The GSMA has unveiled a platform that seeks to improve the buying and selling of services in the telecoms industry.
The first phase of the Marketplace enables buyers to search, discover and make contact with sellers, and includes a market analysis tool for users to compare potential partners and competitors.
It goes live with 1,300 users, particularly the big telcos looking to procure services from smaller companies. Buyers go free, while sellers are charged $1,500 per year to be members. The GSMA hopes to add feedback functions and a transactional element.
Gareth Davies, PR Director from the GSMA, told Tech City News:
“Procurement in the telecommunications is currently expensive and sometimes inefficient. Under the current system it can take a significant amount of time for organisations to search, research, contact and evaluate potential suppliers as well as use significant resources to run RFP and RFX processes. Additionally, the current system does not have a side by side comparison tool so buyers often do not get the best price. GSMA Marketplace is designed to make it a simpler, less expensive and more efficient process by bringing key stakeholders together in one online location to do business.”