| Support Systems Defined | Overview | | As the next generation of digital services pushes enterprises to collaborate with more partners and greater numbers of systems, the ability to identify functional gaps becomes critical to purchasing and integration decisions. With the Applications Framework, organizations get a standardized model for grouping function and data into recognizable applications or services. In areas such as Fulfillment, Assurance and Billing, the Applications Framework breaks out a growing number of functional areas, including: • Customer Management
• Service Management
• Resource Management
• Supplier/Partner Management
• Enterprise Management By providing a structure around which support systems' application functionality is defined, the Framework helps Service Providers navigate the entire procurement process—from initial request for information, through systems comparison, to actual implementation. It also helps Suppliers understand which systems they supply and which ones have resulted from partnerships with other companies. Note: The Applications Framework maps to the TM Forum Business Process Framework (eTOM), which helps rationalize procedures and lower the costs of systems management. Click Here for a more in-depth look at the Applications Framework |
| Business Benefits |
Common framework and language for defining and procuring solutions. |
Faster integration with lower costs. |
Fosters re-use, which lowers custom development and licensing costs. |
Identification of functional gaps. | |
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