Microsoft expands network to address SMB segment

New Delhi: As part of its commitment to offer SMBs better access to IT solutions, Microsoft India announced the expansion of its distributor network. A new sub-distributor network has been created to support the existing distribution model. This 40 member strong network will function across 33 cities in India. Operating on a hub and spoke model, it has the capacity to support over 1,800-3,500 additional business partners. Through this, Microsoft also hopes to further expand its SMB partner community in India.

Microsoft announced the appointment of Aditi Computers and MC Modi & Co as its sub-distributors in New Delhi. “This announcement offers the large and vibrant partner ecosystem in the country to be able to transact Microsoft products and offers partners with the power of choice. This would really help us service our customers better and also improve Microsoft footprint in the country,” said Rajeev Mittal, Group Director-Small and Medium Enterprise, Microsoft India. “The economic downturn has also brought on an additional problem of increasing credit crunch. With the new model, partners can look for support from the sub-distributors for help with understanding Microsoft policies and products, supply, as well as credit.”

The appointed of sub-distributors in New Delhi is expected to provide impetus to the local partner ecosystem, and in turn deliver improved support to the SMB community in the region. “I am proud to play this important role in the furthering of Microsoft's support both to the partner community as well as SMB segment in India,” said Singh. Modi added, “We are delighted to be the vital link between Microsoft and its critical partner community and facilitate a deeper engagement between the two.”

This announcement will broaden the impact of the geo-expansion program that Microsoft has undertaken over the last two years, increasing the number of Microsoft offices from four in FY 2007 to 16 by end of FY 2009 and broadening the spread to tier-2 cities across India. “The SMB community in these regions has benefited from Microsoft's presence and from the stronger partner network it has created and we believe that with the Sub distributor model will be able to create similar impact,” emphasized Mittal

The four million SMBs in India represent 99 percent of businesses and are responsible for generating 50 percent of the GDP in the country. A significant percentage of these SMBs are concentrated in upcountry India and they represent over 60 percent of domestic technology sales, with demand doubling in less than a decade, and growing steadily, even in these times of recessionary influence. Microsoft believes that a large part of this ready market is under-serviced and has therefore taken several comprehensive steps to address this. Microsoft is now present in 16 cities across the country through which it reaches out to over 200 cities. The sub-distributor level will further strengthen the access of Microsoft solutions for the network of Microsoft partners which in turn will percolate to the SMBs.

Navdeep Singh, CEO, Tod Adven a Microsoft partner is in agreement and opined on the announcement, “I think this is just the time for Microsoft to reach out to us better by increasing setting up sub-distributors. It helps us to work better with the credit available at our end and helps us to set-up and maintain a healthy chain of business in these challenging times.”

Ajay Mittal, CEO, HBS Systems, another Microsoft partner added, “The sub-distributor network will help galvanize our engagement with our customers further.”

The appointed sub-distributors:

Sub-disti City

Real Time Ahmedabad

Matrix Technologies Bengaluru

Vignesh Bengaluru

Ashram Computer Consultancy Bengaluru

SAM Systems Bhopal

Tristar Software Bhubaneshwar

RM Computers Chennai

Solaris Chennai

Vignesh Chennai

International Marketing Cochin

Bloom Electronics Coimbatore

Aditi Computers Delhi

MC Modi & Co Delhi

Computer Care Durgapur

NEcX Hyderabad

System Control Indore

Aadhar Infonet Jaipur

Microvolt Communication Karnal

Aditya Peripherals Kolapur

IDM Ludhiana

Maxtone Electronics Mumbai

Shreyas Infotech Nagpur

Minitek Systems Nasik

Datacare Corporation Pune

Priyanka Computers Raipur

Anil Infotech Rajkot

Origin Infomedia Ranchi

Feedback Siliguri

Jupiter Automation Surat

NEcX Tirupathi

NEcX Vijaywada

NEcX Vizag