Telecom expense management solutions like those from Calero and vCom Solutions are essential for businesses to manage IT assets, expenses, and operations efficiently. We'll compare Calero and vCom Solutions to determine the best Telecom Expense Management solution.
A Quick Overview of Calero and vCom Solutions
What is Calero?
Calero specializes in managed technology solutions aimed at providing greater visibility, control, and optimization for enterprises. Their offerings include telecom expense management, managed mobility, SaaS management, unified communications, and market data solutions.
Calero's TEM solution includes comprehensive management of telecom inventory, invoices, and contracts. A unique feature is their certification as a carrier integrator to Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) standards, which significantly reduces manual ordering processes through wireline eBonding.
What is vCom Solutions?
vCom Solutions provides tools and services for efficient IT lifecycle management, cost savings, and smart decision-making. Their offerings include planning and procurement, operations management, and expense management, all aimed at simplifying and optimizing IT processes.
One unique feature of vCom Solutions is their vendor-agnostic marketplace, which allows businesses to compare prices and place orders from multiple vendors. Additionally, their centralized asset database offers comprehensive tracking of IT assets, orders, and tickets, setting them apart from competitors who may not provide such integrated solutions.
Features of Calero and vCom Solutions
Similarities
Calero and vCom Solutions both offer robust telecom expense management solutions designed to streamline IT operations and optimize costs. Here are the key similarities in their features:
- Telecom Expense Management: Both companies provide comprehensive solutions for managing telecom expenses, including inventory, invoices, and contracts.
- Managed Mobility Services: They offer services to oversee the entire lifecycle of enterprise mobility, ensuring efficient management of mobile assets.
- SaaS Management: Solutions to optimize and manage software environments are available from both providers.
- Unified Communications (UCaaS): Both companies support network transformations through unified communications management.
- Resource Centers: Extensive resources, including blogs, newsletters, and podcasts, are provided to keep clients informed about industry trends and best practices.
Differences
Calero and vCom Solutions each bring unique features to the table, setting them apart in the telecom expense management landscape. Here are the most significant differences:
- Wireline eBonding: Calero is certified as a carrier integrator to Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) standards, streamlining telecom ordering processes.
- Market Data Management: Calero offers specific solutions to automate and streamline market data management, a feature not available with vCom.
- QuantumShift: vCom provides this unique service to consolidate and streamline IT services, offering deeper discounts through aggregation and normalization.
- Planning and Procurement: vCom excels in solution design, sourcing, and contract management, helping clients select the right vendors and negotiate deals.
- vManager Platform: vCom's centralized IT management software offers robust features for managing IT inventory and spend across multiple vendors and locations, with 24/7/365 support.
User Interface and Usability
Calero's user interface is clean and organized, featuring a clear header navigation menu and structured sections. The layout is consistent, making it easy for users to find information. The user experience is designed to be informative and user-friendly, with detailed information about the company's solutions and resources. The overall usability is high, with intuitive navigation and well-organized content, enhanced by strategically placed call-to-action buttons.
vCom Solutions also offers a clean and well-organized user interface, with a clear navigation menu and categorized links. The user experience is intuitive, with a logical flow and easy access to various sections. The content is segmented into clear, digestible parts, and the presence of testimonials adds value. Overall usability is high, with straightforward navigation and well-structured content, supported by multiple call-to-action buttons.
Both companies offer strong user interfaces and usability, making it difficult to declare one as definitively better than the other.
Calero and vCom Solutions Pricing
Calero does not provide specific pricing details on their website, making it challenging to compare costs directly. Their focus is on offering managed technology solutions, but without transparent pricing, potential customers may find it difficult to gauge the financial commitment required.
vCom Solutions, on the other hand, offers clear and detailed pricing information. They have three main plans: the complimentary "Find" plan, the "Buy" plan with a monthly fee based on spend under management, and the "Manage" plan costing $5.50 per month per device and $50 per month per circuit. This transparency makes it easier for businesses to understand and budget for their services.
Overall, vCom Solutions provides better pricing transparency, which can be a significant advantage for businesses looking to manage their IT expenses effectively.
