MS broadens SMB strategy

NEW DELHI: Identifying SMB segment among the top three

growth engines for the company, Microsoft has announced that it would double its

headcount focused on the SMB space and extend its geographical reach from 16

cities to 33 cities across India by the end of next year. According to Microsoft

India MD Neelam Dhawan, Microsoft currently has over 300 employees in India and

the target is to have one-third of its current headcount to be focused on the

SMB segment.






Explaining the relevance of the SMB segment to Microsoft's business, she
added,” With 1.8 million SMBs in India today, there is a huge section that can

benefit from tailor made IT solutions. Backed by our experience and historic

success in this segment, our stack of offerings and our partner centric

approach, we are better positioned to address the needs of this segment than any

other company.”






The company is targeting verticals like manufacturing, retail, textile, PSUs and
auto ancillary in the SMB space. It has outlined a three pronged strategy

focused on increasing product relevance, extending partner reach and

strengthening customer relationships to address the needs of its SMB customers

in India.






Microsoft also launched Open Value licensing program aimed at the SMB segment
and announced broad availability of Microsoft Business solutions Navision 4.0.

Open Value allows SMB customers to pay for the software they purchase from

Microsoft over a period of three years and upgrade to new versions of Microsoft

software, as they are released, at no additional cost. Navision 4.0 is

Microsoft's integrated Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer

Relationship Management (CRM) and Supply Chain Management (SCM) solution for the

SMB segment. This fully customizable solution uses Microsoft Outlook as the

front end.






Outlining the company's SMB strategy, Microsoft small & mid market
solutions and partners (SMS&P) group director Rajeev Mittal said, “Under

integrated product innovation, we are launching Navision 4.0 in India. We would

also have deeper engagements with Indian independent software vendors (ISVs) to

create local solutions as well as develop products specifically for SMBs.

Currently, we have 3,000 partners across the country. We plan to expand our

geographical reach in India to more than 33 cities in the next one year.”






He added, “For increasing customer connection, we have announced the Microsoft
Open Value initiative. We would also introduce Mid Market Relationship Program

in a bid to stay connected with our customers during the entire lifecycle of our

solution. Another initiative from our side would be the introduction of Mid

Market Online Experience by March 2006 to help our SMB customers to manage the

entire licensing and other relationship online.”






- CyberMedia News