SORT.B3S PLATFORM
SORT.B3S PLATFORM IN A NUTSHELL
SORT.B3S is an integrated platform supporting the provision of services and managing their security. It provides a comprehensive service dedicated to telecommunications operators. It consists of components supporting service management and security.
Many years of experience and knowledge of the market combined with a well-tested modular approach increase the quality and capabilities of any system. Innovative mechanisms automating activities and a process approach make work more effective. The unique and wide functional range satisfies any current and future needs of telecommunications operators.
The SORT.B3S platform was created as part of a project called: “An integrated platform supporting the provision of services and management of their security for local telecommunications entrepreneurs” co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the Intelligent Development Operational Programme for 2014-2020.
Main components and functionalities
Business Support
Product Catalogue
The product catalogue allows you to define offers comprising individual services or service packages, including promotions. Offers can be varied for selected customer groups.
At the product catalogue level it is possible to specify the technologies in which services can be provided and therefore determine which devices will be needed for a given customer.
Sales support
SORT.BSS allows for instance to organise sales campaigns for selected customer groups in defined locations and approaching them with suitable offers. Only offers that meet specific criteria can be selected, in particular those requiring technologies that are available in a given area. Offers can be displayed both in tabular form and as charts visualising fees in individual settlement periods. We pay great attention to display information clearly, which is of great importance for the ease of system operation and a guarantee of making the right choice.
SORT.BSS also works well on mobile devices. It is possible to use all functionalities while working in the field, e.g. during door-to-door sales.
Customer service
The possibility of customer segmentation according to any number of definable parameters makes it possible to suit your services to different customer groups. All operations performed on the customer’s account are recorded. The customer service operator sees all the data and possible actions they can take on one screen, including the history of previous activity and any notes or remarks pertaining to the customer.
Distribution of information to customers
The system has mechanisms that allow sending information to selected clients regarding various activities related to the provision of services. A typical example is informing the client that an invoice has been issued. Information is sent via email and/or SMS.
Devices and warehouses
SORT.BSS makes it possible to define any number of warehouses and devices, and then to allocate equipment to warehouses and transfer them between warehouses. This allows you to track your equipment history from arrival to the main warehouse until disposal.
When implementing SORT.BSS, technologies that support network and client devices used by the Operator are defined. When importing information about equipment into the SORT.BSS system, you can specify the technologies a given device supports, which then allows you to select suitable devices for various processes run by SORT.BSS.
Settlements and payments
You can define settlement periods of any length and assign customers to selected periods. It is also possible to issue invoices on demand for one-off services. The system generates Uniform Control Files and uses an API to send data to the accounting system. SORT.BSS guarantees that all services rendered to clients will be settled.
SORT.BSS makes it possible to accept payments over the counter and settle mass payments from banks. In the Electronic Customer Service Centre it is possible to make payments using QR codes.
Complaints
If a complaint requires intervention by technical experts, the system allows them to record requests for technical support. If the complaint and decision on the calculation of discounts and compensation are accepted, they will be calculated according to the guidelines specified in relevant provisions.
Debt recovery process
The system can generate lists of customers in arrears and customers subject to debt collection efforts. Lists can be filtered and sorted by various criteria. You can take various debt collection actions on individual clients or entire groups depending on the stages defined in the debt recovery process.
Landline and mobile telephony
The System makes it possible to download tariff records from exchanges, determine call times and the numbers dialled. Based on this information phone charges are calculated with reference to the tariff system. Then an invoice is generated as well as a record of phone calls and text messages for the last billing cycle.
Technical support orders
The system contains customisable schedules for technicians. The schedules enables the assignment of technical support jobs to free “time slots”, which makes it easy to monitor work progress. Technicians are provided with the necessary knowledge to organise their work and the ability to record the completed technical support orders. The system comes with a user-friendly responsive interface which enables work in the office and remotely on mobile devices.
Report and analysis module
In the SORT.BSS system there is a configurable reports module with predefined standard reports. Each Operator can generate any report independently by creating appropriate SQL queries and the module will display all necessary data stored in the SORT.BSS system database.
Electronic Customer Service Centre
This module has a customisable user interface so that elements such as the Operator’s logo, colour scheme, etc. can be changed to suit your needs. The module provides access to customer documents, e.g. contracts, orders, invoices. In the Electronic Customer Service Centre it is possible to download a QR code with bank transfer details. The module serves also as a marketing channel informing clients about new offers.
Main components and functionalities
Network Systems
Hierarchical network topology
SORT.OSS enables users to define the hierarchical structure of the network and indicate the location of individual nodes. Once defined, the nodes together with their placement in relation to each other can be viewed on a map, which facilitates planning network modernisation for instance.