Comparing Calero and vCom Solutions to Lightyear
Lightyear offers a telecom operating system designed to automate the telecom lifecycle, driving significant savings across procurement, inventory management, and bill payment through data-driven software. Trusted by hundreds of enterprises, Lightyear simplifies the process of finding, comparing, and purchasing IT infrastructure services, providing custom-tailored quotes and managing the entire procurement process.
Pros of Lightyear
Lightyear automates the telecom lifecycle with data-driven software, driving significant savings across procurement, inventory management, and bill payment.
- Quoting: Lightyear provides custom-tailored, best price quotes across vendors, leveraging over 1 million price quote data points.
- Implementation Management: The platform offers a dashboard to pick vendors, sign contracts, monitor implementations, and handle renewals, ensuring a seamless process.
- Inventory Data Capture: Achieve complete visibility into inventory and contract expiration dates, centralizing all telecom assets in one place.
- Bill Consolidation: Lightyear streamlines bill payment by consolidating invoices, reducing administrative overhead and potential errors.
- API Integrations: The system integrates well with other processes and systems, enhancing overall efficiency and collaboration.
Lightyear's Pricing
Lightyear offers custom pricing tailored to your specific telecom needs, leveraging data-driven software to deliver the best possible options and pricing. Book a demo with Lightyear today to see how we can optimize your telecom lifecycle.
What Are Others Saying?
Calero Reviews
Overall, users have given Calero a rating of 4.2 out of 5. While some found the platform's comprehensive overview helpful, others were frustrated by the difficulty in manipulating aggregated information and the lack of direct communication with the assigned team.
- "Difficult to manipulate the aggregated information." - Nagy F., 3.5 out of 5
- "Lack of communication and inability to speak directly to the assigned team." - Emily T., 3.0 out of 5
- "Presentation and interface issues." - Debbie W., 3.5 out of 5
Find more of Calero reviews on G2!
vCom Solutions Reviews
Overall, users have given vCom Solutions a rating of 4.3 out of 5. While some found the platform helpful for order management and invoicing, others were frustrated by the need for faster updates and limitations in dashboard functionalities.
- "Some faculties in the product could use faster work." - SEDDIK S., 3.5 out of 5
- "Desire for more frequent updates to the website." - Bageen N., 3.5 out of 5
- "Limitation in making some charts larger from the dashboard." - Cynthia P., 3.0 out of 5
Find more of vCom Solutions reviews on G2!
Lightyear Reviews
Our users have given Lightyear an overall rating of 4.8 out of 5. Customers appreciate the platform's efficiency and ease of use. Here are some highlights:
- "The perfect resource for sourcing anything in the telecom ecosystem." - John D.
- "No more Internet sourcing headaches!" - Sarah K.
- "Lightyear is a game changer." - Michael B.
Find more of our reviews on G2!
Why choose one over the other?
Why choose Calero over vCom Solutions:
- Calero is ideal for large enterprises needing seamless migration to advanced platforms and comprehensive managed technology solutions, including telecom, mobility, SaaS, and unified communications. Organizations focused on security, compliance, and sustainability will find Calero's offerings particularly beneficial.
Why choose vCom Solutions over Calero:
- vCom Solutions is perfect for midsize companies seeking cost efficiency and comprehensive IT lifecycle management. Businesses with complex IT environments and those facing vendor sprawl will benefit from vCom's vendor-agnostic marketplace and centralized IT management platform.
Why choose Lightyear over vCom Solutions and Calero:
- Lightyear is the go-to choice for enterprises looking to automate the entire telecom lifecycle, driving significant time and cost savings. Companies seeking a data-driven approach to optimize procurement, inventory management, and bill payment will find Lightyear's comprehensive features and global carrier access invaluable.
Calero, vCom Solutions, or Lightyear: Which is the best platform for you?
While Calero and vCom Solutions offer robust telecom expense management solutions, Lightyear stands out with its data-driven approach to automating the entire telecom lifecycle. Each platform has its strengths, but we believe Lightyear's comprehensive features and significant cost savings make it the best choice for enterprises looking to optimize their telecom operations. Ultimately, any of these platforms could be a good fit, but we recommend giving Lightyear a try to experience the future of telecom management.
