As telecommunications infrastructure continues to expand, expectations around speed, accuracy, and compliance have never been higher. Carriers and project teams are being asked to move faster while maintaining rigorous standards across increasingly complex sites.
At Ambit Consulting, quality is not treated as a final checkpoint. It is built into every phase of our work, from field operations to deliverables and client communication. That philosophy is shaped and reinforced by our CEO and owner, Matt Ford, who leads the team in telecommunications surveying projects across diverse regions and conditions.
In this thought leadership spotlight, Matt shares perspective on what it takes to maintain high standards in telecom surveying while supporting fast moving deployments and evolving client needs.
Q: When you founded Ambit, what were you set out to improve or change in the industry?
Working in wireless prior to starting Ambit, the most common complaints I heard about other survey firms were related to communication and customer service. Responding to clients in a timely manner, keeping them updated on progress, etc., seems like common sense, but it wasn’t happening.
We knew we could do that better and still deliver the highest quality survey product possible. Internally, we often hire new teammates with customer service or hospitality backgrounds and frequently conduct email and communication training to ensure that we never let our clients down in that regard.
On the survey industry side, my experience was that you were treated more like a number than a valued teammate. As soon as a project wrapped up, you worried you might lose your job because if work slowed down, many companies would start making cuts without hesitation. We believed that with the right team and the right structure, we could do that better too. In 15 years, I’m proud to say that we’ve never had to let a surveyor go due to financial reasons.
Overall, our employee and client retention have remained very high over the years. Balancing the needs of clients with those of teammates can be difficult, but I think we’ve proven that when you do it right, a company can be both employee- and client-centric. This approach has been a huge part of Ambit Consulting’s success.
Q: Ambit talks a lot about “quality in everything we do.” What does that look like in your day-to-day work with telecom clients?
Besides the obvious but boring-to-discuss internal processes, SOPs, quality control, etc., “quality in everything we do” means our team consistently meeting and exceeding customer expectations through the delivery of reliable, defect-free survey products and services.
We maintain efficient processes, clear communication, and a culture of continuous improvement, and I believe that our dedication to quality truly shows in everything we do.
Q: Ambit values continuous improvement. How do you help the team grow and stay sharp in the field?
We’ve done everything from taking teammates to leadership seminars and conferences to hiring executive coaches and experts to teach or reinforce specific skill sets. Our leadership runs training frequently, and we hold all-hands meetings twice a year where we conduct training and exchange ideas. Ambit Consulting also reimburses teammates for education, training, or anything they want to learn or improve that relates to their job or professional development.
We like the quote, “If you’re not growing, you’re dying.” We believe that’s true, and we take the idea of continuous improvement very seriously.
Q: Telecom timelines move fast. How have your workflows or tools adapted while keeping quality consistent?
We’re always looking for new ways to do things better and be more efficient. After 15 years, we feel like we have things pretty dialed in, but every so often someone comes up with an idea and we’re like, “Why didn’t we think of that before?”
Throughout the years, amazing ideas have come from every position and experience level at Ambit. As technology and the industry evolve, we remain open-minded and consistently search for ways to be more efficient and better serve our clients.
Also, we drink a lot of coffee and only sleep on Sundays.
Q: What is one challenge telecom clients often underestimate, and how does your team help prevent it?
We’re very fortunate to have amazing clients, most of whom are experienced in the industry, so they get it. Overall, our clients are perfect and they’re always right!
That said, if you’ve never done someone else’s job, it’s impossible to know what it really takes to get it done right.
What I think may go unnoticed is the amount of upfront research and preparation required to ensure a project’s success, even before field crews mobilize. Establishing an accurate boundary can take considerable effort, both in the field and in the office. It’s not uncommon for our office team to spend days on research and calculations and then for field crews to spend days hiking miles over rugged terrain to find the monuments needed to place an accurate boundary.
When we run into complicated projects, we do our best to keep communication open with our clients and discuss possible challenges up front so they’re aware and there won’t be any surprises down the road.
Once we’re all on the same page, our survey geniuses get to work making it look easy. Boom! Survey magic!
Q: As telecom infrastructure continues to expand, what surveying capability or mindset do you think will matter most?
Our mindset is to stay ready so we don’t have to get ready.
And, be water, my friend…
Leadership That Supports Smarter Telecom Deployments
Strong, owner-led leadership plays a direct role in maintaining high standards across telecom surveying projects. By reinforcing quality, supporting continuous improvement, and aligning teams around shared goals, Matt Ford helps ensure Ambit’s work consistently supports efficient and compliant deployments.
At Ambit Consulting, leadership in the field translates into better data, smoother project execution, and stronger outcomes for telecom partners nationwide.
Learn More About Our Approach
If you are planning upcoming telecommunications projects and want to work with a survey partner led by an experienced owner who prioritizes quality, communication, and field informed decision making, contact our team to learn how Ambit Consulting supports reliable deployments today and into the future.