Tell us a little bit about yourself – who are you, and what is your background?
Hi! I’m Sofie, and I was born and raised in Umeå, in northern Sweden. I have recently graduated with a Degree of Master of Science in Business and Economics at Umeå School of Business and Economics. Previously, along with my studies, I have worked in the electricity industry in customer service, administration, customer-related tasks, and billing. I have worked with most types of customers, such as private customers, small and large companies, and social media. My interest lies in developing and streamlining the business while it is of the utmost importance that customers, suppliers, and colleagues are satisfied with me and my work.
What caught your interest in COS Systems?
Mainly it was the culture within the company, together with the people that opened my eyes to want to be part of COS. It is incredibly warm and welcoming. Beyond that, it feels exciting to be part of a growing company with an important value proposition to infrastructure and residents worldwide. COS has an environment that encourages you to be creative and work on streamlining and improving work processes. This is exactly what I was looking for due to my interest in business development.
What are your goals for the coming months?
The goal is to familiarize myself with the work processes, mainly invoicing and reporting, and to gain a better understanding of the product. I look forward to having the opportunity to work with the company to optimize and improve existing work processes by having the chance to use the knowledge I have gained during my years at university in practice together with my previous work experience. I hope that I will be a trustworthy person within the company that everyone can rely on and get support from.
Why should people contact you and press the “connect with Sofie” button?
You’re welcome to reach out to me, as I’ve stepped into the role of Business Operations Manager at COS Systems as of August 2024. I handle the day-to-day operations, office management, and internal processes to keep everything running smoothly for both our team and external partners. Connecting with me can help optimize communication around COS’s operational strategies.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
I love animals, especially horses, which I have been doing almost all my life. I train dressage but enjoy almost as much just working with horses from the ground. I have a cat named Milo, who is more like a dog than a cat. He goes on walks with me and is obsessed with closeness. He loves to sit on my shoulder when I’m walking around at home and, unfortunately, to hang and dangle from our ceiling lights…
I also enjoy food, both cooking and eating, which is something I like to do with family and friends on weekends, preferably with some good red wine or sparkling wine (especially champagne). A fun and maybe weird fact about me is that one of my favorite things is when I know I’m going to eat at a special restaurant because then I can sit and read the menu for hours in advance 🙂
How Open Access Can Increase Scalability with Minimal Staff
Open Access networks help scalability with minimal staff through several key mechanisms:
- Division of Responsibilities: In Open Access, the network operator is responsible for maintaining the physical infrastructure, while multiple Internet Service Providers (ISPs) offer services like internet, TV, and phone over the network. This means that ISPs handle customer-facing, time-consuming tasks such as billing, and customer support, which significantly reduces the workload for the network operator’s staff.
- Automation: This business model requires a platform like COS Business Engine that supports automation throughout the network lifecycle. Integrations with external platforms like Nokia and Vetro automate tasks like provisioning and network mapping and activate services without manual intervention when a customer places an order. Similarly, automated billing processes for ISPs ensure that the operator does not need to handle financial transactions, reducing administrative overhead.
- Efficient Use of Infrastructure: Open Access maximizes the use of existing infrastructure by enabling multiple service providers to operate on the same physical network. This shared infrastructure model allows the operator to scale the network to serve more customers without proportionately expanding staff.
- ISP Handled Customer Support: Since ISPs manage customer support, troubleshooting, and issue resolution for their subscribers, the operator’s staffing needs for customer service are significantly reduced. ISPs use integrated platforms and tools like a subscriber marketplace to manage customer interactions, freeing the operator from directly interacting with end-users except for infrastructure maintenance.
Conclusion
By automating core operations, leveraging self-service tools, and delegation customer-facing roles to ISPs, Open Access allows network operators to scale efficiently with a minimal workforce, focusing on maintaining and expanding the network infrastructure.
An integrated marketplace such as COS online marketplace outperforms traditional phone service in several key ways, thanks to its automation, self-service functionality, and scalability:
24/7 Accessibility: COS’ online marketplace is always available, allowing customers to browse, purchase, and manage services at their convenience, independent of any business hours.
Instant Service Activation: COS Business Engine’s marketplace integrates automatic service activation, so when a customer purchases a service, it is immediately provisioned and ready for use within minutes. This eliminates the delays that often occur with phone-based transactions, where manual intervention is needed.
Self-Service Efficiency: The platform’s self-service capabilities allow customers to resolve many issues independently. Service selection, billing, and account management can be handled without waiting on hold for support, which reduces the workload on customer service representatives (CSRs) and speeds up issue resolution.
Accurate Information: Customers get the latest information and details on services, pricing, and terms directly from the marketplace. This reduces the risk of miscommunication that can occur with phone interactions.
Enhanced User Experience: COS marketplace is designed to offer a superior user experience. Customers can easily navigate the interface to find what they need, avoiding the complexity of phone menus and long wait times. The platform also supports multiple service providers in an open-access model, offering more choices and driving higher satisfactions
Conclusion
By combining automation, convenience, and user control, COS’ online marketplace provides a faster, more efficient, and user-friendly alternative to phone-based services.
