In a recent webinar, Mark Newman, Chief Analyst at TM Forum, engaged with Einar Augedal, CEO, and Fredrik Roos, Senior Telco Expert at Bluestone PIM Telco Accelerator, to explore strategies for unlocking growth in the B2B telecom market.
This discussion provided insights into market trends, innovative approaches, and the critical role of technology in driving B2B success for telecom operators.
Understanding the B2B telecom market
The global telecom market, valued at $1.7 trillion, sees B2B accounting for approximately one-third of this figure. Although B2B constitutes a smaller segment compared to B2C, it is expanding faster, with annual growth between 3-6% compared to the more modest growth of B2C.
This shift in focus toward B2B is driven by the saturation of the B2C market, where major players like Android and Apple dominate.
TM Forum: Global telco revenue breakdown
Segmentation strategies for telcos
Telcos are adopting strategies such as segmenting their offerings by business size and industry, catering to needs from small office/home office setups to large enterprise networks.
This approach allows for tailored solutions in sectors like healthcare, automotive, and financial services.
Combining horizontal and vertical segmentation enables telcos to provide customized solutions for various customer segments, addressing unique needs across industries.
TM Forum: B2B universe
The importance of flexibility and scalability
A critical takeaway from the discussion is the importance of flexibility and scalability in B2B telecom. According to a TM Forum survey, 87% of respondents identified these as essential features for their Business Support Systems (BSS).
Telcos need the ability to scale up or down and rapidly adapt to changing market conditions. This flexibility often involves leveraging cloud-based software capabilities to provide seamless and scalable solutions.
TM Forum: What are the most important future requirements for your BSS
Enhancing digital commerce and ecosystem enablement
Telcos are also focusing on improving their digital commerce capabilities. Integrated digital experiences and automated service configurations are becoming increasingly important.
Additionally, enabling ecosystems where telcos can bundle third-party products and services with their connectivity offerings is a significant growth area.
Telco Accelerator: Scalable strategies for B2B growth
Bluestone PIM's Telco Accelerator enhances telcos' go-to-market strategies with flexibility and scalability for modern B2B needs. This API-based suite includes price management, digital asset management, product information management, campaign management, voucher management, and so much more to enable a customizable customer journey.
Integrating MACH architecture (microservices, API-first, cloud-native infrastructure, and headless) separates the backend from the front, allowing rapid and adaptable responses to market changes essential for meeting diverse customer demands.
The full API-based suite of Bluestone PIM Telco Accelerator
Success stories
The benefits of composable platforms are evident from real-world examples in the Nordic region. A major network operator transitioned from a monolithic to a composable platform, integrating capabilities like campaign and customer management, enabling customized offerings while maintaining operational continuity. Read more about their business struggles and how they benefited from our Telco Accelerator in this customer success story.
Another case highlights a B2B-only telco using the Telco Accelerator to offer enterprise-specific pricing models and manage employee credits, demonstrating crucial flexibility for diverse enterprise needs. The SaaS-based model ensures scalability and ease of deployment, minimizing the need for extensive on-site support regardless of customers' global locations.
Balancing simplicity with customization
A key theme in the discussion was balancing simplicity with customization.
New market entrants may start with minimal offerings, while established telcos require the ability to add tailored solutions without incurring technical debt.
The Telco Accelerator's configurable nature allows operators to begin with a simple core offering and enhance it with additional layers of customization, enabling rapid adaptation to new opportunities.
Conclusion
Innovation and adaptability are crucial in the dynamic B2B telco landscape. Composable commerce IT solutions like Bluestone PIM's Telco Accelerator provide the necessary flexibility, scalability, and customization to meet diverse needs. By embracing MACH architecture and focusing on customer-centric solutions, telcos can overcome traditional barriers and unlock new growth opportunities.
Discover the future of telecom today! Download the free recording on B2B telecom innovation with TM Forum and Telco Accelerator or book a demo to experience our solution firsthand.
