Did you know that installing a mobile phone tower costs more than $100,000? Neither did we, but our consultants relished the chance to learn more about the telecoms industry when Four started working with TIGO. TIGO is the trading name of $3bn multinational telecoms company Millicom.
When the business began operating in Guatemala and Tanzania, it asked Four Business Solutions to be a partner. It was one of our most exciting challenges.
Tigo asked us to support rollouts across both countries. Creating a mobile phone service involves multi-million pound budgets to set up stock with thousands of handsets, and to meet the infrastructure costs of setting up a national network of towers.
And of course, after initial outlay, suppliers need to be paid on time, ongoing expenditure monitored and staff expenses paid. Directors had to get a grip on spending and pay suppliers on time. They also wanted to reduce all the paperwork clogging up their offices and initiate a faster, more efficient way of working.
Our consultants advised the company to integrate the iPOS procurement suite, which shows spending at a glance and makes life easier for users. Our previous experience in developing markets meant we knew this would work across both Guatemala and Tanzania, despite the countries’ different infrastructural and local business needs.
The move to an electronic system offered immediate benefits. Stock management improved and managers told us they instantly had ‘a better handle on the sheer volume and value of all the transactions in the system’. Staff also reported they felt empowered and that their working practices were improved dramatically.
We managed staff training throughout this process and helped TIGO overcome all the challenges listed. It now plans to expand iPOS throughout its business.
