BOSTON, Dec. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Service providers are increasingly turning to a managed services model for their business support system (BSS) and operations support system (OSS) needs to reduce cost and increase efficiency, according to a major new report from Heavy Reading (www.heavyreading.com), the research division of Light Reading (www.lightreading.com).

The Changing Landscape of BSS/OSS Managed Services examines the leading drivers for BSS/OSS managed services, relying on recent Heavy Reading surveys of managed services vendors and service providers. The report also discusses the key challenges service providers and vendors must overcome to be successful in a managed services model and offers specific recommendations for how they can do so.

The report analyzes 17 leading vendors that can help service providers with their BSS/OSS managed service needs. For a full list of companies analyzed in this report, please see: http://img.lightreading.com/heavyreading/pdf/hr20121119_vendors.pdf

"Over the past year in talking to both service providers and vendors in briefings and at conferences, Heavy Reading's service provider IT (SPIT) team has found a growing buzz around managed services," notes Sarah Wallace, Heavy Reading Analyst and author of the report. "Service providers are looking to managed services to help with their operations as they try to deal with copious amounts of data, new services and applications, while at the same time providing superior quality of experience to subscribers who want services how, where and when they want them."

The key for a service provider and outsourcer to be successful in a managed services model will be a basic understanding of each other's needs, goals and ultimately the needs of the end users/subscribers, notes Wallace. "Although this seems like such a simple notion, this is historically the biggest complaint from service providers – that communication among various stakeholders from both parties is lacking and ultimately leads to inefficiency and overall business goals not being met."

Key findings of The Changing Landscape of BSS/OSS Managed Services include the following:

M2M, cloud service and CEM seem to be the main drivers for service providers to look to outsourcing. The consensus in the industry is that M2M, cloud and CEM are the main reasons why service providers are looking to rapidly update their operations and thus looking to outsourcing as a faster, cost effective and more efficient way to do so.

Expertise is increasing in importance relative to cost as a driver for managed services. Operators have historically turned to outsourcing for cost reasons, but as alternative revenue streams are increasingly sought, expertise is becoming just as crucial. Cost vs. expertise will also depend on a service provider's maturity and business objectives but overall, industry consensus is that vendors have to be ready to serve operators that no longer want second-rate outsourcing.

Another reason to turn to managed services is so that service providers may become a managed service provider themselves. As service providers look to alternative revenue streams to their already saturated traditional services, becoming a managed service provider themselves has become more appealing. The key will be for service providers to make sure that their operations are mature enough.

Unresolved legacy issues present challenges to managed services success. As service providers look to transform their legacy systems, they will have to work with an outsourcer that will realistically be able to help them with their transformation and not give empty promises, as it will be quite a challenge for the outsourcers that will have to deal with older, disparate systems and third-party software.

The Changing Landscape of BSS/OSS Managed Services costs $3,995 and is published in PDF format. The price includes an enterprise license covering all of the employees at the purchaser's company.

For more information, or to request a free executive summary, contact:

Dave Williams
Sales Director, Heavy Reading
858-485-8870
dave.williams@ubm.com

Press/analyst contact:
Jennifer Baker
Marketing Director, Light Reading Communications Network
617-747-4110
jennifer.baker@ubm.com

About Heavy Reading (www.heavyreading.com)
Heavy Reading is an independent research organization offering deep analysis of emerging telecom trends to network operators, technology suppliers, and investors. Its product portfolio includes in-depth reports that address critical next-generation technology and service issues, market trackers that focus on the telecom industry's most critical technology sectors, exclusive worldwide surveys of network operator decision-makers that identify future purchasing and deployment plans, and a rich array of custom and consulting services that give clients the market intelligence needed to compete successfully in the global telecom industry. As a telecom research arm of the Light Reading Communications Network (www.lrcn.com), Heavy Reading contributes to the only integrated business information platform serving the global communications industry.

About Light Reading Communications Network (www.lrcn.com)
The Light Reading Communications Network combines the most trusted telecom research brands with award-winning online communities and a rich events portfolio to deliver the only integrated business information platform serving the global communications industry.  With the power of this platform, leaders who build, deploy, finance, and regulate next-generation telecom networks are able to make more informed decisions on emerging market and service opportunities.  Light Reading Communications Network is a division of UBM Tech (tech.ubm.com), the global leader in technology media and business information. 

SOURCE Heavy Reading