With a background in deploying OSS/BSS systems for MNOs, software development company VAS-X has extended its offering to provide a comprehensive site management system for tower owners to better manage their assets. Working with the likes of Helios Towers Tanzania and Cell C, TowerXchange speak to VAS-X’s COO, Johan Naude, to learn more about the company’s product offering and the savings that it can bring to tower owners.
TowerXchange: Please can you introduce VAS-X to TowerXchange readers?
Johan Naude, COO, VAS-X:
VAS-X (PTY) LTD. is a software development company which was founded approximately 17 years ago, and was cultivated from the requirements of mobile network operators outside of South Africa, to deploy OSS/BSS systems to deal with the operating and billing requirements within their customer base.
The VAS-X founders saw an opportunity to provide a proprietary solution with enhanced value added services within existing GSM telecommunications operators.
In addition VAS-X is focusing on extending the product portfolio to new architectures, solutions and services which are emerging across the ICT landscape both in Africa, and beyond. Similarly, a comprehensive, proprietary site management solution suite has been successfully developed and deployed over the last three years, which is capable of enabling operational efficiency, planning and real time management of network infrastructure through the functionality.
The combined management team offers in excess of 150 years combined Communications and ICT experience. The combined staff compliment is circa 120 people. The company has a healthy representation of gender and racial diversity across the staff population. The companies are private, and shareholders are all internal at present.
The VAS-X Group has proprietary solutions and resources deployed in countries shown in figure one.
Figure one: Countries in which VAS-X Group’s solutions and resources are deployed
TowerXchange: Can you explain some of the key modules in VAS-X site management system and how they help tower owners in managing their assets?
Johan Naude, COO, VAS-X:
Figure two shows the core modules in our product. The product was developed by listening to our customers, observing first hand issues that affect operations. Using TowerXchange as a source of valuable information to connect to decision makers across Africa and the Middle east two key issues became clear:
Capital expenditure vs operational cost savings
Networks are coming under increasing pressure from regulatory authorities to lower tariffs but increase basic services. Competition increased and countries that only had two to three networks competing now need to compete for market share against virtual networks.
The net effect was that all service providers to the industry had to tighten cost controls in order to stay marketable and price sensitive.
VAS-X addressed the above by marketing the VX Site Management product through the Operational cost model.
- Implementation included in monthly costs.
- Operational support and costs included in monthly costs.
- No hardware required as solution is cloud based.
- Quarterly upgrades included in pricing model.
Functionality
Software is often built based on the assumption that one product can fit most requirements at all clients.
We took a radically different approach. Assuming all client processes and environment are vastly different the architecture of the product dictated that we design the following major building blocks.
- Core system: All major functionality resides here and is configurable to the point where customisation is almost non-existent. Core software stability and supportability is efficient and easily managed.
- Integration layer: Integrating into other systems is key in order to give client a full 360-degree view deep inside operations. The main objective is to collect as much verifiable information real time in order to give management staff a current view of the network infrastructure.
- Mobile Applications
Research indicated that there are three basic needs for mobile applications
1. Operations APP
- Access control management
- Site actions workflow
- Real time information and image collection
2. Management APP
- Real time reporting
- Actual actionable data
- User customisable
3. Client APP
- Specific automated reporting
4. Contractors APP
- Access control management
- Site actions workflow
- Real time information and image collection
Figure two: Site management system key modules
TowerXchange: How does your software integrate into existing systems in place on sites?
Johan Naude, COO, VAS-X:
Collating information and verification of information is part of the basic needs that VX Site Management addresses. Integration is part of our core capabilities as a company with experience built in OSS BSS systems. Key integrations points are;
1. RMS systems (Kentrox, Eguard Netcool)
2. Access Management (Abloy Cliq Bluetooth locks)
3. Ticketing systems (Freshdesk, ServiceNow in progress, HP service desk in progress)
4. ERP systems (Sage X3, Oracle in progress)
5. SMSC
TowerXchange: Please can you share details of key clients that VAS-X have worked with and the benefits that they have brought
Johan Naude, COO, VAS-X:
Two clients that we are working with are Helios Towers Tanzania and Cell C. For Helios Towers Tanzania, VX Site Management was launched live in December 2015. The product objectives included; Effective LUKU (PrePaid electricity) voucher procurement and distribution; accurate budget control; accurate VAT return information collection and verification.
To date we have also delivered a fuel management module and various reports that added to business intelligence collected from sites. Clear benefits include the above as well as a $1.5mn saving in terms of operational costs during the first year of system operation. We are currently busy integrating to the new Multidrive system that will eventually allow remote monitoring and recharging of PrePaid electricity meters at all towers.
Regarding Cell C, we are currently implementing the full suite of modules after being awarded an open tender. Clear first phase objectives are to get utility costs and Landlord and Major Account
TowerXchange: What does the future have in store for VAS-X?
Johan Naude, COO, VAS-X:
Our marketing strategy include several blue-chip clients including the likes of Vodacom Africa, Vodafone and Econet.
Our product vision is that VX Site Management will be a quick to implement easily maintainable and cost-effective software as a service solution to clients that will deliver increased visibility and business intelligence on site operations.
We believe the product will show value very quickly in Cell C and we will base future use cases on lessons learned from current clients as well as clients that we are serving from a OSS/BSS perspective.
