Right from the login screen, it is instantly apparent that aesthetics are as important in Envision’s design as its functionality. Capacity is also important. So, the login screen supports multiple instances of Envision called “companies”. The data associated with each company is completely separated from that of all other ompanies. This allows users to maintain separate production, test and training environments. Each company supports up to 46,600 locations and a like number of login-capable employees. While locations share customer, employee, accounting, inventory and other data in common, each can be completely separated at the reporting level.

Following initial login, a pop-up menu appears in the lower-left portion of the screen, providing instant access to all major functions that are supported by the current user’s password. From this menu, users can also change their password, login location, login name or assigned cash drawer, and they can access on-line help, change screen languages and lock / unlock their login session. A multi-function clock provides the current time, multiple timer and time clock options, and access to world time data. Four lights labeled T, Q, M and S blink and generate distinctive tones to inform users of task, walk-in queue, marketing and system alerts.

Envision’s Information screen is designed to maximize the return on in-bound calls that come from advertising and other lead generating activities. Users can capture, track and manage unlimited contact data, notes, tasks and requirements, as well as send literature, quote rates, manage promotions, answer FAQs, and provide responses to virtually all prospect inquires. This screen also supports multi-lingual requirements, and provides numerous tools to help users close sales and move prospects from a lead to a customer. Historical data is retained indefinitely.

One of the best ways to retain subscribers is to avoid churn caused by either over utilization or under utilization of free use or the assignment of a toll plan that does not best fit a subscriber’s calling patterns. To automate this process, Envision includes the ability to perform automatic rate comparisons. Nightly, this feature analyzes blocks of accounts and, based upon userdefined rules, runs 90-day re-rate comparisons on those with usage patterns that may benefit from a change. The results are then automatically distributed to marketing personnel who can then proactively contact accounts regarding alternate rate plans.

Envision contracts support an unlimited number of billable IDs (BIDs), such as cellular phones, ANIs, pagers, e-mail addresses, etc. In addition, each BID on a given contract can be assigned a unique contract expiration date. This means that a single contract could have numerous renewal dates. While this can all be sorted out through reports, Envision includes the ability to automatically alert marketing personnel to impending contract expirations in real time. Nightly, this feature analyzes blocks of accounts and, based upon user-defined rules distributes renewal leads to marketing personnel for follow-up.

Welcome packages support the ability to send letters, emails and / or SMS messages to accounts and generate follow-ups to marketing and customer care personnel as various events occur (new purchases, birthdays, etc.). Welcome packages also support initial invoice welcome comments. A separate welcome mechanism can also send a welcome SMS to roamers when they first arrive in the user’s coverage area. Loyalty packages are an Envision feature that can provide free access bonuses (i.e.: free minutes) based upon a given account’s length of service. This can promote and strengthen subscriber retention.

Rate codes are the basis of all Envision rating processes. They are completely user-defined and support virtually all possible billing schemas. This includes fixed in advanced, fixed arrears, supplemental services and all forms of airtime, toll, data, commerce, content, character count, storage volume, roamer charges, etc. Each is supported by a bill cycle (monthly, quarterly, etc. ), up to six time zones, an initial period rate, a secondary period rate, a minimum per CDR rate, block time, initial free usage, free usage per CDR and a monthly minimum charge. Promotional (limited time) and test rates (what-if scenarios) are fully supported.

Envision supports an unlimited number of both standard and promotional rate plans that can consist of an unlimited number of rate codes, services and / or standard, preference, conditional and mandatory packages. Each can be configured in any combination of periods (monthly, quarterly, etc.), time zones, block times, free usage allotments, minimum or maximum charges and tiered pricing. Volume, unit, prompt pay and loyalty discounts are also supported. The extreme versatility of Envision’s rate plans and packages provides options that attract new prospects and help to keep the competition in distant second place.

Envision instantly rates CDRs as they become available from each switch. Immediately thereafter, CDRs can be viewed and / or adjusted by authorized users. This nearreal time rating process also supports PASSPORT’s terms management functions. At any time during a given billing cycle, multiple criteria may be used to manually rerate previously rated CDRs. In addition, Envision’s test rates function allows users to change one or more rates and, using various re-rating criteria, determine the billing impact of a given change before it is applied.

