During a recent Global Architecture Forum (GAF) session at DTW24-Ignite, Willie Stegmann, the CIO of corporate IT services at Vodafone Group, discussed lessons learned on the path to transformation and the importance of standardization in architecture and software with long-standing partners Accenture and Oracle.
Stegmann highlighted the challenges faced by communications service providers (CSPs) when transforming complex administrative environments, citing cost, difficulty, and competing priorities. Vodafone is a pioneer of Open Digital Architecture (ODA), recognizing the need for a new approach to transformation, especially in light of the increasing demand for AI integration.
TM Forum announced advancements in AOD development at DTW, making it easier for telcos to collaborate with software vendors and hyperscalers for testing and deploying software. Two key features include conformance testing to validate ODA components and an improved ODA reference canvas. These standards are crucial for CSPs to reduce costs, increase agility, and enhance customer experience.
Gaetano Biancardi, from Accenture, emphasized the importance of repeatability in reducing costs and implementing AOD and Canvas components. The goal is to standardize software in the industry to streamline transformations across markets and operators.
Andrew De La Torre, from Oracle, discussed how AOD allows suppliers to test against a “gold specification,” simplifying procurement while ensuring predictability and repeatability. The concept of proxy components was introduced to facilitate incremental transformation by repurposing existing assets and transitioning to standards-based architectures smoothly.
Stegmann mentioned the possibility of utilizing the proxy component approach in Vodafone’s One BSS initiative, which aims to expand proven implementations across multiple markets and use cases to mitigate risks in their transformation journey.
Overall, the discussion emphasized the significance of standardization in architecture and software in driving successful transformations within the telecommunications industry. Incremental approaches, such as proxy components, were highlighted as effective strategies for achieving compliance with ODA and accelerating the adoption of new technologies while leveraging existing assets. Adopting these standards will help CSPs reduce costs, increase agility, and enhance the overall customer experience.
Article Source
https://inform.tmforum.org/features-and-opinion/dtw24-ignite-vodafone-accenture-and-oracle-lay-out-the-business-case-for-standardizing-software
