So, telecoms service inventory management is going to get a lot more complex, soon. That’s why any operator that runs inventory through accessing data in scattered silos, is going to be left behind, soon – if, that is, they seek to engage in and succeed with new 5G opportunities.

Getting data into a single place is one key step – which can easily be achieved with CROSS. Further, integration with new components will be required, so the inventory management system must be able to extend to cover new operational systems and resources so that, for example, individual VNFs can be checked prior to ordering and activating a new service.

In fact, it’s clear from this work that operators need to start thinking about this now. Telecoms service inventory management is about to go center-stage. It will be fundamental to the delivery of new services – if you plan to embrace these opportunities, you need to build advanced inventory capabilities into your planning, now.