Did you budget?

Studies have shown that managing to a budget keeps costs down. But we all know that even with the best budget, the unexpected happens. So the best we can do is to ensure that we’ve considered all areas that drive costs up and budget for them. Today I’m going to discuss a few items that you may have overlooked when budgeting your mobile expense management.

Domestic Data Pooling Overages

Unexpected costs can arise from using more data than what is allocated in the data pool. At $15 per GB, additional data usage can add up! The trick is knowing how much data is really needed so you aren’t incurring overages but aren’t paying for unused data. As Goldilocks would say, “This amount of data is just right.” To figure this out, you’ll want to understand the average and highest data usage for a given period of time, add an amount to the average usage to account for potential spikes in usage, and identify the lines that will have plan changes to determine the correct amount of data. Overwhelming? Well, brightfin can help!

Seasonality is another important aspect when budgeting. Are certain seasons busier than others? Predicting usage spikes and proactively addressing them by buying more data exactly when you need it prevents costly overages, and ultimately keeps you in line with your budget goals.

Insurance

Between new devices having a one-year warranty for defects and third-party companies that provide lower cost insurance options for devices, there is no need to have a recurring insurance feature from the carriers on your lines. You can easily see which lines have an insurance feature in the Features section under Plans/Features Summary. Stay within budget by trimming off unnecessary, overpriced insurance features.

Unused International Features

Another area to consider are lines that have an international data feature with a monthly charge but there is no international data usage. Most folks keep the feature on the line just in case the employee travels out of the country because the roaming costs can be much higher without a feature. Certainly, that is a concern, but paying for an unused feature on a monthly basis is leaving money on the table. Verizon’s TravelPass and AT&T’s International Day Pass are new international features where lines with the feature can use their domestic voice, text, and data rate plan allotments internationally for $10 per day. There is no monthly recurring charge for the feature and you are only charged when the line has international usage in supported countries (Verizon / AT&T). This feature is a great option for lines assigned to employees that do not travel very often; you aren’t paying for an unused feature and you have a safety net in case the employee travels out of the country and forgets to let you know. International can play a critical role in mobile expense management.

Device Upgrades

Manufacturer release dates play a big role in the timing of device upgrades and replacements. When Apple releases a new iPhone, it’s amazing how many old iPhones “accidentally” get dropped in the toilet. So, stay on top of what’s coming by following tech blogs like Android Central (androidcentral.com) or following Apple’s annual conferences, and plan for unexpected device upgrade costs.