Bluewater Control offers a SaaS platform designed for managing mobile lifecycle and telecom expenses. This article will delve into the features, user reviews, and other considerations for those evaluating Bluewater Control's Telecom Expense Management (TEM) software.
What is Bluewater Control?
Bluewater Control provides a SaaS platform for managing mobile lifecycle and telecom expenses. The company offers features like customized catalogs and approval workflows for managing orders and MSP requests.
Additionally, Bluewater Control consolidates telecom billing from multiple carriers and integrates with systems like ServiceNow, HR, Finance, MDM, and procurement. The platform also includes automated reporting and cost allocation for finance teams, along with streamlined IT workflows and governance.
What to Consider When Selecting a Bluewater Control Alternative?
- Integration Capabilities: Ensure the alternative integrates seamlessly with existing systems like HR, Finance, MDM, and procurement to streamline workflows and data management.
- Cost Optimization: Look for features that help identify cost-saving opportunities, such as automated reporting, expense tracking, and contract negotiation tools.
- User Experience: Prioritize platforms that offer intuitive interfaces, easy onboarding, and minimal manual maintenance to enhance user satisfaction and efficiency.
- Customer Support: Evaluate the level of customer service, including availability of dedicated account specialists, support channels, and responsiveness to ensure reliable assistance when needed.
- Scalability and Flexibility: Choose a solution that can scale with your business needs and offers flexible deployment options, whether hosted, licensed, or managed, to adapt to changing requirements.
Best Alternatives to Bluewater Control in 2025
1. Lightyear
Lightyear automates and optimizes how companies source and manage their internet, WAN, voice, and colocation with data-driven software. Our platform streamlines telecom management, offering seamless integration with existing systems and providing tools for cost optimization and efficient workflows. With a focus on continuous improvement and a solutions-oriented approach, Lightyear is dedicated to transforming the B2B telecom industry.
Pros of Using Lightyear
Lightyear offers a range of features that make it a compelling choice for telecom management.
- Automation: Lightyear automates the sourcing and management of internet, WAN, voice, and colocation services, reducing manual effort and increasing efficiency.
- Cost Optimization: The platform provides tools to identify cost-saving opportunities, helping businesses optimize their telecom expenses.
- Seamless Integration: Lightyear integrates with existing systems like HR, Finance, and procurement, ensuring smooth data flow and streamlined workflows.
- Data-Driven Insights: The software offers robust reporting and analytics, enabling informed decision-making based on real-time data.
- Scalability: Lightyear is designed to scale with your business, offering flexible deployment options to meet evolving needs.
These are just a few of Lightyear's many features. Check them out here to learn more.
Who should use Lightyear?
Lightyear primarily targets businesses of all sizes that require efficient telecom management solutions. This includes companies in sectors such as IT, networking, telecom, and data centers, looking for optimized internet connectivity, wide area networking, voice services, and colocation.
Lightyear Pricing
Lightyear offers custom pricing tailored to each customer's unique needs, ensuring you get the best value for your specific requirements. To get a personalized quote, feel free to schedule a demo here.
Lightyear Reviews
Lightyear has a score of 5.0 out of 5 stars. Users appreciate the ease of use and the efficiency of the Lightyear platform. The web portal and inventory management features are highly praised for simplifying the procurement process. Lightyear provides competitive pricing through actual competition and project life-cycle management. The platform offers complete visibility into the procurement workflow and inventory. Users value the personal attention and support from the Lightyear team, which makes them feel supported and confident in their telecom procurement. The service is noted for saving time and money by handling quotes, contracts, and dealing with carriers, which would otherwise be time-consuming for users. Lightyear is recognized for providing quick and competitive quotes and ensuring that all circuits meet user needs in terms of diversity and speed. Check out more of our reviews here!
2. Cass
Cass provides comprehensive telecom expense management services, including fixed telecom expense management and mobility management, streamlining processes and eliminating unnecessary costs. Their offerings also extend to cloud management services, ensuring security, regulatory compliance, and cost optimization.
Pros of Using Cass
- Market Leader in Customer Satisfaction: Cass consistently ranks high in customer satisfaction, ensuring a reliable and positive experience for all users.
- Federally Regulated: As a federally regulated entity, Cass offers an added layer of security and compliance, giving clients peace of mind.
