Being an ISP (Internet service provider) or running an Internet-based business just got easier thanks to Internet service provider billing and tracking software. Now you can administer such things as rates for services, invoicing, charging recurring monthly fees and tracking customer usage on your site or system.

There are also Internet usage tracking software packages so that Internet service companies or any other kinds of businesses can track employee Internet usage. Here are some additional things to consider about using ISP billing and tracking solutions:

1. Learn about ISP billing and tracking solutions that can meet the needs of your business.

2. Use ISP billing software to help manage and administer all of your billing needs.

3. Monitor customers and employee activity with Internet tracking solution packages that will meet the needs of your business.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Gather information about ISP billing and tracking software solutions for your company

As an Internet service provider, it's important that you have solutions to manage your billing and to monitor customer usage or tracking. Use an ISP billing solution software program that offers both a billing and an Internet tracking solution so that you can manage your ISP or company from one centralized system.

I recommend: Read the article about software solutions to manage an ISP at ISP-Planet, then review the comparison listing of ISP billing and tracking solutions at Digital Point Solutions. Go to IEA Software to learn about its Internet usage billing software that also offers tracking capabilities.

Use ISP billing software to help manage the revenue from your ISP business

The ability to administer your IP billing from an ISP billing system can make managing your network less stressful and more efficient. Now you can easily take care of recurring bills, set rates, manage customer needs and set up solutions tailored to your particular requirements.

I recommend: Read the article at DSLReports.com to learn about the ISP billing solutions large networks are using. LogiSense and AdvancedVoIP both provide Internet service billing software packages that feature the ability to manage billing and administration capabilities and that set rates and ISP billing services for broadband, wireless and even dial-up users.

Use ISP tracking software to monitor your IP activity and usage tracking to monitor employees

The ability to monitor customer activity on your ISP as well as create histories so that you can track activity over a certain period of time is key to your business success. With the information you find you can come up with solutions to increase both activity as well as revenue to your ISP. For business owners there are Internet usage tracking solutions so that you can easily monitor the emails, chats and other Internet activity of your employees while they're at work.

I recommend: Read the article at CNET News about the government's views on ISP tracking. Learn about the ISP tracking solution available from WhosOn. Its program not only handles Internet service provider tracking but also does a web analysis so that you can create histories of customer activity. SpectroSoft offers a great Internet usage tracking software that tracks employee activity for small businesses and networks.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many companies offer free downloads of their tracking and Internet billing solution software systems so that can you try out services to see if they meet the needs of your business.

If you are an Internet service provider (ISP) or an Internet-based service company, you need both ISP billing and tracking software to handle customer requests and to manage business. ISP tracking software can help you keep track of how your employees are using company computers while an ISP billing system can automate customer bill payments and other billing processes.

Look for both ISP billing and tracking solutions, since both types of software can help safeguard your company finances. Not only does ISP billing software saves you time so you can focus on growing your business, an ISP billing system also standardizes billing and leaves a virtual paper trail so you can easily track and resolve billing problems. Internet usage tracking software can help prevent employee dishonesty and fraud that can cost your business money and can open you to liability.

When looking for ISP billing and tracking software, consider:

1. What level of flexibility you need from your ISP billing software.

2. Whether ISP tracking software is legal in your area.

3. Whether automated ISP billing and tracking solutions or on-demand services are more appropriate for your business.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose an ISP billing system to get a handle on company finances

An ISP billing system and invoicing software can help you create financial reports, handle delinquent clients and deal with billing transactions automatically. Internet service billing software will help you run the financial side of your Internet business every day, so select software titles carefully. Look for products that offer you easy management and configuration of user accounts, auto-scheduled billing as well as manual billing options, customer care options, incident tracking, system event logs and reporting options.

I recommend: Advanced VoIP offers a comprehensive billing system specifically designed for Internet service providers and other Internet- based service companies. The web-based interface makes the system easy to use. BillMax is a respected ISP billing software that can also collect RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service)accounting data.

Select ISP tracking software for security

If your ISP billing software does not offer powerful historical and on-line usage monitoring and careful system event logging, seek out an Internet service provider tracking program. An ISP tracking solution allows you to keep tabs on what your employees are doing online, which is crucial in keeping customer financial data secure and in preventing internal fraud. An Internet tracking solution helps you avoid legal hassles and financial loss caused by employee dishonesty and lets you maintain high productivity.

I recommend: Spector360 is one of the most respected ISP tracking software solutions used to monitor employee computer activity. SpyTech is also a popular ISP tracking software title among businesses.

Get on-demand ISP billing and tracking solutions to improve flexibility

While the goal of most ISP billing and tracking solutions is to automate tasks, your business may require more flexibility. For example, if you accept many methods of payment or if some of your customers pay or place orders through non-traditional means, an on-demand or 'software-as-service' solution can offer you more versatility.

