Top Telecom Expense Management Companies in 2025: Comprehensive Comparison
An expert analysis of the leading TEM providers to help you choose the right partner for your enterprise telecom optimization needs.
Top TEM Companies: Quick Comparison
The telecom expense management market features Tangoe, Calero, Sakon, Asignet (formerly Cass), Brightfin, MDSL, Engie Impact, and Upland. Following the April 2025 Cass-to-Asignet acquisition, industry consolidation continues. Enterprise giants prefer Tangoe for global reach, while mid-market companies increasingly choose managed service providers for better ROI.
Key Takeaways:
- Tangoe: Best for Fortune 1000 with complex global telecom environments
- Calero: Strongest mobile device management and BYOD capabilities
- Sakon: Top choice for ServiceNow ecosystem integration
- Asignet (formerly Cass): AI-powered automation with 3,800+ invoice parsers
- Brightfin: ServiceNow-native with workflow automation focus
- MDSL, Engie Impact, Upland: Specialized options for hybrid, sustainability, and API needs
- Consider managed services for 20-40% better results vs. software-only
The telecom expense management industry represents a $4.95 billion market growing at 14.26% annually. With enterprises spending millions on voice, data, mobile, and cloud services, choosing the right TEM company can mean the difference between overpaying by 20-30% or achieving significant cost optimization.
This guide compares the top telecom expense management companies based on features, ideal use cases, and real-world considerations. Whether you're a Fortune 500 enterprise or a mid-market company looking for outsourced TEM services, this comparison will help you make an informed decision.
TEM Company Comparison at a Glance
| Company | Best For | Key Strength | Ideal Company Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tangoe | Global enterprises | Multi-carrier, multi-currency | >$5M telecom spend |
| Calero | Mobile fleets | MDM & BYOD management | >$3M telecom spend |
| Sakon | ServiceNow users | Platform integration | >$2M telecom spend |
| Asignet (formerly Cass) | Global TEM + AI | 3,800+ parsers, 90+ countries | >$5M telecom spend |
| Brightfin | ServiceNow-native | Workflow automation | >$2M telecom spend |
| MDSL | Hybrid platform | Flexible deployment options | >$3M telecom spend |
| Engie Impact | Sustainability focus | Utility + telecom combined | >$3M telecom spend |
| Upland Telesoft | API integrations | Invoice automation | >$2M telecom spend |
| Socium IT (Vigilis) | Mid-market managed | Vigilis platform + white-glove service | $200K-$10M spend |
Detailed TEM Company Reviews
1. Tangoe
Global Fortune 1000 Enterprises
Indiana-based Tangoe is the largest TEM provider, offering Tangoe One for integrated expense management, inventory tracking, and real-time analytics across telecom, cloud, and mobility.
Key Strengths
- +Most comprehensive global carrier coverage
- +AI-powered analytics and automation
- +Multi-currency support for international operations
- +Strong enterprise scalability
Considerations
- !Premium pricing (typically $50K-$500K+ annually)
- !Complex implementation (90-180 days)
- !Legacy architecture requires manual data entry
- !Better suited for companies with dedicated TEM staff
Ideal for: Fortune 1000 companies with $5M+ annual telecom spend and global operations
2. Calero
Mobile Fleet & BYOD Management
Following its merger with Windstream Enterprise, Calero specializes in unified communications, cloud services, and mobile device management with robust analytics.
Key Strengths
- +Industry-leading mobile device management
- +Strong BYOD program support
- +Real-time expense visibility
- +Comprehensive UCaaS management
Considerations
- !Data presentation can be confusing
- !Customer support responsiveness issues reported
- !Significant manual effort for data accuracy
- !Enterprise-focused pricing
Ideal for: Organizations with large mobile device fleets and BYOD programs
3. Sakon
ServiceNow Integration
Cloud-based TEM platform with deep ServiceNow integration, offering invoice acquisition, spend analysis, and automated 3-way match payment processing.
Key Strengths
- +Native ServiceNow integration
- +Automated 3-way match billing validation
- +Strong SaaS license tracking
- +GDPR, CCPA, SOC 2, ISO 27001 compliant
Considerations
- !Best value for existing ServiceNow customers
- !May be complex for organizations without ServiceNow
- !Enterprise pricing model
- !Implementation requires ServiceNow expertise
Ideal for: Enterprises already invested in ServiceNow ecosystem
4. Asignet (formerly Cass TEM)
Global TEM with AI Automation
In April 2025, Cass Information Systems sold its TEM business to Asignet USA Inc., positioning Asignet among the top 3 TEM providers globally. The acquisition combines Cass's legacy payment processing expertise with Asignet's advanced RPA and AI capabilities, now managing $8B+ in IT spending across 150+ enterprise clients.
Key Strengths
- +3,800+ invoice parsers across 90+ countries
- +RPA and low-code AI automation capabilities
- +Inherited Cass legacy: payment processing in 114 currencies
- +Strong global reach with 150+ enterprise clients
Considerations
- !Integration period for former Cass customers
- !Platform capabilities evolving post-acquisition
- !Enterprise pricing model
- !Best for organizations with global TEM needs
Ideal for: Global enterprises seeking AI-powered TEM automation and multi-currency payment processing
5. Brightfin
ServiceNow-Native Workflow
Formed from MobiChord, Mobile Solutions, and Visage merger, Brightfin delivers TEM built entirely on ServiceNow with automated workflows and dispute resolution.