New Developments in Open Access Networks
Open Access is hot! While being big in Europe mainly it has been little traction for Open Access networks in the US. In recent years this has started to change, and in the last year or so, investors and tier1’s have announced investments of capital and efforts in Open Access Networks. Isak Finer was recently brought in as en expert on the topic on a Panel hosted by Broadband Breakfast.
When we want to increase the value of a home, we often consider making common upgrades. These upgrades may include adding a bathroom or fireplace. However, fiber internet is often overlooked, yet it is a significant property enhancement in today’s digital age.
Real estate agents are emphasizing fiber optic internet as a significant selling feature! Homes with fiber optics are more attractive to tech-savvy buyers and professionals who need fast internet for work. In competitive real estate markets, having fiber optic internet can help your property attract more attention. This can lead to faster sales and better offers.
According to a Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) study, adding fiber internet to a residential property can increase its value by up to 3.1%. This increase equates to an additional $6,000 on a $200,000 home – aligning with the value boost offered by more conventional property improvements.
However, the FBA’s study doesn’t end there. The study found that having faster internet speeds, like 1 Gbps broadband, can increase property values by 7%. Homes in areas with slower speeds, like 25 Mbps or lower, had lower sale prices.
Read the whole article about (at least) 8 more reasons why fiber broadband is a game changer
Tell us a little bit about yourself – who are you, and what is your background?
Hi, I’m Mike Moser, proud dad to two young boys and blessed to be married to an incredible woman. Although originally from Ohio, I’ve been soaking up the South Florida sun for as long as I can remember—go Miami Dolphins!
I began my career in hands-on technician roles, where I built a solid foundation in technical skills and problem-solving. I then moved into more strategic roles as a Sales Engineer, using my technical skillset to successfully meet and exceed customer expectations.
What caught your interest in COS Systems?
The people and company culture. I am particularly drawn to companies where employees are encouraged to innovate and collaborate openly, as I believe this is essential for achieving collective success. Throughout my career, I’ve thrived in environments that prioritize creativity and teamwork, and I see COS Systems as a place where I can contribute effectively while continuing to learn and grow.
Why should people contact you and press the “connect with Mike” button?
I bring a unique blend of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and creativity, which enables me to tackle complex challenges effectively while maintaining a relatable approach. Let’s connect and collaborate on finding solutions together. I’m excited to start a conversation with you!
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
A fun fact about me is that I’m a passionate sports enthusiast. Whether I’m cheering on my favorite teams with my boys at live games, or strategizing in fantasy football leagues, sports have always played a significant role in my life. I love the competitive spirit and camaraderie that sports bring, finding them both energizing and enjoyable.
I also have a passion for cooking and love experimenting with new recipes.
In many areas, there is still one dominant Internet Service Provider (ISP), leaving subscribers with limited choice. Therefore, we wanted to know if you would like to be able to compare different broadband deals from a range of providers, and the results show that 100% of participants would like to have that freedom of choice when they are looking for a new internet connection.
This is not surprising, but it underscores an important fact. Like in a grocery store or when shopping on Amazon, people want the freedom to choose between products and prices when looking for a new internet connection. In Broadband – this translates to a so-called Open Access Network, a business model that allows multiple service providers to operate and compete on the same network, giving subscribers a wide range of choices. Read Noanet’s article describing Open Access Networks.
Different Service Providers on a network mean increased competition, which creates better prices for the subscribers and ensures a high level of service quality. It also means that more subscribers will find and sign up for an Internet Connection that fits their needs (an increased take-rate).
Combined with an online marketplace such as ours, you provide your customers with 24/7 self-service so they can choose what they want when they want.
COS Business Engine is tailor-made for Open Access Networks and offers a customizable integrated online marketplace. It also offers zero-touch service provisioning, ensuring that once a subscriber has chosen a service, it is automatically activated and available at their address within minutes, making the process seamless and convenient.
We’ve been doing Open Access since the get-go and are always open to sharing our knowledge. Contact us if you want to learn more.
If you are using Calix hardware in your network, together with Calix Cloud solutions, COS Business Engine can automatically update subscribers and order information in Calix Cloud. We are currently delivering our automated solution for Calix Cloud to one of our customers. With this integration, the ISP does not need to enter any subscriber information in Calix Cloud manually. Subscriber records, mapping of hardware to service locations, and which services are ordered are automatically updated from the Business Engine. This saves time and effort and ensures accurate and up-to-date information, enhancing operational efficiency and subscriber experience.
Calix Cloud offers a powerful tool for visibility of the subscriber experience, support, upsell, and marketing. For example, if a subscriber contacts their ISP due to a problem with their network, the ISP has full access to all Calix cloud-stored data. As an Elite Partner to Calix, we can help you harness this power to deliver more value to your business and provide an even better subscriber experience!
Read more about Calix Cloud here.
We provide FTTH operators and network owners with software for automating and digitizing every aspect of their FTTH venture. From survey and demand aggregation, to sign up, deployment and billing – to help bridge the digital divide.