- Global Execution: With operations in over 185 countries and the ability to pay in 114 currencies, Cass provides unparalleled global reach and stability.
- Financial Stability: Cass's financial stability is backed by its status as a US Federal Reserve member bank, ensuring robust payment capabilities and trustworthiness.
Cons of Using Cass
- EDI Use Has Limitations: The Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system used by Cass has certain limitations, which can affect the efficiency and effectiveness of telecom expense management.
- Denied Issues Can Cause Delays: Problems with denied payments can lead to significant delays in processing, impacting the overall workflow and potentially causing disruptions.
Cass Pricing
Cass's pricing is not public. Contact their support for more info.
Cass Reviews
Cass has a score of 5.0 out of 5 stars. Users generally mention the ease of invoicing and accurate payment dates but note limitations with EDI use and potential delays caused by denied issues. Check out more Cass reviews here.
3. Genuity
Genuity offers a comprehensive Telecom Expense Management service that provides businesses with visibility, control, and actionable insights into their telecom usage and costs. The platform integrates telecom management with other IT services, enabling users to track expenses, optimize costs, and make informed decisions about their technology operations.
Pros of Using Genuity
- Clarity & Visibility: Provides detailed tracking of telecom expenses by location, service type, and feature, ensuring comprehensive oversight.
- Actionable Insights: Allows comparison of rates with thousands of other users for benchmarking, enabling informed decision-making.
- Expense Optimization: Automatically detects unexpected changes and helps in negotiating better contracts, maximizing cost efficiency.
- Comprehensive Cost Analysis: Integrates telecom, SaaS, vendors, services, and contracts for a holistic view, simplifying expense management.
Cons of Using Genuity
- Ticketing System Issues: Users have reported that the ticketing system is not as robust as other solutions, making it difficult to forward tickets and manage support efficiently.
- Slow Updates: The platform is noted for its slow updates, which can hinder the implementation of new features and improvements, affecting overall user experience.
Genuity Pricing
- Community Plan: $29.99/month with Genuity Solution, $124.99/month without Genuity Solution
- Pay Monthly: Full Platform: $124.99/month, Vendor Management: $49.99/month, Asset Management: $49.99/month, IT Help Desk: $49.99/month
- Pay Yearly (Save 20%): Full Platform: $99.99/month, Vendor Management: $39.99/month, Asset Management: $39.99/month, IT Help Desk: $39.99/month
Genuity Reviews
Genuity has a score of 4.7 out of 5 stars. Users generally mention issues with the ticketing system and slow updates. Check out more Genuity reviews here.
4. Advantix Solutions
Advantix Solutions offers a managed connectivity experience (MCx) that simplifies data connectivity, ongoing optimization, and expense management for enterprises. Their services include multi-carrier wireless connectivity, managed mobility solutions, and SmartSIM technology, all integrated into a comprehensive Telecom Lifecycle Management (TLM) platform.
Pros of Using Advantix Solutions
- Managed Connectivity Experience (MCx): Simplifies data connectivity, ongoing optimization, and expense management, ensuring seamless operations.
- SmartSIM Technology: Connects SIM-enabled devices to multiple cellular networks with intelligent carrier switching, providing enhanced coverage and redundancy.
- Telecom Lifecycle Management (TLM) Platform: Integrates with carrier systems for comprehensive management of telecom services, offering a single pane of glass for managing multiple carriers, wireless inventory, and billing data.
Cons of Using Advantix Solutions
- Complexity in Implementation: Users have reported that the initial setup and integration of Advantix Solutions can be complex and time-consuming, requiring significant technical expertise and resources.
- Limited Customization Options: The platform offers limited customization capabilities, which can be a drawback for businesses with unique or specific telecom management needs.
Advantix Solutions Pricing
Advantix Solutions's pricing is not public. Contact their support for more info.
Advantix Solutions Reviews
Advantix Solutions has a score of 0.0 out of 5 stars. There are no user reviews available, so no general feedback can be provided. Check out more Advantix Solutions reviews here.
5. vCom Solutions
vCom Solutions specializes in strategic IT sourcing and lifecycle management, offering tools and services to improve efficiency, save money, and make informed business decisions.
Pros of Using vCom Solutions
- Vendor-Agnostic Marketplace: Access to multiple vendors for price comparison and order placement, ensuring the best deals and options for your IT needs.
