IBM logs on to geo-expansion mode

BANGALORE, INDIA: IBM India today said that it has opened three Virtual Branch Offices (VBOs) in three chosen locations in India - Chandigarh, Surat and Coimbatore.

These city-specific website are aimed to support the growing demands of its clients and partners in these cities, an IBM official told CIOL. With this launch it aims to create deep local presence in these cities. IBM already has a physical office in Chandigarh, serving its customers and partners.

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In addition, this new city website would offer local community the option to communicate online with IBM representatives when they need information and take requests instantaneously for any business need thus acting as a one-stop-shop, said IBM. IBM had also recently said that it would open 75 new COEs in India.

The VBOs will act as a live platform for potential customers, partners, education institutions, business entrepreneurs, IT enthusiasts and social community groups to gain knowledge about IBM offerings, events, academic initiatives etc.

The site would provide easy and timely access to information on select hardware, software and services. It will also list IBM solutions by specific business issues and provide local IBM contact details for help.

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Announcing this initiative, Jyothi Satyanathan, vice president, Mid-sized Businesses & Insides sales, IBM India/South Asia, said the VBOs would give IBM an opportunity to have an open dialogue with its customers and partners and would also extend its reach and enhance its presence in these cities.

“IBM will be offering a complete range of its solutions to businesses in the region. We will continue to bring the best of IBM — local as well as global expertise — to clients here, to help them achieve their business goals,” he said.

IBM is planning to open around 40 such VBOs in India.