20 Years of Telecom Transformation: What We’ve Learned from Helping 200+ Enterprises

Introduction

Telecommunications isn’t just about connectivity—it’s about visibility, control, and cost confidence. And over the past two decades, we’ve seen how easily businesses can lose all three.

Since 2002, CDK has helped more than 200 enterprise clients across industries including manufacturing, health, aged care, education, logistics, retail, and government. Technology has evolved dramatically in that time… but the core problems haven’t. Overspending. Redundant services. Billing mistakes. Missing data.

As we relaunch our website and look ahead, we’re reflecting on the most valuable lessons we’ve learned from two decades of supporting enterprise clients. Here’s what 20 years of telecom audits have taught us.

1. Most Businesses Have Telecom Waste—And Don’t Realise It

One of the biggest issues we uncover is an accumulation of unused or underutilised services. Temporary projects, legacy systems left in place, and mobile numbers still active after staff departures all contribute to unnecessary costs.

Common examples include:

-          Mobile services still billing despite no longer being used 

-          Inactive NBN, fibre, or copper links still billing monthly 

-          Legacy PABX lines or ISDN services remaining after VoIP upgrades

-          Legacy Data services remaining after SD-WAN upgrades

In more than 90% of audits, we’ve identified immediate savings opportunities—often ranging from $10,000 to well over $300,000 annually. And those savings are typically just the beginning.

2. Billing Accuracy Is Rarely 100%

Despite best intentions, carrier billing errors remain alarmingly common. Overcharges can span months or even years before they’re caught—if they’re caught at all.

Our audits frequently uncover:

-          Incorrect or outdated plan charges 

-          Contracted rates not being applied 

-          Services billed after cancellation

-          Charges for services never provisioned or never cancelled

-          Duplicate or overlapping services 

These aren’t anomalies—they’re patterns. And they cost businesses significant amounts every year. Our role is to identify them, document them, and ensure your provider corrects them and applies the correct credits.

3. Internal Teams Don’t Always Have the Tools, Time or Data

IT, finance, and procurement teams are already covering huge workloads and are commonly stretched thin. Telecom oversight becomes reactive or low priority, relying on spreadsheets, partial data, or a quick skim of monthly invoices.

That’s where an independent partner like CDK changed the game.

CDK Provides:

-          A complete, up-to-date and accurate telecom asset register 

-          Tailored monthly reporting across cost centres or sites

-          Ongoing validation of billing against contracts

-          Clarity on usage, performance, and spend trends

The result? Visibility, accuracy, and strategic clarity—month after month.

4. One Size Never Fits All

Every enterprise has different priorities and unique operational requirements based on its structure, growth trajectory, and risk appetite. Yet many providers continue to offer standardised solutions that don’t reflect those differences.

We tailor every audit, report, and recommendation to your environment.

That means:

-          Aligning reporting with your internal systems 

-          Supporting your procurement, finance and IT needs

-          Translating technical data into clear, actionable insights

-          Designing recommendations based on your business goals, note generic templates 

We don’t just deliver spreadsheets— we deliver clarity that supports informed decision-making across IT, finance, and procurement teams.

5. There’s No Substitute for Independent Advice

At CDK, we’re proudly independent. We don’t sell telco products or take commissions from providers. That independence means you get advice that’s objective, unbiased, and always aligned with your best interests.

Our only priority is you.

This independence:

-          Ensures impartial analysis 

-          Strengthens your position during negotiations 

-          Prioritises your business interests—not your provider profits 

Whether you're managing one office or a complex national footprint, having a truly independent advisor makes all the difference.

6. Cost Savings Are Only the Beginning

Yes, we find savings—often significant. But the long-term value goes far deeper.

Working with CDK also delivers:

-          Clearer internal accountability around services and costs

-          Stronger leverage in contract negotiations 

-          More accurate forecasting and budgeting 

-          A centralised understanding of your entire telecom environment

-          Confidence that billing matched reality

Telecom isn’t just a line item—it’s part of your operational strategy. Our goal is to give you control, not just savings.

Where to from Here?

Our 20-year journey has been shaped by the trust of our clients and the results we’ve delivered together. If your business is unsure what you're paying for, lacks clarity into its telecom landscape or reporting, suspects overspending—or simply doesn’t have the time to keep on top of it—we’d love to help.

Let’s talk.  Contact us for a no-obligation chat about your company’s circumstances.