 store information on the level of exper- tise required to resolve a particular problem, SO that you can assign an appropriately-skilled technician to the job. With all the benefits that telemanagement software provides, more organizations are implementing it. Some major differenti- ating factors are cost, functions and capabilities, and the platforms on which they run. Some offer one or two applications, while others cover the whole spectrum. How do you decide what soft- ware is right for you? 1. Functional Integration. All of the applications provided by the software should be integrated SO that you have one main information repository or database. A system that's integrated in this way ensures that any modifications you make in one module will automatically be updated in all relevant files. Otherwise, you will have a group of sepa- rate databases for each function, that must be accessed and updated separately. For example, each time you is- sue a work order or trouble ticket, instead of being able to immediately pull up a cable pair assignment, you will have to go to another database. The Telecom Handbook S 131 CALL ACCOUNTING & TELEMANAGEMENT SYSTEMS There are a lot of stand-alone systems out there that provide only one or two functions. It is important for them to integrate with a larger telemanagement system. Now you may only have a need for cable management, but later you may want to branch out into network optimiza- tion and traffic engineering. If the stand-alone system cannot be integrated, its usefulness is limited. 2. Product Enhancements. Ask the vendor to provide a list of the types of product enhancements created over the past few years. What new applications, features and in- terfaces have been developed? Regular version releases and upgrades are positive signs. The sophistication of the product and the number of applications it provides dic- tate the enhancement schedule. With a really dynamic product, the vendor may come out with something new every six months. 3. Portable/Scalable Platforms. Lo