The top 8 telecom expense management solutions for your business

Companies waste thousands on phantom phone lines, duplicate SaaS subscriptions, and billing errors they never catch. Traditional telecom expense management (TEM) software promises to fix this through detailed telecom expense audit processes and contract lifecycle management. 

But most small and mid-sized businesses need something faster and smarter than enterprise-grade telecom expense management systems built for Fortune 500 telecom departments.

This guide breaks down the top TEM solutions available today, from enterprise platforms to lighter alternatives. We'll explore who needs what level of telecom oversight, and why many growing businesses find that modern spend management tools deliver better results than traditional TEM software, without the complexity.

Key takeaways

• Traditional TEM software helps large enterprises audit telecom invoices and manage device inventories at scale
• Up to 12% of telecom invoices contain billing errors, and "zombie" lines can eat 15% of mobile budgets
• The global TEM market is projected to nearly triple by 2033, signaling growing urgency around telecom visibility
• Expensify isn't a TEM platform, but for SMBs it delivers the realtime visibility and controls needed to manage telecom and SaaS spend smartly
• Actionable tip: Use Expensify to auto-categorize phone bills, set spend alerts, and spot telecom waste in realtime, without adopting another complex tool

What is telecom expense management?

Telecom expense management (TEM) software tackles the complexity of modern business communications spending. These telecom expense management systems audit carrier invoices, track device inventories, manage contract lifecycles, and analyze usage patterns across your entire telecom infrastructure.

What TEM software does:

• Conducts regular telecom expense audit reviews for billing errors and overcharges

• Tracks inventory across multiple devices, sites, and carriers

• Manages contract negotiations and renewal timelines

• Analyzes usage data to identify cost optimization opportunities

Why it exists:

• Carrier bills are notoriously complex and error-prone

• Managing hundreds or thousands of devices requires specialized tools

• Global vendor contracts need centralized oversight

• Telecom spend often lacks proper visibility and controls

Who it's built for:

• Large enterprises with significant telecom footprints

• Organizations managing complex multi-carrier environments

• Companies with dedicated telecom or IT procurement teams

The benefits of telecom expense management become clear when you consider the scope of potential issues. Telecom invoices aren't just complex; they're often wrong. 

In fact, up to 7% to 12% of invoices contain billing errors, creating huge opportunities for cost recovery. When you're dealing with hundreds of lines and multiple carriers, these errors add up fast.

Top telecom expense management (TEM) software in 2025

The TEM market offers solutions ranging from enterprise-grade platforms to lighter tools designed for growing companies. Here's a quick overview of your options:

Solution	Best For	Approach
Tangoe	Global enterprises	Comprehensive TEM
Calero-MDSL	Mobile-heavy orgs	Device + expense management
Brightfin	Tech spend consolidation	TEM + cloud expenses
Sakon	Modern enterprises	Cloud-based TEM
Cass Information Systems	Outsourced management	Managed TEM services
Clearview	Mid-sized companies	Simplified invoice auditing
Lightyear	Growing companies	Procurement-focused
Valicom	Cost recovery focus	TEM + consulting

Now, let's dive into the details of the top telecom expense management companies.

Best enterprise-grade TEM platforms

Tangoe 

• What makes it special: Comprehensive invoice management and contract optimization for global enterprises. Handles complex multi-carrier environments with deep analytics and automated dispute resolution.

• Best for: Large organizations with 1,000+ lines and complex international telecom needs. 

• Ideal use cases: Global telecom deployments, high carrier volume, multi-site contract management.

Calero-MDSL 

• What makes it special: Strong focus on mobility management and expense optimization. Offers detailed usage analytics and policy enforcement across mobile fleets.

• Best for: Enterprises prioritizing mobile device management alongside expense control. 

• Ideal use cases: Large mobile device fleets, BYOD programs, usage pattern optimization.

Brightfin 

• What makes it special: Combines TEM with broader technology expense management. Provides unified visibility across telecom, cloud, and software spending.

• Best for: Companies wanting integrated technology spend management beyond just telecom. 

• Ideal use cases: Complex SaaS environments, cloud infrastructure management, unified IT spend visibility.

Sakon 

• What makes it special: Cloud-based platform with robust reporting and analytics. Emphasizes user-friendly interfaces and faster implementation.

• Best for: Mid-to-large enterprises seeking modern TEM without legacy complexity. 

• Ideal use cases: Rapid TEM deployment, detailed analytics needs, modernizing legacy telecom management.

Cass Information Systems 

• What makes it special: Managed service approach with dedicated analysts handling invoice processing and optimization. Strong focus on freight and telecom combined.

• Best for: Organizations preferring outsourced expense management with expert oversight. 

• Ideal use cases: High invoice volume, limited internal resources, freight and telecom consolidation.

Lighter TEM tools for growing companies

Clearview 

• What makes it special: Simplified invoice auditing with automated error detection. Less complex than enterprise TEM but more thorough than basic expense tools.

• Best for: Mid-sized organizations needing invoice oversight without heavy implementation requirements.

Lightyear 

• What makes it special: Procurement-focused platform that includes telecom expense tracking alongside broader vendor management. Emphasizes ease of use and quick setup.

• Best for: Growing companies that want telecom visibility as part of overall procurement optimization.

Valicom 

• What makes it special: Focused on telecom cost recovery and optimization consulting. Combines software tools with expert analysis services.

• Best for: Companies wanting professional guidance alongside TEM technology.

What if you don't need a full-blown TEM?

Not every business needs deep carrier audits or contract lifecycle management. If you're trying to track wireless bills, reimburse employee phone expenses, and keep SaaS charges under control, you're not alone.

According to industry research, up to 15% of a company's mobile services may be "zombie" lines: inactive devices still generating monthly charges. These phantom expenses pile up because traditional accounting systems lack the realtime visibility needed to catch them quickly.