I recommend: Aria offers a software-as-service model that provides your company with on-demand billing services. The billing service is hosted in a centralized data center and delivered on a subscription basis to you, so that you enjoy automated billing as well as flexibility. Sonar, an on-demand employee computer monitoring system, even offers bundled ISP businesses data loss prevention solutions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  In addition to Internet usage tracking software, you may also want to add issue tracking software to your billing and tracking bundle. This software can help you track customer complaints and problems and automate resolutions to maintain customer loyalty.
• •  Keep in mind that different ISP billing solutions are optimized for difference operating systems (OS). Bill Max software, for example runs on Unix/Linux, Solaris and Free BSD while the ISP Billing Software system is compatible with Linux/Unix, Windows and Solaris. Always check that your chosen software will work with your OS.

ISP billing and tracking solutions are a must for Internet-based organizations who rely on the Internet for a majority of their business functioning. ISP billing and tracking software technology can help manage your finances in addition to helping your organization to keep tabs on what it deems important.

ISP tracking software can keep records on which employees are using your hardware or computers, while the ISP billing system can automate customer payments, handle collections and other billing transactions. Increase your knowledge of this Internet billing solution and/or Internet tracking solution with the following targeted ISP billing and tracking solutions education and training suggestions:

1. Read blogs related to ISP billing software.

2. Receive provider-led training to learn the full functionality of ISP tracking software.

3. Learn hands-on by taking advantage of free trials or product demos offered by ISP tracking solution providers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Read blogs related to ISP billing software

Blogs dealing with ISP billing software cover a variety of Internet financial transactions. These articles contain information on everything from billing or invoicing and financial reporting to collections management and even accounts receivable management.

I recommend: Blogs can provide you with user insight about ISP billing software. Jupitermedia's ISP-Planet and PaySimple blog about ISP billing systems.

Maximize your ISP tracking software with provider-led training

ISP tracking software by definition covers various Internet tracking issues. Examples include: online customer communications, outsourcing issues like time tracking, inventory management issues in regard to stock and ordering tracking, HR-related tracking of personnel changes and even facilities tracking issues around keeping tabs on which employees are using which desks and hardware. A tracking functionality exists for just about every issue that is pertinent to an Internet-based business.

I recommend: Visualware eMailTrackerPro comes with an online, easy to read, step-by-step tutorial to help businesses track email senders. IssueTrak's ISP tracking software will keep tabs on whatever issue is important to your business. The company offers four different training options to meet client needs.

Experience hands-on training with free trials or demos of ISP billing and tracking software

Many ISP billing and tracking providers offer free trials or online demos. These trials offer the perfect opportunity to perform some self-training on various software.

I recommend: VisiStat offers a seven-day free trial of its Internet usage tracking software. Sepama Software's Track4Win product can monitor all computer activity and Internet use. It offers a 15-day and 10-user trial that can be downloaded free.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before getting training or purchasing an ISP tracking software, be sure to determine in advance which issues are important for your business to track. For instance, if you only need to track inventory and facilities management issues, there is no need to purchase or train on software that tracks hits to your website.

Whether it's for an ISP (Internet Service Provider) or another Internet based business, ISP billing and tracking solutions provide a whole lot of support for functions that, until several years ago, were done quite differently. From invoicing to inventory, from customer support to fraud protection, ISP billing and tracking software and tools are critical for helping to turn over transactions and manage businesses on the fly. A look at these basic key terms will help businesses start to brainstorm about getting these kinds of solutions into an existing setup.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Auto-scheduled and VoIP billing

With auto VoIP billing, businesses can set themselves up to receive payments without a human cashier. VoIP billing involves a variety of setups where transactions take place over the web, and auto-scheduled billing options set up customers for payments that get done at periodic intervals automatically.

I recommend: See more on VoIP billing at NextStag. Read up on auto-billing at Freshbooks.

Invoicing software

An Internet business or an ISP can use invoicing software. Invoicing software assists staff in preparing invoices with helpful automated data mining features and more.

I recommend: See more on invoicing software for ISPs from Optigold ISP.

Event logging

Event logging software is part of a system for monitoring internal Internet use. A lot of ISPs offer some kind of web event logging, but it may not be legal in all areas, so a business wanting to use this specific ISP tracking service should consult legal aid before going ahead.

I recommend: See more on event logging and tracking at Event Log Blog.

RADIUS

The ISP tracking technology known as RADIUS or Remote Authentication Dial In User Service is now a popular feature for Internet businesses. In a RADIUS setup, information such as usernames is centralized, providing more effective oversight in a business situation.

I recommend: See more on the details of what happens with RADIUS technology at this Tech Faq page.

MODUS

MODUS or Managed On-Demand UNIX Servers represent an example of 'on-demand' technology, where these operational server types fit into an existing tech network to help take care of ISP billing and tracking needs. Some call MODUS the 'ISP in a Box' because of automated features.

I recommend: See more on MODUS and related technologies at Escape Box.

Internal fraud

Internal fraud is when employees or others get information within a business and operate internally (with full access as insiders) to pull off financial fraud. ISP tracking can help combat internal fraud in various ways.

I recommend: See more on internal fraud at Celent.