Data, Debt and Appreciating Loyal Customers

I love making RAG TV. Does it show? We had another cracking live stream yesterday (pictured above) and I laughed almost as much as I learned. During the show:

  • co-presenter Lee Scargall explained how bad debt for telcos compares to that found in other sectors;
  • Bill Leahy and Nev Phillips of Symmetry Solutions shared statistics and insights about the ways personalized tariff recommendations enhance profits whilst strengthening the bond with customers; and
  • you told us which RAFM collaborations you recognize and admire, per the results of Monday’s poll on Commsrisk.

There was even a viewer who contributed to the educational experience by reminding the cast and crew of a crucial date in the RAG calendar after we all forgot it!

It is thrilling to hear about telcos gaining a competitive advantage by analyzing usage data to determine the best tariff plans for each customer. They are playing the long game where they generate enhanced profits by rewarding loyalty instead of focusing on the short game of attracting new customers with special discounts. Ideas like these deserve to be spread. Information is more valuable if shared, so many can act upon it.

The best way forward is to give professionals who do the best work – no matter which country they are from – the opportunity to share their advice with other professionals who hunger for new methods to mitigate risk and boost profits. Yesterday was focused on data and debt. Next week we will talk about risk innovations by African telcos. Future episodes will address root cause identification, cross-border law enforcement, the risks of working from home, and new ways to prevent spam. This is a vibrant field where people are doing great work all over the planet. RAG TV is bringing together the energy and diversity of this profession to an extent I only used to dream about.

The audience statistics confirm we are building something special. We now have a virtual space where risk and assurance practitioners can come together to learn and improve at an accelerated rate. The world is changing. We can keep accelerating forward by boosting the upward cycle that RAG TV has already begun. But why read about RAG TV when you can watch it? If you missed yesterday’s live stream then watch the replay below.

Eric Priezkalns
Eric Priezkalns
Eric is the Editor of Commsrisk. Look here for more about the history of Commsrisk and the role played by Eric.

Eric is also the Chief Executive of the Risk & Assurance Group (RAG), a global association of professionals working in risk management and business assurance for communications providers.

Previously Eric was Director of Risk Management for Qatar Telecom and he has worked with Cable & Wireless, T‑Mobile, Sky, Worldcom and other telcos. He was lead author of Revenue Assurance: Expert Opinions for Communications Providers, published by CRC Press. He is a qualified chartered accountant, with degrees in information systems, and in mathematics and philosophy.