What is OSS/BSS​?

OSS/BSS includes a suite of applications that any telecom service provider shall use for their daily operations.​ OSS/BSS includes ordering system, provisioning system, billing system etc …​

OSS can be defined as ​

“the hardware and software that service providers use to manage their network infrastructure, deploy services and provide connectivity.”​

Why OSS?​

• Provisioning a simple phone line can involve from 25 to 40 separate tasks​
• Numerous groups would need to be coordinated to make it work resulting in time delays, human errors and rework costs.​

Simple Architecture of OSS / BSS

Why do we need so many systems?

In s simple use case scenario of a customer buying a telephone service, involves the following systems, in fulfilling the customer order

• Step 1: Product offerings, promotions
• Step 2: Capture Customer Data
• Step 3: Customer Enablement
• Step 4: Customer Service Usage
• Step 5: Customer Billing 
• Step 6: Bill Generation 
• Step 7: Customer Payment
• Step 8: Customer Fault
• Step 9: Register Fault
• Step10: Resolve Fault

If we have to map these work flow to systems then 

• CRM Systems supports
  • Product offerings, promotions
  • Customer Management
• Order Management
  • Helps with customer order
  • Links with CRM systems
• Provisioning System
  • Customer Validation
  • Service Activation
• Mediation System
  • Aggregate Service usage of the subscriber
• Rating System
  • Validates the services & helps with the billing
• Billing System
  • Generates bill
  • Updates bill payments / dues
• Payment Gateways
• Incident Management System
  • Register customer/system issues / faults
• Fault Management System
  • Manages the fault and helps with service restoration