BSS Telecom / BSS in Telecom / Telecom BSS (Business Support Systems) are a collection of software applications that help telecom providers in managing and optimizing their customer administration processes. It doubles as an interface between telecom service providers and their customers.

BSS is essential for maintaining good client connections, accurately invoicing and billing, handling transactions, and guaranteeing that business operations run smoothly. Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Billing and Invoicing Systems, Order Management Systems, Recurring billing and Revenue Management Systems are important parts of BSS. It aids in the business activities of the organization, instead of the technology side. A robust business support system is crucial for any company, since it makes sure that every department is business support ready, providing the necessary resources and support required to maintain smooth operations.

Due to the custom solutions that were necessary to be developed for BSS and OSS in telecom integrations, ITU-T (International Telecommunications Union) aimed to develop a industry standardization in 1988 and compiled their recommendations in ITU-T Recommendations . These act as defining elements in global ICT (Information Communication Technology).  Within these recommendations, TMN logical model illustrates OSS and BSS integration.

There are 4 main logical layers of functionality within a Telecommunications Management Network (TMN Framework), sometimes known as the TMN pyramid, as shown in the below diagram.

• Business Management System (BMS):

It is the topmost layer of the framework, comprises the Business Management Layer and is responsible for the business management aspects within the network. It works towards the strategic business decision making tasks like goal setting, revenue management, quality of services, budgeting, billing and business planning that aligns with the overall organizational goals.

• Service Management Systems (SMS):

It comprises the Service Management Layer of the framework. It is in charge of the management of the service level agreements (SLAs) and service provisioning and the overall QoS. It defines the offered services from the carriers. It forms the interface between the customer and the network administration and charging. It handles the creation and billing of the services rendered. It ensures that the services are delivered and meet the customer expectations.

• Element Management System (EMS):

EMS makes up the Element Management Layer (as shown in the TMN pyramid diagram above). It is a foundational layer in implementing the TMN layered system architecture and meets the Quality of Service requirements. It performs the managerial functions of network elements on an individual or group basis. It declutters the functions supported by the network element layer. It manages the functions of each Network Element System individually but not the communication between different Network Element Systems. The communication that it does carry out, is towards the layer higher up in the hierarchy- Network Management Systems. It uses protocols like Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), TL1 and XML.

• Network Management System (NMS):

It is the final layer of the pyramid and is incharge of the data flow towards the BSS layer. NMS manages, maintains and administers the computer networks. It communicates with multiple Element Management Systems(EMS) or with the devices to manage one or many vendor devices within an established device hierarchy within the network. It identifies the devices present on the network and tracks their performance indicators like bandwidth usage, latency and packet losses. It is responsible for complete supervision and control of the network.

➡️ Customer Relationship Management(CRM)

Used to manage customer information, developing and maintaining relationships through CRM, and gaining insights into customer behavior, to help personalize customer experience and manage support.

➡️ Subscription Management

Subscription Management helps manage the periodic renewal and billing of specific products and services.

➡️ Billing and Invoicing

Includes accounts receivable, billing procedures, service level agreements (SLAs), customer notifications, and collections administration. This section guarantees that earnings are accurately recorded and optimized.

➡️ Customer Order Management and Fulfilment

Place, edit, manage orders and retain full control on all processes all the way until the order fulfillment.

➡️ Notifications Management

Manages notifications regarding the subscriptions, payment, invoices or any other custom notifications added by the client.

➡️ Product and Service Marketing

BSS marketing aims to raise awareness, generate leads, and drive sales by effectively communicating the value proposition of the product and service solutions and work towards securing strong relationships with customers.

➡️ Data Driven Decision Making:

BSS generates insights through data analytics, enabling the organization to make informed decisions and plan strategically.

➡️ Revenue Growth:

Effective revenue management tools help identify opportunities for revenue growth, such as optimizing pricing strategies and offering customized services.