Member Article

CPI Increase – What Is It, How Does It Affect You

If you run a business in the UK, you’ll no doubt be familiar with the Consumer Price Index or CPI, which stood at 4.25 in December. Meanwhile, the Retail Price Index (RPI) came in at 5.2% at the end of 2023. 

These figures paint a fairly gloomy economic picture for countless UK businesses and could have a major impact on how much you can expect to pay for your mobile phone contracts. 

Since April 2023, estimates suggest that companies on average could see their mobile service bills surge by about 14% to 17% monthly. This increase is likely to hit even harder if your company is tied into a longstanding agreement with your mobile provider, where the scope for adjusting your plan might be limited.

Further compounding the problem, UK mobile networks are also known for levying additional increases over the CPI or RPI, which historically has come out at roughly 3.9%. For UK businesses, especially those with a considerable mobile workforce or international travel requirements, this could amount to significant additional operational costs.

It is therefore vital to both acknowledge and begin planning for these changes at an early stage, to avoid being hit with an unwelcome cost increase. 

Shopping Around For a Better Deal

Some of the mainstream networks are aware of the cost concerns of their corporate customers, along with the competition they face from other providers. Shopping around for a better deal has the potential to open doors to more competitive rates, as networks fight to retain the business of their largest and most important customers.

What remains problematic (from the perspective of the business) in all instances is the lack of flexibility synonymous with many mainstream contracts.  Irrespective of the size, type and unique requirements of the business, it’s the norm for them to be handed something fairly generic and static. 

The simple fact of the matter is that the only way to ensure you get an unbeatable deal on your corporate mobile requirements is to have your own bespoke agreement built from scratch.  An option that is typically off the table with mainstream providers, but is exactly what we specialise in at RoamingExpert. 

Your Business, Your Terms, Your Bespoke Agreement

As your business faces the impact of rising costs, we are here to offer a strategic approach to managing your corporate mobile and roaming expenses efficiently. By way of a strategic five-stage process, we can ensure your business benefits from lower communication bills, while also enjoying superior service.

Here is how it works:

1. We analyse your current usage 

By compiling and assessing a detailed record of your domestic and international mobile usage, we can build a comprehensive picture of your unique requirements.  This may include the size of your workforce, the destinations you travel to, the amount of data you use on average and so on. 

2. Analysis of requirements and potential savings

Armed with this information, our team will then conduct a detailed analysis of the specific services you need,which will form the basis of your agreement. We will then present you with our findings and a proposal for your requirements.

3. Review the proposal in your own time

Take the time to evaluate your proposal, without any obligation to continue any further. We will ensure every aspect of the proposal is presented in clear and simple terms with no ambiguities, enabling you to make the right decision for your business. 

4. We implement your flexible rolling agreement

If you are happy with the terms and conditions of the agreement, we will put your plan into place in the form of a flexible contract. You will then be able to make changes to the service you are provided with at any time, monitoring and controlling your plan via your central online dashboard.

5. Enjoy ongoing account management and support

With RoamingExpert, your business will benefit from the dedicated assistance of our experienced team, here to help you get the most out of your agreement and save as much as possible. From technical support to billing inquiries, we are just a quick call away anytime. 

For more information on any of the above or to discuss how RoamingExpert could reduce your corporate communication costs in 2024, contact a member of our team on +44 (0) 3300 555 777 anytime.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by iCONQUER Ltd .