- vManager Platform: Centralized IT management software that tracks assets, orders, and expenses, providing a comprehensive view of your IT environment.
- QuantumShift: Aggregation and reseller solutions that consolidate services and streamline processes, making IT management more efficient and cost-effective.
- Comprehensive IT Lifecycle Management: Covers all aspects of IT management from procurement to decommissioning, ensuring seamless operations throughout the entire lifecycle.
Cons of Using vCom Solutions
- Vendor Sprawl and Overspending: Managing multiple vendors and controlling costs can be challenging, which might be a con for businesses without a streamlined process.
- Complexity in IT Management: The need for a comprehensive platform like vManager to centralize IT inventory and spend suggests that managing IT assets and expenses can be complex and time-consuming. This complexity might be a drawback for smaller businesses or those without dedicated IT management resources.
vCom Solutions Pricing
- Find: Complimentary
- Buy: Monthly fee based on spend under management
- Manage: $5.50 per month/device, $50 per month/circuit
vCom Solutions Reviews
vCom Solutions has a score of 4.3 out of 5 stars. Users generally mention challenges with managing multiple vendors and the complexity of IT management. Check out more vCom Solutions reviews here.
6. TEMEdge
TEMEdge is a cloud-enabled expense management solution designed to automate, optimize, and manage technology spending for organizations. The platform offers capabilities such as invoice processing, inventory management, and contract management, helping businesses streamline their technology expenses and improve decision-making.
Pros of Using TEMEdge
- Integrated: Leverages common data like cost center information and provides centralized views of inventory across modules.
- Modular: Offers a choice of modules based on requirements, such as invoice management and inventory management, with the ability to add new modules as needs expand.
- Scalable: Supports multiple locations and maps reports and EDI from vendors to the database for accurate and quick validation.
- Synchronized: Automates and synchronizes the exchange between technology vendor feeds to eliminate duplicate data entry.
Cons of Using TEMEdge
- Complexity in Implementation: Users have reported that the initial setup and integration of TEMEdge can be complex and time-consuming, requiring significant technical expertise and resources.
- Limited Customization Options: The platform offers limited customization capabilities, which can be a drawback for businesses with unique or specific telecom management needs.
TEMEdgePricing
TEMEdge's pricing is not public. Contact their support for more info.
TEMEdge Reviews
TEMEdge has a score of 0.0 out of 5 stars. There are no user reviews available, so no general feedback can be provided. Check out more TEMEdge reviews here.
7. Spenza
Spenza offers a comprehensive platform for managing cellular connectivity and billing, supporting device vendors, enterprises, and VARs/MSPs. The platform includes features like a curated marketplace, multi-operator SIMs, hierarchical billing, and automation for bulk operations, aiming to streamline telecom operations and reduce costs.
Pros of Using Spenza
- Curated Marketplace: Access to mobile plans from over 15 operators globally, simplifying procurement and management.
- Multi Operator SIM: Ensure seamless connectivity with Multi-IMSI SIMs/eSIMs, providing enhanced coverage and redundancy.
- 1-click Deployment: Remotely manage lines with pre-built operator integrations, streamlining operations and reducing manual effort.
- Automation of Bulk Operations: Automate workflows and bulk operations, significantly improving efficiency and reducing operational costs.
Cons of Using Spenza
- Complexity in Managing Integrations: Users have reported that managing multiple integrations with various operators can be complex and time-consuming, requiring significant technical expertise and resources.
- Need for Continuous Updates: The platform requires continuous updates to maintain compatibility with different operators, which can be a burden for businesses looking for a more stable and less maintenance-intensive solution.
Spenza Pricing
- Community Plan: $29.99/month with Genuity Solution, $124.99/month without Genuity Solution
- Pay Monthly: Full Platform: $124.99/month, Vendor Management: $49.99/month, Asset Management: $49.99/month, IT Help Desk: $49.99/month
- Pay Yearly (Save 20%): Full Platform: $99.99/month, Vendor Management: $39.99/month, Asset Management: $39.99/month, IT Help Desk: $39.99/month
Spenza Reviews
Spenza has a score of 0.0 out of 5 stars. Users generally mention issues with managing multiple integrations and the need for continuous updates. Check out more Spenza reviews here.
