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    Mel Prescott

    Mel Prescott

    All posts by Mel Prescott

    Mel Prescott is a senior consultant in FICO’s telecommunications practice, helping companies to use the most advanced analytics, decision rules, orchestration, mathematical optimisation and more. He has more than 15 years of experience working in analytical telecoms roles to provide subject matter expertise. Mel has held credit risk management positions at EE, Orange and Bank of America. He holds an MSc in Analytical Credit Risk Management from Sheffield Hallam University.

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    • Legacy Architecture & Digital Transformation: Can They Co-Exist? Legacy Architecture & Digital Transformation: Can They Co-Exist?
      Legacy Architecture & Digital Transformation: Can They Co-Exist?
      June 29, 2021
      Decision Management

      There’s usually a Dilbert quote for every occasion and this might be applied to many telco organisations that are battling with 30+ years of legacy technical architecture and how to balance this with the demands of transformation projects to serve the modern customer. But beware legacy thinking in the organisation.  Legacy thinking may have its roots in stri…

      Mel Prescott by Mel Prescott
    • The Midfield Pivot and the FICO Platform - Game Changers The Midfield Pivot and the FICO Platform - Game Changers
      The Midfield Pivot and the FICO Platform - Game Changers
      May 24, 2021
      Decision Management

      “You watch the game, you don’t see Busquets. You watch Busquets, you see the whole game,” said Vicente del Bosque when describing his Spanish team midfielder. Ok, if you’re not a football fan then bear with me on this, as I decided to combine two of my favourite things in this post. The concept I want you to take away is there are many similarities in how succes…

      Mel Prescott by Mel Prescott
    • Will Open Communications Reshape the UK Telecoms Market? Will Open Communications Reshape the UK Telecoms Market?
      Will Open Communications Reshape the UK Telecoms Market?
      September 30, 2020
      Customer Development

      Could Open Communications revolutionise our relationships with our Communications and Pay TV providers (CSPs)? The data portability initiative has the vision of people sharing data with third parties about their use of telecoms services, that results in value for all. Might our mindset collectively begin to move away from long-term service contracts to short-term a…

      Mel Prescott by Mel Prescott
    • How COVID-19 Changes Collections in Telecommunications How COVID-19 Changes Collections in Telecommunications
      How COVID-19 Changes Collections in Telecommunications
      June 11, 2020
      Debt Collection & Recovery

      The COVID-19 pandemic has suddenly placed collections & recoveries right at the centre of telecoms’ response to ensure customers stay connected and are given some relief in their payment terms. CXOs are seeing C&R teams in a new light. But there’s a problem: Years of underinvestment has left many teams for collections in telecommunications with limited tools,…

      Mel Prescott by Mel Prescott
    • Identity Verification for Telcos: Are Selfies Enough? Identity Verification for Telcos: Are Selfies Enough?
      Identity Verification for Telcos: Are Selfies Enough?
      May 07, 2020
      Fraud Protection & Compliance

      The transition to digital methods of identity verification and validation during the onboarding process has been accelerated by the spread of COVID-19 and the subsequent restrictions in non-essential travel. Here in the UK, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) wrote to the industry on 31st March, providing guidance on a relaxation and some flexibility to obligatio…

      Mel Prescott by Mel Prescott
    • Mobile Operators and Coronavirus: Ideas to Help Slow the Spread Mobile Operators and Coronavirus: Ideas to Help Slow the Spread
      Mobile Operators and Coronavirus: Ideas to Help Slow the Spread
      March 10, 2020
      Customer Development

      COVID-19 continues to lead global headlines and, the World Health Organisation is calling on countries to adopt “early, aggressive measures which can stop transmission and save lives”. Whilst it isn’t a new concept, the prospect of using telecoms operators’ network data to help officials map, predict and contain the spread has been mooted in several quarters. Hu…

      Mel Prescott by Mel Prescott
    • Telecommunications Predictions 2020: Ready for the AI Fiasco? Telecommunications Predictions 2020: Ready for the AI Fiasco?
      Telecommunications Predictions 2020: Ready for the AI Fiasco?
      December 18, 2019
      Customer Development

      “Siri, do you have any thoughts on stuff that might happen in the telecommunications industry in 2020?” “What, you want me to think for you again?” “Yes, please” “Think for yourself, I’m busy answering existential questions” “Fine, whatevs” Well, seeing as Siri wasn’t in the mood to help write this post for me, I figured I’d start this piece with a pred…

      Mel Prescott by Mel Prescott
    • Top Fraud Issues for Telecommunications: Survey Results Top Fraud Issues for Telecommunications: Survey Results
      Top Fraud Issues for Telecommunications: Survey Results
      December 16, 2019
      Fraud Protection & Compliance

      The Communications Fraud Control Association (CFCA) recently released the findings from its Global Telecom Fraud Survey. Whilst the headline figures show that fraud has increased by 37% since the last survey in 2017 (when measured as a % of overall revenue) it should be noted that the ‘global’ survey is heavily skewed toward Western Europe and North America, which mad…

      Mel Prescott by Mel Prescott
    • Using Machine Learning to Improve Telecom Business Assurance Using Machine Learning to Improve Telecom Business Assurance
      Using Machine Learning to Improve Telecom Business Assurance
      August 07, 2019
      Fraud Protection & Compliance

      How can machine learning and advanced analytics improve business assurance in telecommunications? That was part of the challenge we sought to solve in our first Catalyst project with TM Forum, which was showcased at Digital Transformation World Nice. Catalysts are proof-of-concept projects developed collaboratively by TM Forum members. These projects bring together…

      Mel Prescott by Mel Prescott
    • How to Fight Telecommunications Subscription Fraud How to Fight Telecommunications Subscription Fraud
      How to Fight Telecommunications Subscription Fraud
      July 30, 2019
      Fraud Protection & Compliance

      There are a number of controls and tools that leading CSPs are putting in place to reduce financial losses from subscription fraud, the topic of my last two posts. Before getting started, CSPs should determine who “own”’ and is accountable for subscription fraud. Is it the fraud team? Credit risk? Revenue assurance? Also, is there a clear and agreed fraud risk…

      Mel Prescott by Mel Prescott
    • Account Takeover Fraud in Telecom – 4 Things to Watch Account Takeover Fraud in Telecom – 4 Things to Watch
      Account Takeover Fraud in Telecom – 4 Things to Watch
      July 23, 2019
      Fraud Protection & Compliance

      My last post introduced the topic of subscription fraud in telecommunications. Here, I will broaden the focus to include account takeover fraud. As CSPs have looked to introduce additional controls and checks at the front-end onboarding process, fraudsters have moved to account takeover. As with onboarding, the customer experience and convenience are king for…

      Mel Prescott by Mel Prescott
    • What Is Telecom Subscription Fraud? What Is Telecom Subscription Fraud?
      What Is Telecom Subscription Fraud?
      June 20, 2019
      Fraud Protection & Compliance

      Fraud is a serious concern for the communications industry, with proceeds and services used by organised crime and terrorist networks. Whilst reliable statistics are difficult to come by, industry association Communications Fraud Control Association estimates the total global fraud loss at around $29 billion annually, according to a CFCA 2017 Global Fraud Lo…

      Mel Prescott by Mel Prescott
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