Defining technologies available in individual locations
The technologies implemented in each network device need to be defined. Combined with information about the location of the device, it is possible to determine which services can be offered to the customer in a given location.
Service platform control systems
SORT.OSS enables provisioning for various hardware platforms, including: GPON from various manufacturers, access routers, IPTV platforms, VoIP platforms and other equipment.
Visualising the network and available technologies using maps
Presenting the hierarchical topology of your network on maps together with the technologies available on individual devices in given locations.
Main components and functionalities
Security Component
SORT.SEC - Security Component
As part of the EU project B3S – Business and Security Support System, modifications were made to the SORT.BSS component consisting in recording various events occurring in the System that may affect the security of data and the business of the Telecommunications Operator in general. A new SORT.SEC component was also developed whose job is to collect and analyse events from the SORT.BSS System and network infrastructure.
SORT.SEC enables the Operator to meet legal requirements regarding Telecommunications Operators, pursuant to the Regulation of the Polish Minister of Digitisation on the minimum technical and organisational measures and methods that telecommunications enterprises will be obliged to use to ensure the security or integrity of networks and services. Operators will be required to carry out activities related to ensuring the security or integrity of networks and services also under the new Telecommunications Law, which must be adapted to the European Electronic Communications Code by the end of 2020.
In the case of Operators who have become Key Service Operators pursuant to the Act on the National Cybersecurity System the implementation of the SORT.SEC System is an excellent solution to ensure compliance with all legal requirements.
Selection of events occurring in the system and network infrastructure that are to be monitored
Possibility of monitoring various events, such as: operators logging into the system, defining clients, contracts. It is also possible to monitor events occurring in the Operator’s network infrastructure. The operator can choose which events are to be monitored at any given time.
Defining critical values that trigger alerts
For each monitored event, you can define critical values. In case they are exceeded, an alert will be triggered. Thanks to this functionality it is possible for instance to control the work of personnel to ensure they do not take actions dangerous to the Operator and their work performance is effective.
Incident creation, incident impact analysis
You can create an incident from each alert but you can also create alerts independently. It is possible to analyse the impact of incidents and the financial losses involved as well as identify the affected resources and processes and describe the actions taken.
Estimating the risk of serious events and security costs
Based on the number of incidents of a given type, the system makes it possible to determine the probability of occurrence of a given threat and it calculates potential losses. It is also possible to define security measures and calculate their cost.
Presentation of events in the form of charts
Events subject to monitoring are visualised using charts, which makes it possible to assess the scale and sources of potential threats.
Risk presentation
The hazards defined by the operator are presented in a breakdown by areas together with information on the calculated level of risk.
Security planning
All of the above activities are aimed at planning security measures to eliminate losses in the event of the most dangerous threats.
SORT.B3S PLATFORM
WHAT YOU GAIN WITH SORT.B3S
- A comprehensive system for doing business,
- System mobility – the ability to work with the system on any device with Internet access,
- Automation of activities – as you work, the system performs related activities in the background, ensuring data consistency and improving the work experience,
- Hardware and service platform provisioning: GPON, HFC, VoIP, IPTV, VOD, MVNO and many more,
- Taking technical capabilities into consideration when preparing customer offers,
- Presenting system resources in a graphic form – the diagrams help to visualise complex issues clearly and enable assessment of issues “at a glance”
- Process-based operation, possibility to model processes,
- Assigning, monitoring and optimisation of technicians’ work,
- Elimination of paper documents,
- Visualisation of network topology using maps – presenting the topology of your network on maps, taking into account the technologies available in individual locations. Visualisation of network failure sites and locations that are cut off from services as a result of the failure.
- The ability to monitor the work of the Operator’s employees,
- Business security, risk and security cost assessment,
- Monitoring of errors and failures appearing in the Operator’s system and infrastructure,
- Monitoring of cyber threats – infrastructure monitoring enables detection of potentially dangerous events and network traffic.
SORT.B3S PLATFORM
HOW CAN YOU PURCHASE SORT.B3S
The SORT.B3S system is available in various configurations of components depending on the Operator’s needs. Each of the components: SORT.BSS, SORT.OSS and SORT.SEC is a separate System and can be implemented and operated independently. However, using the three components in combination allows the Operator to take advantage of all the possibilities offered by the SORT.B3S System.
In each sharing model the price depends on the number of active subscribers billed in the System, and the price for a single subscriber is the same regardless of the total number of Operator’s subscribers.
We offer the following sharing models:
- Traditional license
The operator purchases a license and provides hardware infrastructure.
Technical support and access to updates is provided for an additional fee
- Subscription
The customer provides hardware infrastructure but does not buy a license.
Monthly subscription fees are charged for always having access to the current version of the system.
- SaaS
The customer always uses the current version of the system hosted by the service provider in exchange for paying a monthly access fee.