For more than two decades, Co-Founders Simon Dudderidge and Michael Attard have been dedicated to “enhancing business communication through technology.” Simon, the Managing Director, reflects on his journey in the industry, which laid the foundation for Comsense, a company specialising in business mobile contracts, cloud telephony, and data connectivity.
Simon’s entry into the telecoms market occurred at ‘Alternative Networks’ in his early twenties, following the completion of a Business degree in Nottingham. Michael, assigned to “teach him the ropes,” played a pivotal role in guiding Simon into the realm of telemarketing.
During a period of telecoms market deregulation, a golden opportunity emerged for businesses to reduce costs on calls and line rentals traditionally held by BT. Simon recalls, “We were forecasting savings of more than 50% off bills! The savings were genuine, but no one could quite believe it!”
Building relationships and trust with customers became paramount, propelling both Michael and Simon to become Top Performers within the company. The emphasis at Alternative Networks on focusing on business goals and outcomes, then delivering on promises, played a crucial role in their success.
Simon notes, “I keep bumping into old teammates from those early days and I’m really proud of their successes in telecoms – many of those same people work for Partners we engage with today.”
As technology evolved, so did telecoms. Simon vividly remembers the introduction of the Blackberry and the unexpected success of the first trial at Aylesbury Vale District Council. This experience taught them the importance of embracing and reviewing new technologies to benefit their clients.
To stay ahead of the competition, Michael and Simon adopted a strategy of engaging potential partners to solve customer problems and challenges. Simon emphasises, “That’s why customers buy… to help improve their business, for profit or efficiency gains.”
After a decade, Michael and Simon pursued separate paths, gaining new experiences, operating models, and relationships. The personal, customer, and supplier relationships formed during this time became the foundation of Comsense, with an added ingredient: addressing the frustrations faced in previous roles.
Simon explains, “The frustrations we faced at other businesses, we’ve looked to fix with Comsense.”
Comsense distinguishes itself by offering solutions beyond the constraints faced in previous roles. Unlike working for a single network or as an independent reseller, Comsense can provide all networks and vendors in the market. The company partners with the best of breed, leveraging knowledge and relationships to deliver exceptional service and account management.
“We have no need to move customers to different Account Managers and are incentivised to re-sign our customers,” Simon states.
At Comsense, a “Customer First” approach is paramount. The company is open, honest, and approachable, offering proactive and creative recommendations to help businesses thrive.
“Our customers range from Small to Enterprise size and across sectors. It’s important that we engage with customers with a view to improve things outside of just price, those opportunities either never transpire or are short-lived. Our objective is to build long-term relationships and a true partnership with our clients”.
Comsense looks forward to meeting more Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce members, eager to discover how they can contribute to their success.
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