A global enterprise operating in more than 100 countries was managing its telecom services through a patchwork of local agreements, disconnected processes and inconsistent IT governance. Costs continued to rise, while ownership and visibility remained unclear. We helped the client establish a modern global telecom operating model that reduced complexity, improved governance and generated more than €2.7 million in savings.
The Challenge
Over time, the client’s telecom environment had evolved country by country rather than as a coordinated global service. Mobile subscriptions, operators, devices, support models and contracts were managed locally, resulting in significant variations in cost, service quality and security.
Without a clear global IT sourcing strategy or ownership, telecom management had become increasingly fragmented. There were no consistent policies, limited automation and little transparency into overall spending or supplier performance. Internal teams spent considerable time managing operational issues instead of focusing on business value.
The client recognized that reducing telecom costs alone would not solve the underlying problem. A completely new IT operating model was needed — one that combined IT governance, standardization and modern technology into a scalable global solution.
Checker’s Role
Checker Consulting led the IT transformation from strategy through implementation. Our responsibility included assessing the existing telecom landscape, designing the future IT operating model, defining the IT governance process and policies, leading the IT sourcing process, supporting vendor selection and negotiations, and managing the implementation of the new global telecom solution.
The assignment covered both strategic and operational aspects of telecom management, ensuring that the client could move from decentralized local solutions to one coordinated global approach.
Our Approach
The work moved through three stages:
1. Mapping the current state
We conducted a comprehensive assessment of the client’s global telecom landscape, mapping subscriptions, operators, contracts, costs, devices and existing management processes across multiple countries.
The assessment highlighted significant variations between regions, overlapping supplier agreements, inconsistent IT governance and considerable opportunities for consolidation and cost optimization. This created a clear business case for change and established the baseline for the future IT operating model.
2. Designing the future state
Working closely with key stakeholders, we designed a global telecom operating model built around clear ownership, standardized IT governance and common policies.
The future solution included a consolidated IT sourcing strategy, standardized mobile services, improved lifecycle management for devices, stronger security requirements and increased automation wherever possible. The objectivewas not only to reduce costs but also to simplify administration and improve the user experience across the organization.
3. Implementing the transformation
Checker supported the client throughout the IT sourcing and implementation process, including supplier evaluation, commercial negotiations, transition planning and rollout of the new IT operating model.
We established IT governance structures, introduced standardized processes and ensured that both global and local stakeholders were equipped to operate within the new framework.
The Results
The client moved from managing telecom services through disconnected local initiatives to operating under one coordinated global IT operating model with clear ownership, governance and visibility.
The IT transformation significantly reduced operational complexity while improving security, consistency and the overall user experience. Internal administration decreased through standardized processes and increased automation, allowing the organization to focus on strategic rather than operational activities.
Commercially, the new operating model generated substantial savings across multiple countries. Depending on market conditions, individual countries achieved savings ranging from approximately 38% to 84% compared with previous agreements, resulting in more than €2.7 million in realized savings while establishing a scalable platform for continued optimization.
