Cloud-Native BSS Opportunities and Benefits

 
As communication service providers (CSPs) adopt 5G and other new technology and become techcos with expanded offerings beyond connectivity, they need a business support system (BSS) that can adapt to new products, services and pricing models. Legacy on-premise BSS systems aren’t flexible enough to handle the transformation. CSPs need a BSS with cloud-native based architecture to streamline operations, accelerate deployment of new services, and improve customer experience (CX). Cloud transformation is an important key to success for modern telecom operators. Keep reading to discover the benefits of cloud-native BSS—and how it provides opportunities to help CSPs overcome challenges.

OSS vs. BSS: What’s the Difference?

Comprising hardware and software tools, OSS (operations support systems) and BSS (business support systems) are essential IT systems that form the backbone of the telecommunications industry. Operations support systems and business support systems tap into cloud computing, automation tools, and analytics to streamline operations and customer activities across the entire telecom organization.

OSS manages the technical side (network operations), while BSS handles business (customer-facing) tasks such as billing. An OSS helps telecom companies manage multiple network operational activities and functions, including:

• Network planning
• Network inventory
• Fault management
• Service provisioning
• Configuration
• Service assurance

A BSS simplifies many business activities, including

• Customer billing
• Subscription management
• Order fulfillment
• Customer notifications
• Partner relationship management
• Marketing

The Benefits of Cloud-Native BSS

A cloud-native Business Support System (BSS) refers to a billing and customer management system specifically designed to operate within a cloud environment. Cloud-native software applications are architected and built specifically to take advantage of the cloud computing model. Cloud-native applications are designed for elasticity, scalability, and automation, leveraging the benefits of cloud infrastructure. Through cloud-native based architecture, BSS enables greater agility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness for managing customer relationships and billing operations.

5 Benefits of a Cloud-Native BSS

1. Agility and innovation. The inherent flexibility of the cloud environment allows for faster development, testing and deployment of new features and services compared to traditional on-premise systems. This agility allows CSPs to keep pace with changing customer/market demands, business models and technological advancements.
2. Scalability and cost-effectiveness. Cloud infrastructure allows BSS systems to easily scale up or down based on demand. This eliminates the need for expensive upfront hardware investments and reduces overall IT costs.
3. Improved performance and reliability. Cloud providers offer robust infrastructure with high availability and redundancy that means a more reliable, high-performing BSS system. Redundancy minimizes downtime, keeping critical billing and customer management functions operational if a hardware failure or software glitch occurs in one location.
4. Integration with other cloud services. Cloud-native BSS integrates seamlessly with other cloud-based applications used by telecom companies, such as network management systems and customer relationship management (CRM) tools. This allows for a more unified and efficient operation.
5. Focus on core business. By leveraging the cloud for BSS functions, telecom companies can free up IT resources to focus on core business activities like network development and service innovation.

A Cloud-Native BSS Helps CSPs Overcome Challenges 

CSPs confront several challenges as they navigate a complex, ever-evolving landscape. A cloud-native BSS offers CSPs many opportunities to overcome those challenges.

• Keeping Pace with Technological Advancements: The telecom industry is constantly evolving with new technologies like 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), and Edge Computing. Traditional BSS systems, often built on legacy infrastructure, struggle to adapt to these advancements. By offering agility and scalability, a cloud-native BSS supports faster development and deployment of new features and services, enabling CSPs to embrace new technologies and capitalize on emerging market opportunities.
• Meeting Customer Demands for Personalization and Flexibility: Traditional BSS systems with rigid structures make it difficult to meet customer expectations for personalized experiences and flexible service options. By providing modularity and customization, cloud-native BSS systems allow CSPs to tailor service offerings and create personalized plans that meet the specific needs of each customer segment. The system can automate processes for easier plan changes and service upgrades.
• Reducing Costs and Improving Operational Efficiency: Maintaining on-premise BSS infrastructure can be expensive, requiring significant investments in hardware, software, and IT personnel. Cloud-native BSS leverages the cloud’s pay-as-you-go model, reducing upfront costs and ongoing maintenance expenses. Automatic updates and streamlined operations further improve efficiency, freeing up IT resources for strategic initiatives.
• Ensuring Scalability and Handling Peak Demands: Traditional BSS systems can struggle to handle surges in customer activity, leading to slowdowns or outages. On-demand scalability enables  CSPs to easily scale resources up or down to accommodate fluctuations in customer traffic, ensuring smooth operation even during peak periods.
• Maintaining Data Security and Regulatory Compliance: Data security breaches and privacy concerns are major risks for CSPs. Traditional BSS systems with complex infrastructure can be vulnerable to cyberattacks. Additionally, complying with data privacy regulations can be challenging. Cloud providers offer robust security measures and redundant data storage. Cloud-native BSS supports data security and regulatory compliance by safeguarding sensitive customer information.

Using CSG Ascendon, A BSS Designed for Business Growth

CSG Ascendon is the cloud-native SaaS monetization platform that gets you to market 85% faster than traditional systems. Deploy in record time with no risk migration and out-of-the-box support for all business models. With continuous SaaS innovation, benefit from the latest technology including AI with no downtime and no hidden costs.

Using Ascendon, CSPs can:

• Roll out new services in days using a highly scalable, cloud-native SaaS platform
• Diversify business models and expand reach
• Quickly onboard partners for lasting growth
• Build customer loyalty with intelligent omnichannel experiences
• Increase acquisition and reduce churn

Thinking about migrating your telecom billing system to a cloud-native solution? Download our eBook, Migration Mastery: How to De-Risk Your Telecom Billing System Conversion, to discover seven best practices for a risk-free migration.