After starting two telcos and building them into multi-million dollar enterprises, Chris Morrison is a respected name in the Australian telco industry. It’s fair to say he knows how to spot a strategic advantage. So when Chris started Telcode in 2023, Active Billing was the only billing partner on his shortlist.
“I’ve looked at all the billing platforms over my career and Active Billing is the best. It stands alone as a comprehensive, robust billing system that’s everything you need and they are so easy to work with.”
Since moving to Australia in 2011, Chris has built a reputation as an astute telecommunications executive at CommsCode and Symbio. He recently launched Telcode which has quickly grown to service hundreds of businesses in only 12 months.
Having previously built the Tariff Expert system, Chris has a deeper appreciation for billing complexities than your traditional telco executive. He’s spent years contemplating the intricacies of commission statements and margin reports, refining the best way to create CDRs and bill them, and juggling his focus across business areas to perfect Tariff Expert.
Decades of telecommunications experience give Chris a clear idea of his requirements from a billing partner. When asked why Active Billing is his preferred partner, he summed it up by saying, “they offer a customisable platform and excellent service from a knowledgeable team. They’re focused on mutual success”.
A comprehensive Managed Billing solution
While he clearly has the nuts and bolts knowledge to create his own billing team around existing software, Chris is wary of the drain that an internal billing team places on resources. When reflecting on his preference for a managed billing solution over a software-only solution, Chris shared, “you might own the IP and save some money in terms of not paying a percentage, but the ongoing cost and time spent running a billing team? I don’t need that pain”.
Over the years Chris has seen many changes in the industry and recognises the challenges of constant innovation.
“I appreciate Active Billing’s commitment to evolving in a constantly changing industry and the mental load that takes from me”, Chris explained.
He explained that his decision to go with a full-service billing solution is about more than the system. “The ability to reach out and get answers quickly, and the willingness of the Active Billing team to jump on a call and talk things through, is incredibly helpful.”
Chris does not doubt that his time is better spent concentrating on sales and revenue-growth activities. He’d rather leave billing to the experts. Knowing that Active Billing is looking after everything from Billing Ops to platform development gives him peace of mind.
Proactively reducing risk
Chris cites his partnership with Active Billing as key to reducing risk in his business. From reliable infrastructure to proactive payment systems, he can focus on what matters to him with confidence that the billing is in hand.
Outsourcing removes the need to manage complex infrastructure which can be prone to failure without significant resource maintenance. He explained, “I don’t think people appreciate how much it’s evolved with billing and the ongoing changes you’re going to have to make with the billing system”. Relying on Active Billing’s expertise mitigates the risk of downtime and frees up valuable time to focus on strategic priorities.
Equally important is the confidence that a team of experts are focused on reducing errors and issuing consistent customer bills. With a comprehensive billing platform underpinning proven systems and an expert team, the risk of financial losses due to billing errors and revenue leakage is minimised.
Chris values the fact that the Active Billing platform gives him everything he needs in terms of reporting, enabling him to make informed business decisions and continue to scale. For someone who’d rather spend time on selling than billing, the risk of losing his strategic focus isn’t one that Chris is comfortable with. He said, “The risk of my billing platform falling over is too big for me to take”.
Looking to the future
The efficiency and professionalism of working with Active Billing appeals to Chris who said, “I know that I could call Greg or Kerry at any time but I never need to because their team is excellent”.
“From the very beginning, when I first connected with Active Billing in 2014, I was won over by the people. They are there to work with you, to help you build your billing, and that makes everyone’s a winner.”
Chris doesn’t hesitate to refer people to Active Billing and sees them as integral to his success. Ten years of results show how effective their partnership has been, and we’re looking forward to a long and prosperous partnership.
About Telcode
Telcode’s mission is to bring you the best in telecommunications, software and services. This Australian-based wholesaler first delivered its pioneering platform in 2014 and now services some of Australia’s largest customers. Learn more at telcode.com.au.
