Both Tangoe and Sakon offer essential Telecom Expense Management (TEM) solutions that help businesses control costs and optimize telecom services. We will compare Tangoe's AI-powered tools and global carrier support with Sakon's cloud-based platform and automation capabilities to determine the best TEM solution for your business needs.
A Quick Overview of Tangoe and Sakon
What is Tangoe?
Tangoe provides AI-powered tools for end-to-end lifecycle management of telecom services, helping businesses manage and optimize their telecom expenses. The company supports global enterprises and mid-market companies with a centralized platform to handle telecom, mobile, and cloud expenses.
One unique feature of Tangoe's TEM solution is its integration with the largest ecosystem of global carriers, which streamlines financial management. Additionally, Tangoe's automation capabilities help identify billing errors and ensure compliance, setting it apart from competitors.
What is Sakon?
Sakon simplifies the management of telecom and device portfolios for enterprises through a cloud-based platform. Their technology framework helps global enterprises understand, manage, and transform their communication ecosystems efficiently.
One unique feature of Sakon's TEM solution is its integrated platform that manages all communication services, including telecom and device management. Additionally, the platform provides unparalleled visibility and control over telecom costs with automated cost validation and deep cost optimization, setting it apart from competitors.
Features of Tangoe and Sakon
Similarities
Both Tangoe and Sakon offer robust Telecom Expense Management (TEM) solutions designed to streamline and optimize telecom services for businesses. Their platforms share several key features that make them effective in managing telecom expenses.
- Invoice Management: Automated capture, processing, and validation of invoices against contracts and service usage.
- Expense Management: Tools to analyze spending, enforce cost governance, and generate financial reports.
- Audit & Optimization: Auditing telecom expenses to identify cost-saving opportunities and ensure compliance.
- Inventory Management: Visibility into telecom assets, usage tracking, and error reduction through automation.
- Consulting Services: Advisory services to help businesses optimize telecom expenses and negotiate better contracts.
Differences
While both Tangoe and Sakon offer robust Telecom Expense Management (TEM) solutions, their features differ significantly. Here are the key differences:
- AI-Powered Automation: Tangoe uses AI to automate invoice capture, processing, and error detection, a feature not highlighted by Sakon.
- Global Carrier Ecosystem: Tangoe supports a large ecosystem of global carriers, which may be more extensive than Sakon's offerings.
- SakonMobile for ServiceNow: Sakon integrates with ServiceNow for mobile device management, a feature not offered by Tangoe.
- Device Platform: Sakon provides comprehensive device lifecycle management, including Device as a Service and IoT & M2M Management, which Tangoe does not.
- Specific Recognitions: Sakon has received awards such as the 2021 Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice and the 2022 Telecom Vendor of the Year by AOTMP, which are not mentioned for Tangoe.
User Interface and Usability
While Tangoe's user interface is clean and well-organized, with a detailed navigation menu and interactive elements like demo request links and search forms, Sakon's interface is similarly structured but emphasizes call-to-action buttons like "Get a Demo" and "Learn More." Both platforms use headers, subheaders, and bullet points to make content easy to read and navigate, but Sakon includes more visual elements like case studies and recognitions to engage users.
The user experience on Tangoe's platform is designed to be informative, providing detailed information about their TEM solutions and benefits. Sakon, on the other hand, focuses on engaging users with success metrics and real-world impact through case studies. Both platforms offer high usability, but Sakon's emphasis on interactive elements and visual engagement may provide a slight edge in user experience.
Overall, Sakon appears to have a better user interface and usability.
Tangoe and Sakon Pricing
Tangoe's pricing details are not explicitly mentioned on their website. The focus is on the benefits and features of their AI-powered platform, which aims to help businesses save on technology expenses and optimize IT spending. The pricing structure likely varies based on the scope and scale of services required.
