Geographical Operations System

A Geographical Operations System (GOS) combines the integration of data with geographic mapping ability in a consolidated process for telecommunications companies. The process can be defined as, “the marriage that integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Operational Support Systems (OSS) entails… [Flournoy, Chuck (August 2006), “Does Your Left Hand Know What the Right Is Doing? Meshing FTTx Management Into Operations Efforts – While Using It As a Catalyst for Change”, "OSP Magazine".] ” in a telecommunications company. The goal of a GOS is to open the flow of information among employees of a company by providing equal access to geographic representation and database information about customers and equipment to ensure the timely deliverance of services. A Geographical Operations System is meant to provide all employees (from database managers to field technicians and customer service representatives) with equal access to information in order to enhance services and respond to problems. A GOS is adopted by telecommunications companies to combine maps of the company's service area with database information about the company's customers and equipment.

GOS Software

GOS software relies on a central repository for critical data to foster better communication between the various branches of a telecom. GOS software may offer companies a means to achieve technological convergence in their marketed products. Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) is utilized to create an understandable pathway for retrieving information from GOS software for a range of employees that may not be familiar with typical database protocols. The software creates a channel within a company for experts to share information on the various aspects of the telecommunications company, thus opening the flow of information amongst employees, thereby increasing efficiency for all employees [Mapcom Systems, [http://www.mapcom.com/integration.html "Integration"] . Retrieved on 30 June 2008.] .

Uniqueness

The increasing pressures of competition and expansion in the telecommunications market have driven many vendors in the field to reassess internal organization and cooperation. Technological innovation has introduced greater capacity and capabilities in the telecommunications market, but also added complexity for many companies as they attempt to develop commercial offerings with an ever-growing list of products and services. A Geographical Operations Systems seeks to mesh the importance of Geographical Information Systems – which provides the ability to store data in a geographically-correct map – with the reliance of telecommunications companies on Operational Support Systems as a way to categorize and maintain customer and equipment records.

The Geographical Operations System aims to simplify interoperability in a telecommunications company by converging resources from across the company (that may be stored in different programming languages) into a single software program to be utilized by customer satisfaction representatives, equipment technicians, telecommunications engineers, the accounting department, and others. Information is made general and uniform throughout a company to allow independent employees to carry out tasks without seeking out the expertise (and time) of coworkers.

Further Reading

Flournoy, Chuck (March-April 2008), “Tearing Down the Walls: Using Data Integration to Rethink Telecom Operations Management”, [http://www.ruraltelecom.org "Rural Telecommunications" magazine] .

References