Optus empowers The Big Issue: 40% savings and productivity gains

The Big Issue is an independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting and creating work opportunities for people experiencing homelessness, marginalisation and disadvantage. Their simple aim is to help people help themselves.

Optus, in turn, has helped The Big Issue by delivering sharp savings on mobile and data services, plus skilled transition and ongoing account management services that improve efficiency and productivity.

Metrics

• 40% cost saving 
• Tripled the data inclusions available

Image credit: Vendor and Staff member, The Big Issue

Costs were threatening ongoing viability

Always vital, cost savings became even more urgent during the pandemic when vendors could no longer sell the magazines. The Big Issue’s previous provider had recently announced CPI increases – amounting to $30K – which is very difficult for a non-for-profit to find in challenging times. Optus needed to provide a compelling commercial offer.

"As a social enterprise, we always monitor our expenses closely and look to identify cost savings and efficiencies. Optus has been central to helping us achieve that."

– Jon Whitehead, Chief Financial and Operations Officer  

Solving the not-for-profit dilemma

As a lean not-for-profit organisation, value (price and inclusions), and time savings were incredibly important to them. With a small IT team, simple and fast mobile fleet management and a centralised point of contact were also essential.

Mobile network coverage was also critical given that the organisation relies solely on mobiles and vendor support workers spend the majority of their time on the street in urban centres. Theirs is also a very lean team, so any productivity enhancements make a big difference.

Image credit: Vendor Craig, The Big Issue

Tailored, effective and cost-efficient

The solution developed by Optus provided significant savings to The Big Issue on mobile and data services via Business Mobile Plus: 29 mobile and 8 data services. Optus brought its skills to ensure a quick and easy transition, and continues to deliver ongoing account management services that improve efficiency and productivity.

A solution that not only works, but adds value

In a like for like offering, Optus delivered a 40% cost saving and also managed to triple the data inclusions available. The Optus mobile network coverage easily meets all The Big Issue’s needs and support from Optus was central to a seamless transition process.

Optus continues to provide a direct contact for all moves, adds and changes along with account support. Having one point of contact with Optus has directly improved efficiency and productivity. The Big Issue team notes how this helped ensure a quick and easy transition and continues to deliver dividends when they want to add a new phone, transition a number or make other changes.  

"One of the best outcomes partnering with Optus has been that IT is now free to do other things. An hour-long change now takes just one email to sort, and nothing has been lost in the process whereas this didn’t happen previously." – Jon Whitehead, Chief Financial and Operations Officer 

Image credit: Vendor and Staff member, The Big Issue

Ongoing partnership based on shared values

Beyond mobility, there are further partnership opportunities that are being explored, including donations through Optus’ corporate social responsibility platform, Yes 4 Good, and networking with key business partners to win further support for The Big Issue.

"There’s a nice alignment between Optus and The Big Issue operations and also our values. We’re very excited about where we could go together in a formal strategic partnership." – Donnette Rushworth, Corporate Partnerships Manager

To find out more about partnering with Optus, contact your account manager or request a call back.