Trial billing is an Envision process whereby users can generate a mock bill and check its accuracy. Envision supports multiple concurrent trial billings prior to any further action. Each trial bill can be based upon more than 20 criteria. If inaccuracies are found, they can be fixed and a new trial bill can be generated to test the results. Once deemed correct, it can be committed, causing the creation of invoices and updates to both AR and GL. Users can also generate account-specific, on-demand bills at anytime. As part of this process, users can
also deactivate all billed IDs, pro-rate final charges and apply any available credits, early termination fees, etc.

Systems are a powerful component in the Envision fulfillment, provisioning, mediation and billing processes. In general, they define hundreds of rules that are related to each of these processes, including the translation from feature selections to switch commands (fulfillment) and from raw call records to those that are billable (mediation). Envision is currently compatible with over 100 different interfaces. Each is written and maintained in-house to insure on-going Envision compatibility. As changes occur in switch versions or in TAP, CIBER or other industry standard interface, Envision is immediately updated accordingly.

Envision’s POS interface includes order entry, purchasing and other functionality that is specifically required by telecommunication retailers. It allows users to check stock, lookup pricing, view pending orders, find substitutes and accessories, display literature and review customer purchase histories. It also allows users to create POs, repair POs, sales and service orders, invoices and quotes, and to schedule sales and technical staff, etc. Users can also change account addresses and other contact information, receive payments and deposits, issue credits and refunds, void sales, make exchanges and accept returns.

Envision includes a physical inventory screen that allows users to perform inventory counts and updates during normal business hours and while other normal POS transactions are in progress. If the count of a given item does not match the system’s on-hand quantity, a pop-up alerts users to any sales, receipts and / or transfers that occurred during the count period. All processes are bar code reader compliant. This function even includes an import functions that allows users to scan an entire count (including serial numbers) into a TriCoder portable reader and automatically update Envision’s on-hand quantities accordingly.

The ability to record, assign, escalate, and follow-up on issues, and to accurately quote resolution estimates is essential to subscriber acquisition and retention. Envision’s trouble ticket and call tag screens provide these capabilities and more. Automatic matching issue alerts and ticket merge capabilities are also supported, allowing users to simultaneously process and resolve all issues of a similar nature (i.e.: outages). Each caller’s demeanor and churn score are tracked through every process. Extensive issue, cause and resolution management reports and alerts are standard features.

Envision provides both automatic and manual creditscoring models. Each is designed to provide go-no-go credit decisions, and can determine the terms, credit limit, deposit amount, add-on feature deposit level, credit risk rating and / or maximum allowable BIDs for each new account. If an applicant’s score is insufficient for instant approval, its data is automatically referred to a credit manager for further evaluation. ARIS maintains up-to-date certifications with each supported credit bureau. It also continually updates Envision’s manual scoring parameters to those of evolving industry requirements.

Credit card and debit card billing are supported by notification and service level control tiers that are similar to those of stop-limit billing, However, the processes that update available credit are integrated with the user’s automated clearing house (ACH) and provides both batch settlement and reject processing. The use of multiple back-up card numbers for each account is also supported. When combined with Envision’s e-mail billing capabilities, credit / debit card terms create a truly paperless service offering.

Getting paid is what it’s all about. So, Envision’s collections screen is designed to support a broad range of collections activities, such as, the ability to manage account terms, record / track payment commitments, and receive payments by credit card, bank debit or prepay voucher. Users can view actual invoice images and record dispute, adjustment and write-off data directly to those images for later review. If assignment to a collection agency becomes necessary, all services can be terminated and a complete package of account information, relevant documentation and collection.

Envision’s tree style report menu includes hundreds of powerful multiple criteria selections. It also include a listing of the logged in users favorite and most recently selected reports and the ability to locate a report by entering a key word. In addition, custom reports can be easily added to this menu and can be assigned to Envisions password security system. As the cursor rolls over any report tree listing, an image instantly appears for easy selection identification. Once users enter the criteria of a given report, it is instantly displayed on the screen. It can then be distributed to one or more recipients by print, fax, e-mail and / or file transfer.