New Netcracker. Product. Resource Management

For Communications Service Providers (CSPs), the network is one of their most important assets. Having deployed the network to provide connectivity and access, CSPs seek to monetize this asset by layering services over it. Over the years, networks have grown and become more complex and intelligent. Despite their increased sophistication, however, they still cannot create, deliver, and manage services by themselves. Network expansion and the introduction of new services require network planning and design skills. A detailed understanding of the network, its configuration, its topology, and the relationships between different layers and components is necessary.

A service provider’s other biggest asset is a skilled workforce. The optimum use of this workforce is becoming critical as mobile operators migrate to 3G networks and wireline operators become converged services providers. Workforce management plays a central role during new network deployments, but it is also fundamental to ongoing operations. As service providers struggle to handle large numbers of dispatchers and field engineers, avoid operational delays, and prevent churn by improving the customer experience, the need for workforce management solutions has never been more urgent.

NetCracker Resource Management

NetCracker brings its strong experience in network inventory, outside plant, network design and planning, mobile rollout, as well as work order and workforce management to its Resource Management suite that leverages more than 15 years of experience in the successful delivery of OSS products and solutions.

As a part of the NetCracker TOMS Suite, NetCracker Resource Management optimizes implementation time and costs through pre-integration with IT Service Platforms, as well as with Customer Management, Service Management, and Network Management.

Capability Overview

Network Planning & Management	Resource Usage Analysis Utilization Trending and Demand Forecasting Collaborative Planned Configuration Management Automated Design Assistance and What-if Scenarios
Resource Inventory	Equipment Library Resource Specifications, Dependencies, and Constraints Capacity Management Resource Usage Tracking and Analysis Resource Availability, Allocation, and Assignment Management Spares and Warehouse Management
Discovery & Reconciliation	Discovery Framework and Adapters Data Mapping and Conversion Framework Reconciliation Framework Discrepancy Analysis and Resolution Technology-Specific Reconciliation Rules Vendor-Specific Reconciliation Adapter
Outside Plant	Outside Plant Inventory GIS Systems Integration Outside Plant Visualization
Workforce Management	Workforce Inventory Work Order Management Work Planner Work Dispatcher Mobile and Desktop Clients
Mobile Backhaul	Site Survey and Approval BTS, BSC Rollout, and Re-Homing Transport Network Grooming Upgrade Scenarios 2G to 4G Support of Radio-Network Optimization

Benefits

A comprehensive end-to-end view of network infrastructure status greatly improves the efficiency of the fulfillment and assurance processes, and ultimately improves customer satisfaction.
A flexible, unified metadata-based approach of reusable resource specifications and template components enables the quick creation and delivery of new network technologies and equipment, and thereby provides an important competitive advantage.
The visualization of network infrastructure and relationships between different components speeds up resource provisioning, planning & design, and assurance processes.
The use of standards-based data models, processes, and integration interfaces (SID, OSS/J. MTOSI, CMDB, NGOSS) cuts integration and migration costs dramatically.
Highly automated, end-to-end processes and operations allow for minimal manual work, low re-work, and higher productivity with lower OpEx.