This interactive guide is designed to help you understand the landscape of software products that could be employed over the lifecycle of a broadband network, from design to optimization. The products are organized by category so that you can filter the tools by a specific category. Definitions for each category are provided below. This guide is not intended as an endorsement of any product, it simply attempts to organize the landscape of software tools and vendors.
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Asset Management Software (AMS) - Asset management software helps organizations manage tangible assets (physical objects such as buildings or equipment) and intangible assets (such as human capital, intellectual property, or financial assets). Asset management is a systematic process of developing, operating, maintaining, upgrading, and disposing of assets in the most cost-effective manner (including all costs, risks, and performance attributes).
Billing/BSS Software (BSS) - Business support systems (BSS) are the components that a telecommunications service provider uses to run its business operations towards customers. With operations support systems (OSS), they are used to support end-to-end telecommunication services. The two systems together are abbreviated in various ways, such as OSS/BSS, BSS/OSS, or B/OSS. BOSS. More at Business support system
Business Intelligence Software (BIS) - Business intelligence software is software designed to retrieve, analyze, transform, and report data. The applications read and help to transform data that has been previously stored in a data warehouse or data mart into business or operational insights for improved decision making. More at Business intelligence software
Call Center Software (CCS) – Call Center Software are systems used by businesses to manage high volumes of inbound queries or outbound telephone calls keeping their workforce or agents productive and in control to serve or acquire customers.
Customer Relationship Management Software (CRM) – Customer relationship management (CRM) software is used to handle a company's dealings with its customers. These systems can be integrated with telephone and call recording systems as well as with corporate systems for input and reporting. These systems provide automated support as well as advanced capabilities (AI) that can extract and analyze data collected or handle basic questions and complaints. More at Consumer relationship system
Device Management Software / ACS (DMA) – Device management software is a platform that enables auto-provisioning and remote management of Consumer Premise Equipment (CPE) devices such as residential gateways, IP set-top boxes, and VoIP terminal adapters that comprise a home networking environment. These management and monitoring tasks include recording the statistics, updating the configurations of CPEs, upgrading firmware on CPEs.
Fiber Management Software (FMS) – Fiber management systems track functions or attributes of networks such as design, physical locations of assets, splice points (mechanical/fusion), and more. These systems can generate reports that describe various network data points, including cable section lengths, loss budgets, network capacity, optical loss, splice and termination locations. Network operators can store geospatial data and documents if GIS capabilities are available. Fiber optic network management platforms with GIS features allow network managers to visualize cable routes and evaluate surrounding environments. More at Fiber management system
Field Service Management Software (FSM) - Field service management (FSM) refers to the management of a company's resources employed at or en route to the property of clients, rather than on company property. Examples include locating vehicles, managing worker activity, scheduling and dispatching work, ensuring driver safety, and integrating the management of such activities with inventory, billing, accounting and other back-office systems. FSM most commonly refers to companies who need to manage installation, service or repairs of systems or equipment.
Fleet Management Software (FLS) - Fleet management software (FMS) enables people to accomplish a series of specific tasks in the management of any or all aspects relating to a fleet of vehicles operated by a company, government, or other organization. These tasks encompass all operations from vehicle acquisition through maintenance to disposal.
Knowledge Base Software (KBS) - Knowledge management software (KM software) is a subset of enterprise content management software, which contains a range of software that specializes in the way information is collected, stored and/or accessed. The concept of knowledge management is based on a range of practices used by an individual, a business, or a large corporation to identify, create, represent and redistribute information for a range of purposes. More at Knowledge management software.
Network Monitoring Software (NMS) - Network monitoring systems monitor a network for slow or failing components and that notifies the network administrator (via email, SMS or other alarms) in case of outages or other trouble. Network monitoring is part of network management.
Operations Support Software (OSS) – Operations support systems help network operators manage their networks. They support functions such as network inventory, service provisioning, network configuration and fault management. Together with Business Support Systems (BSS), they are used to support end-to-end telecommunication services. BSS and OSS have their own data and service responsibilities. The two systems together are often abbreviated OSS/BSS, BSS/OSS or simply B/OSS. More at Operations support system.
Payment Processing Software (PPS) - Payment processing software provides network operators with the means to process multiple types of business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) payments. These systems handle the transactions between your customers’ banks and your bank. They verify credit card validity, available funds, card limits, and so on. They also take care of security and errors handling such as accidental transactions, and incorrect charges.
Workforce Management Software (WMS) - Workforce management software is a set of tools to increase efficiency and productivity of network operator employees. Efficient workforce management software matches the right employee to the right job and allows management to effectively oversee employee operations. Within the scope of workforce management are aspects of human resources, such as payroll; benefits administration; time, attendance, and scheduling; talent and performance management; and career development.