It is the question on the minds of procurement managers and business owners nationwide and one that could significantly impact the productivity of a business, “is it better for me to go direct to a major network for a business phone contract or use a broker?”

Often businesses operate under the misconception that going to a network directly will garner them the most cost-effective prices and ultimately the most ‘secure’ deal due to the fact that they are dealing with a big name in the telecommunications industry. But is this always this case? Below we explore some of the benefits that a business mobile broker could bring to your business.

Why should businesses use a mobile phone broker?

Contract range

With extensive marketing budgets and overall market share it may appear that a network will have anything and everything your business needs from a mobile contract, but the packages that networks offer to businesses tend to be rather rigid in their offering and therefore a business may end up with a deal that is not necessarily the best package for the requirements of each individual. The end result of this is multiple contracts with multiple networks that not only leads to an administrative nightmare but also increases costs exponentially.

Moreover, a business may not even fully understand the intricacies of their requirements, with which the business is able to run efficiently. Where a broker can assist is in the negotiation of these contracts due to the strong connections they have with these large networks, developed over many years of working alongside each other and due to the sheer volume of potential custom they can bring. This ultimately leads to the brokers effectively negotiating the ideal contracts to suit a business model.

Their effective negotiation skills and their ability to identify the most suitable packages for a business is precisely the reason why a broker is a much more cost-effective solution. Many perceive that a broker’s cost is simply added on top of an already established cost structure, however, the buying power that a broker will bring to the table is second to none and therefore effective negotiation is part and parcel of their role. Furthermore, as brokers aren’t supplementing substantial marketing budgets or operating their services with a specific profit target to maintain their share price, they are able to offer these cost-effective solutions without adding an astronomical fee on top.

Account management

Now a business has a contract in place, what happens when something goes wrong, they have a query or they simply need some support with a mobile device? For those dealing directly with large networks this usually means waiting on hold for an inordinate amount of time and subsequently being passed from pillar to post until you reach the right person. The fact of the matter is that large networks are simply inundated with these type of queries, and more often than not your first contact will not have adequate training to provide you with the support needed and don’t know one business from the next.

Mobile brokers will have a strong team behind them, with decades if not centuries of expertise between them in the mobile communications industry. These teams will know a business, know their requirements and will ultimately be able to regularly assess that their current mobile contract meets the ever-changing needs of a business. This investment in high quality customer service is one of the major factors that entices businesses to use a broker each and every time they require a mobile contract.

As we have demonstrated, the use of a mobile phone broker can be an invaluable asset to any business looking for the right mobile solution. Whilst deciding to go with a broker is a fantastic first step, choosing a poor broker is on a par with a poor network, therefore choosing that ideal broker for your business is essential; check their reviews, their finances, ask for referrals, anything so that you feel confident that they will provide your business with the best service.