8. Cimpl
Cimpl is a technology expense management software that helps organizations track and manage their technology expenses, including telecom, mobility, and cloud services. It offers features such as automated ordering and billing processes, real-time data for optimizing technology spending, and integration capabilities for complete visibility into the technology footprint.
Pros of Using Cimpl
- Automation and Reliable Data: Automate ordering and billing processes with accurate data from over 250 integration and communication points.
- Usage Monitoring: Empower employees and managers to monitor usage and alter consumption behavior, providing visibility into spend outliers.
- Robust Platform and ROI: Recognize where you’re getting the best value for your IT budget and shift budget to support top priorities.
- Complete Hub for Technology Expenses: Utilize tools for technology expense management to save costs on autopilot.
Cons of Using Cimpl
- Complexity in Implementation: Users have reported that the initial setup and integration of Cimpl can be complex and time-consuming, requiring significant technical expertise and resources.
- Limited Customization Options: The platform offers limited customization capabilities, which can be a drawback for businesses with unique or specific telecom management needs.
CimplPricing
- Community Plan: $29.99/month with Genuity Solution, $124.99/month without Genuity Solution
- Pay Monthly: Full Platform: $124.99/month, Vendor Management: $49.99/month, Asset Management: $49.99/month, IT Help Desk: $49.99/month
- Pay Yearly (Save 20%): Full Platform: $99.99/month, Vendor Management: $39.99/month, Asset Management: $39.99/month, IT Help Desk: $39.99/month
Cimpl Reviews
Cimpl has a score of 5.0 out of 5 stars. Users generally mention the complexity in implementation and limited customization options. Check out more Cimpl reviews here.
9. Linq services
Linq Services offers managed mobility services designed to simplify mobile management for enterprises, providing solutions such as device lifecycle management, mobile device management, and customized reporting to ensure cost savings and operational efficiency.
Pros of Using Linq services
- Human Customer Care: LINQ emphasizes personalized, one-to-one customer service with dedicated account specialists.
- Device Lifecycle Management: Comprehensive management of the entire lifecycle of mobile devices.
- Simplified Billing: Streamlined invoicing processes to reduce administrative burdens.
- Customized Reporting: Tailored reporting solutions to meet specific business needs.
Cons of Using Linq services
- Complexity in Implementation: Users have reported that the initial setup and integration of Linq Services can be complex and time-consuming, requiring significant technical expertise and resources.
- Limited Customization Options: The platform offers limited customization capabilities, which can be a drawback for businesses with unique or specific telecom management needs.
Linq services Pricing
Linq services's pricing is not public. Contact their support for more info.
Linq services Reviews
Linq Services has a score of 0.0 out of 5 stars. There are no user reviews available, so no general feedback can be provided. Check out more Linq services reviews here.
10. Calero
Calero offers a comprehensive enterprise telecom management solution that provides greater visibility, control, and optimization of telecom expenses. Their managed technology solutions also include managed mobility, SaaS management, and unified communications, ensuring streamlined operations and cost efficiency.
Pros of Using Calero
- Wireline eBonding: Calero is the only TEM provider certified as a carrier integrator to Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) standards, ensuring seamless integration and superior service quality.
- Award-Winning Inventory Technology: Provides deeper and more accurate insights into telecom inventory data by pulling data directly from vendor APIs and validating it against billing records.
- Comprehensive Solutions: Offers a wide range of managed technology solutions including telecom, mobility, SaaS, unified communications, and market data management.
Cons of Using Calero
- App Functionality Issues: Users have reported problems with the app's functionality, which can hinder the overall user experience and efficiency.
- Complexity: The app is considered complex by some users, making it challenging to navigate and utilize effectively without significant technical expertise.
Calero Pricing
Calero's pricing is not public. Contact their support for more info.
Calero Reviews
Calero has a score of 4.2 out of 5 stars. Users generally mention issues with the interface and communication. Check out more Calero reviews here.
Which One Should You Go With?
While all the alternatives to Bluewater Control offer robust features and benefits, Lightyear stands out for its seamless integration, automation, and data-driven insights. If you're looking for a solution that not only optimizes costs but also scales effortlessly with your business, Lightyear is a compelling choice. Ultimately, any of these options could meet your needs, but Lightyear's comprehensive approach makes it a standout contender.