Key Strengths
- +True ServiceNow-native architecture
- +Automated invoice processing
- +Integrated dispute resolution
- +Workflow automation capabilities
Considerations
- !Requires ServiceNow subscription
- !Additional ServiceNow licensing costs
- !Manual data validation still needed
- !Limited for non-ServiceNow environments
Ideal for: ServiceNow customers seeking tight platform integration
6. MDSL
Hybrid Platform + Managed Services
UK-headquartered global TEM provider offering a hybrid model that combines robust software platform capabilities with optional managed services. MDSL serves enterprises seeking flexibility between self-service and fully managed approaches.
Key Strengths
- +Flexible deployment: platform-only or managed services
- +Strong global carrier coverage and integrations
- +Comprehensive expense management across telecom, cloud, and IT
- +Established presence in European and North American markets
Considerations
- !European headquarters may affect US support hours
- !Enterprise pricing model
- !Best value with managed services add-on
- !Implementation complexity varies by deployment model
Ideal for: Global enterprises wanting platform flexibility with optional managed services support
7. Engie Impact
Sustainability-Focused Enterprises
Part of the ENGIE group, Engie Impact (formerly Engie Insight) combines utility and energy management with telecom expense management. Ideal for enterprises with ESG goals seeking unified expense visibility across utilities and telecom.
Key Strengths
- +Integrated utility + telecom expense management
- +Sustainability reporting and carbon tracking capabilities
- +Single platform for multi-category expense management
- +Strong in energy-intensive industries
Considerations
- !Best value for companies with significant utility spend
- !Broader scope than pure TEM providers
- !May be overkill for telecom-only management needs
- !Enterprise-focused engagement model
Ideal for: Enterprises combining telecom and utility expense management with ESG and sustainability goals
8. Upland Telesoft
API Integrations & Automation
Part of the Upland Software ecosystem, Upland Telesoft focuses on invoice automation, carrier integrations, and API-first architecture. Provides strong value for organizations already using other Upland products.
Key Strengths
- +Strong API capabilities for system integration
- +Part of broader Upland Software ecosystem
- +Invoice automation and carrier data normalization
- +Flexible integration with ERP and financial systems
Considerations
- !Best value within existing Upland customer base
- !Less standalone brand recognition than larger players
- !Feature set focused on core TEM automation
- !May require additional Upland products for full value
Ideal for: Companies already using Upland products or seeking API-first TEM integration
TEM Provider Selection Matrix
Use this decision framework to identify the best TEM provider based on your organization's specific needs and characteristics.
By Annual Telecom Spend
- >$5M: Tangoe, Asignet, Calero
- $2M-$5M: Sakon, Brightfin, MDSL, Engie Impact
- $200K-$2M: Socium IT (Vigilis), Upland Telesoft
By Service Model Preference
- Software-Only: Tangoe, Calero, Brightfin, Upland
- Managed Services: Socium IT (Vigilis), Asignet
- Hybrid: MDSL, Sakon, Engie Impact
By Integration Requirements
- ServiceNow: Sakon, Brightfin
- ERP/Financial: Asignet, Tangoe, Upland
- Utility Management: Engie Impact
- Minimal Integration: Socium IT (Vigilis)
By Geographic Scope
- Global (90+ countries): Asignet, Tangoe, MDSL
- North America + Europe: Calero, Sakon, Brightfin, Engie Impact
- US-Focused: Socium IT (Vigilis), Upland
Alternative for Mid-Market: Socium IT + Vigilis Platform
While the enterprise TEM giants serve Fortune 1000 companies well, mid-market enterprises ($200K-$10M annual telecom spend) often find themselves underserved by platforms designed for much larger organizations. This is where Socium IT's Vigilis platform combined with managed telecom expense management services provides a compelling alternative.
VIGILISThe Mid-Market TEM Platform
Vigilis is Socium IT's proprietary telecom intelligence platform that delivers enterprise-grade visibility without enterprise complexity. Unlike legacy TEM platforms requiring dedicated staff, Vigilis provides real-time inventory tracking, automated invoice processing, and contract lifecycle management—all managed by Socium's expert team.
Why Mid-Market Companies Choose Socium + Vigilis
No Internal Staff Required
Managed services handle everything vs. hiring $180K-$350K in TEM staff
Carrier Relationships
Leverage established vendor relationships for better negotiation outcomes
Faster Implementation
90-day typical implementation vs. 180+ days for enterprise platforms
Better Results
Managed services deliver 20-40% better outcomes than self-service
Verified Client Results
37
Enterprise Clients
33%
Avg Cost Reduction
$36M+
Total Savings
100
NPS Score
"Socium is really an unofficial member of our team. I feel like I should be writing them a check every month for the service... Wherever I go next, you're gonna go with me. I'm a loyal customer for life."
How to Choose the Right TEM Company
1. Assess Your Telecom Environment
Start by inventorying your current telecom spend, number of carriers, geographic scope, and service types (voice, data, mobile, cloud). Companies with spend >$5M and global operations typically need enterprise platforms like Tangoe or Cass. Smaller, domestic operations may find managed services more cost-effective.
2. Evaluate Integration Requirements
If you're already using ServiceNow, Sakon or Brightfin will provide the smoothest integration. For ERP integration needs, Cass excels with AP/payment automation. Consider how telecom inventory management will integrate with your existing systems.
3. Determine Service Model Preference
Decide between self-service software (you manage) vs. managed services (provider manages). Self-service works if you have dedicated TEM staff. Managed services are better for organizations that want results without building internal capabilities. Learn about the in-house vs. outsourced TEM comparison.
4. Request References and Case Studies
Ask potential providers for references from companies similar to yours in size, industry, and telecom complexity. Request specific metrics: implementation timeline, cost savings achieved, and ongoing support quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Not Sure Which TEM Approach is Right for You?
Our telecom experts can assess your current environment and recommend the best approach - whether that's enterprise TEM software, managed services, or a hybrid model. We've helped 37 enterprise clients achieve an average 33% cost reduction.