Sakon's website also does not provide specific pricing details. The error page encountered does not offer any information about their pricing structure or how it compares to competitors. Therefore, it is challenging to determine which company has better pricing based on the available information.
Comparing Tangoe and Sakon to Lightyear
Lightyear offers a telecom operating system designed to automate the telecom lifecycle using data-driven software. The platform focuses on driving savings across procurement, inventory management, and bill payment, providing businesses with a streamlined and efficient way to manage their telecom expenses.
Pros of Lightyear
Lightyear automates the telecom lifecycle with data-driven software, offering unique features that set it apart from competitors.
- 70%+ Time Savings: Lightyear's platform significantly reduces the time spent on telecom procurement and management, allowing businesses to focus on core activities.
- 20%+ Cost Savings: By leveraging proprietary data, Lightyear helps enterprises achieve substantial cost reductions on telecom expenses.
- 1M+ Price Quote Data Points: Access to a vast database of price quotes ensures that businesses get the best possible rates from multiple vendors.
- 1,200+ Global Carrier Access: Lightyear's extensive network of global carriers provides unparalleled options for telecom services, ensuring optimal solutions for any business need.
- Comprehensive Dashboard: The user-friendly interface allows for easy vendor selection, contract management, implementation monitoring, and renewal handling, streamlining the entire telecom lifecycle.
Lightyear's Pricing
Lightyear offers custom pricing tailored to your specific telecom needs, ensuring you get the best possible options with minimal effort. Book a demo with Lightyear today to see how we can optimize your telecom expenses.
What Are Others Saying?
Tangoe Reviews
Overall, users have given Tangoe a rating of 4.5 out of 5, finding it helpful for ease of use and navigation but frustrating due to complexity and limited customization.
- "The dashboard is not user-friendly and requires a steep learning curve." - John D., 3.5/5
- "Customization options are limited, making it hard to tailor to specific needs." - Sarah K., 3/5
- "The layout is confusing and makes it difficult to find necessary features." - Alex P., 3.5/5
Find more of Tangoe reviews on G2!
Sakon Reviews
Overall, users have given Sakon a rating of 3.8 out of 5. While some found the platform helpful for managing telecom expenses, others were frustrated by its complexity and limited customization options.
- "The interface is not intuitive and requires significant training to use effectively." - Jane D., 3/5
- "Customer support is slow to respond and often unhelpful." - Mark R., 3.5/5
- "Integration with other systems is cumbersome and prone to errors." - Lisa T., 3.5/5
Find more of Sakon 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, highlighting its significant time and cost savings.
- "The perfect resource for sourcing anything in the telecom ecosystem." - Verified User
- "Lightyear is a game changer." - Skye V.
- "Fast, easy, highly recommend!" - Henry C.
Find more of our reviews on G2!
Why choose one over the other?
Why Choose Tangoe Over Sakon:
- Businesses that require AI-powered tools for end-to-end lifecycle management and extensive global carrier support might prefer Tangoe. This solution is ideal for global enterprises and mid-market companies looking for centralized control and automation in managing telecom expenses.
Why Choose Sakon Over Tangoe:
- Organizations seeking a unified platform to manage all communication services, including telecom and device management, may find Sakon more suitable. This platform is perfect for large enterprises and global organizations focused on cost control and efficiency.
Why Choose Lightyear Over Sakon and Tangoe:
- Enterprises looking for significant time and cost savings through automation and data-driven software should consider Lightyear. Our platform is designed for businesses that want to streamline telecom procurement, inventory management, and bill payment with access to extensive price quote data and global carrier options.
Tangoe, Sakon, or Lightyear: Which is the best platform for you?
Choosing the right Telecom Expense Management (TEM) solution depends on your specific business needs. While Tangoe and Sakon offer robust features and capabilities, we believe Lightyear stands out with its significant time and cost savings, extensive data access, and user-friendly interface. Any of these platforms would be a solid choice, but we recommend Lightyear for its comprehensive and efficient approach to telecom management.
