At an approximate cost of $1 billion, according to TM Forum, the process of selecting and procuring software in the telecoms sector is expensive. Due to lengthy and rigid requests for proposal (RFP) processes, indirect costs push this figure much higher. However, this will change as Open Digital Architecture (ODA), makes it easier for CSPs to discover, procure, and implement ODA-compliant software.

This will lead to the emergence of software marketplaces for ODA-compliant software, micro-services, and Open-APIs. By facilitating digital transformation, such marketplaces will enable providers to test new software elements to develop an ideal solution quickly. It will also be easier and faster to onboard new partners and their offerings, creating minimal viable products (MVPs). As a result, there will be fewer barriers to entry, and the ecosystem will encourage innovation in software solution development.

As marketplaces become more popular, they will transform how CSPs and their partners sell their products. Providers that want to offer their capabilities as a service will have a good platform to reach their market. They can also expand their reach to millions of business users by availing cloud-based software capabilities to others.

Software marketplaces will allow providers to dominate new markets in two main ways. With the agility, speed, and innovation capacity gained, providers can match sellers and B2B expectations. They also eliminate the need to invest a lot during the early stages of a product’s lifecycle.

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