This is where modern expense management platforms come into play. Instead of implementing another specialized tool, many SMBs find that comprehensive spend management solutions address their telecom visibility needs while handling all other business expenses.

Why modern spend management platforms are replacing legacy TEM software for SMBs

The telecom expenses have evolved beyond traditional phone and internet bills. SaaS subscriptions, VoIP services, mobile plans, and cloud communications now make up the majority of "telecom" spending for most businesses. Legacy TEM platforms weren't designed for this distributed, subscription-heavy environment.

The global telecom expense management solutions market is projected to grow from $4.1B in 2024 to $11.55B by 2033, with 12.2% annual growth, proving that more businesses are prioritizing telecom visibility. But this growth doesn't mean every company needs enterprise TEM companies or telecommunications expense management services.

How Expensify handles modern telecom expenses

Modern spend management platforms like Expensify help small to mid-sized businesses gain telecom visibility without the complexity of traditional telecom expense management software:

• Auto-categorize telecom and SaaS expenses: Automatically sorts charges from AT&T, Verizon, Zoom, Slack, and hundreds of other providers

• Track BYOD and home internet stipends: Manages employee phone and internet reimbursements through receipt scanning and approval workflows

• Set budget alerts for telecom spending: Creates spending limits and notifications for phone, internet, and software subscriptions

• Enforce policy compliance: Ensures phone and software expenses follow company guidelines before approval

• Unified expense visibility: Views telecom spend alongside travel, meals, and vendor expenses for complete financial oversight

The Expensify VisaⓇ Commercial Card takes this further by providing realtime transaction data and automatic expense categorization. When employees use the card for telecom purchases, expenses are instantly categorized and ready for review – no manual data entry required.

How to choose the right telecom expense solution

The right telecom expense solution depends on your business size, complexity, and goals. Rather than defaulting to the most feature-rich platform, focus on what you actually need to solve your spending visibility problems.

Consider your telecom complexity:

• Managing fewer than 100 lines? A comprehensive expense platform probably covers your needs

• Dealing with multiple carriers and complex contracts? Traditional TEM might be worth the investment

Evaluate your billing error concerns:

• Seeing obvious overcharges or mysterious fees? Invoice auditing tools can pay for themselves

• Just want to track spending and set budgets? Expense management platforms offer faster setup

Think about integration needs:

• Need detailed carrier analysis and contract optimization? Specialized TEM provides deeper features

• Want telecom visibility as part of overall spend management? Platforms like Expensify offer broader coverage

Assess your resource availability:

• Have dedicated telecom management staff? Enterprise TEM platforms make sense

• Limited IT resources and simple needs? Modern expense tools provide easier implementation

If your priority is staying on top of costs and not chasing line-by-line audits, Expensify might be exactly what you need.

The bottom line about TEM solutions

Telecom expense management isn't one-size-fits-all. While legacy TEM tools serve global enterprises with complex carrier relationships, most modern teams just need a simpler way to monitor spend, flag errors, and stay on budget.

Expensify helps businesses do exactly that across telecom, SaaS, travel, and more, without adding another specialized platform to the stack. The fastest, easiest way to gain telecom spend visibility might not be traditional TEM software at all.

Try Expensify today and start gaining telecom spend visibility in minutes, not months.

FAQs about telecom expense management solutions

• What is telecom expense management (TEM)?

  TEM software helps organizations manage and optimize their telecommunications spending through invoice auditing, contract management, inventory tracking, and usage analysis. These platforms identify billing errors, negotiate better rates, and provide visibility into complex telecom environments.

• Who needs a TEM solution? Is it only for large enterprises?

  While TEM platforms are primarily built for large enterprises with complex telecom needs, smaller businesses can benefit from telecom expense visibility too. Companies with fewer than 100 lines often find that modern expense management platforms provide adequate telecom tracking without TEM complexity.

• What features should I look for in a TEM platform?

  Key TEM features include automated invoice processing, billing error detection, contract lifecycle management, usage analytics, inventory tracking, and cost optimization recommendations. For smaller businesses, look for platforms that integrate telecom tracking with broader expense management capabilities.

• How much can a company save by using a TEM service?

  Companies typically save 10-30% on telecom costs through TEM implementation, primarily by eliminating billing errors, optimizing service plans, and removing unused lines. The specific savings depend on your current telecom complexity and existing oversight processes.

• What are common challenges when implementing TEM?

  Implementation challenges include data migration complexity, carrier integration requirements, staff training needs, and ongoing maintenance overhead. Many organizations underestimate the time and resources required for successful TEM deployment, especially with enterprise-grade platforms.

• How do I choose between a full TEM provider and a lighter spend management tool?

  Choose full TEM if you manage hundreds of lines across multiple carriers, need detailed contract optimization, or have dedicated telecom management staff. Opt for spend management tools if you want telecom visibility alongside other business expenses without specialized implementation requirements.

• How frequently should telecom invoices be audited?

  Most TEM platforms audit invoices monthly as they arrive, with quarterly deep-dive analyses for optimization opportunities. For businesses using expense management platforms, realtime transaction monitoring provides ongoing visibility without formal audit cycles.

• What metrics should businesses monitor to ensure telecom expense optimization?

  Key metrics include cost per line, usage patterns, billing error rates, contract utilization, and zombie line identification. Modern platforms should provide customized reporting that highlights these metrics alongside other business expense categories.

• Can telecom expense management services handle both traditional and modern communication costs?

  For most small to mid-sized businesses, yes. Expensify provides realtime telecom expense tracking, automated categorization, policy enforcement, and budget controls without the complexity of traditional TEM platforms. It works especially well when combined with the Expensify Card for automatic transaction capture and processing.