Network connections with IoT, M2M and other applications will have lower incremental costs compared to smartphones, but there will be a huge increase in volume which enterprises need to manage. The Internet of Things (IoT) have overtaken mobile phones as the largest category of connected devices.
Managing this exponential volume places a premium on more efficient systems to track assets, manage costs and provide reports for these assets. Enterprises need to be nimble. In this new world, MMS, (Managed Mobility Service), WEM (Wireless Expense Management) and TEM (Telecom/Technology Expense Management) systems become more critical.
Critics of the TEM market complain about growth, but these market changes are bullish for providers that innovate. ETMA sees the market expanding as its members gain more business. The market is shifting from Capital Expenditures (CapEx) to Operations Expenditures (OpEx) with IT infrastructure moving to the cloud. The differences are complex as highlighted by CIO, but one critical difference with OpEx is the need to continually track, report and manage ongoing expenses rather than CapEx which involve big expenditures once or a few times. This has many parallels to managing telecom expenses. ETMA changed its name from the Telecom Expense Management Industry Association (TEMIA) to the Technology Expense Management Industry Association to reflect the shift. Opportunities within the existing client base will grow dramatically over the next few years and this industry is best positioned to address enterprises’ needs.
