report combines our experience of other categories with Network Voice Services procurement insights and hand picks best practices that can work for category managers delving in this market.

For example, Needs of buyers can vary depending on the industry where buyers operate. For instance, buyers from the financial services industry give high importance to regulatory compliance and data security, whereas buyers from the e-commerce industry prioritize high throughput, low response time, and high scalability. Hence, service providers with a strong knowledge of the security, compliance, and governance needs of buyers' industries and a proven track record of performance with respect to these aspects should be prioritized.

Developing a strong understanding of the potential vulnerabilities of service providers can help buyers limit their potential losses and also gives the bargaining power to demand services from more robust measures in the SLA.

Transferring to a new supplier can be often costly and can further get exacerbated by instances of vendor lock-ins. Buyers must scrutinize the offerings of service providers for any possibilities of vendor lock-ins and demand client testimonials from service providers to assess such possibilities. Watch out for products/services that are priced excessively low, as they can often result in costly lock-ins.

Network Voice Services procurement managers also need to proactively identify and mitigate potential risks that can arise in the supply chain or contracts for Network Voice Services procurement. Some examples include: