OSS stands for Operations Support System, which is a set of computer programs used by telecommunications service providers to manage their networks. OSS is used to support management functions such as network inventory, service provisioning, network configuration, and fault management. Together with Business Support Systems (BSS), they are used to support various end-to-end telecommunication services. OSS and BSS have their own data and service responsibilities, and the two systems together are often abbreviated OSS/BSS, BSS/OSS, or simply B/OSS. The OSS covers at least the following five functions: network management systems, service delivery, service fulfillment (including the network inventory, activation, and provisioning), service assurance, and customer care. OSS is a collection of systems used to support the day-to-day operations of a telecom service provider, including order administration, service control, network management, and invoicing, among others. OSS is the backend software component that allows a service provider to track, regulate, analyze, and administer the services provided on their network. In contrast, the term business support system (BSS) is typically used to refer to a company or customer-facing functionality. OSS and BSS software can require heavy development to launch new services, and they are typically developed and maintained by IT staff.