What is Network Management Software?
Network management software manages computer networks over a wide range of network devices and software. It monitors, controls, configures, troubleshoots, plans, allocates, deploys, and coordinates network-based business operations in network devices. The software also enables network managers to supervise individual components within a network management framework spread across geographies.
Moreover, it helps SMBs and large enterprises reduce their operational costs by centralizing the contact center of the network and allowing easy adaptation to network changes. Integration of network-based tools such as network performance, monitoring management, and network configurations management can help organizations in operating and controlling the whole network cycle. In addition, automated transmission devices implemented by organizations have increased the demand for network management services and solutions.
Four Key Trends in Network Management Software
Automation of Network Management Software Tools
The introduction of automated capabilities within management software is seen as an upcoming trend that will cater to the needs of network management vendors. There are many types of automation in network management software tools, and some of them are specifically used to deal with the current challenges faced by vendors.
Examples of recent automated capabilities of network management solutions are automated discovery, automated configuration auditing and compliance analysis, automated root cause analysis, and automated actions in response to well-known issues and problems. Automated tools can deliver improved agility and effectiveness, helping network managers keep pace with the rapidly changing market dynamics and business environment.
Outsourcing of Network Management Division to Managed Service Providers
Most network management software vendors are witnessing low profit margins because of the decrease in AVPU. To reduce their operational expenses, vendors are outsourcing most of their service functionalities and network maintenance to managed service providers while retaining their core areas such as business operations.
As network management software is an integral part of a network and requires a trained workforce, most of the vendors are outsourcing network management software implementation and operation to managed service providers and retaining the core business areas. Outsourcing helps vendors maintain high profit margins and good SLA.
Adoption of Integrated Revenue Optimization Solutions
Network management vendors are making in-house teams for developing revenue assurance, fraud management, and cost management solutions. Some of the leading vendors are obtaining these services through consultancy providers and solution developers.
In view of this, vendors are developing advanced technologies, including integrated revenue optimization solutions that have revenue assurance, fraud management, and cost and margin analysis capabilities. These solutions enable the integration of functions into a single solution, thus increasing its adoption in the market.
High Demand for Customized Network Management Software
Nowadays, network management providers are shifting their focus from the technology-centric business model to the customer-centric model. Customer-centric solutions are customized management solutions catering to different sectors. Customized solutions facilitate integration of network providers, which will help them in offering bundled services and thus improve the customer experience.
For instance, operators can interlink their voice networks with high-speed broadband networks and offer a bundled converged service to end-users. The prominent network management functions are mediation of converged networks, network fault detection, and convergence of billing systems within the network. Network management software needs to be flexible to accommodate these changes.
