NEW DELHI: Microsoft today announced the launch of a new cloud adoption program for small and medium businesses (SMBs) in India.
Under this program, SMBs can now adopt value-added solutions and offerings supporting their specific requirements on the cloud through Microsoft’s ‘Cloud Solution Providers (CSP)’. Cloud Solution Providers are partners who build solutions leveraging Microsoft cloud for SMBs across the country on a pay-as-you-go model.
This program enables SMBs to work with a CSP of their choice for various IT requirements. The CSP will own the complete customer life cycle, provide direct billing, offer combined and customized solutions, directly provision, as well as manage and support Microsoft cloud offerings for their customers.
The program will enhance value to SMBs and expand business opportunities for them and the CSPs. It will allow CSPs to own the complete customer relationship – starting with understanding customer requirements, designing customized solutions and offers with Office 365, easy billing and support. SMBs will benefit from the subscription-based payment model that will ease their OpEx pressures.
Microsoft says the public cloud services has seen 3X grown over the years and its Azure platform is growing at about 150% and the new model will further strengthen its business. “Cloud adoption in India is growing in triple digit percentage year-on-year. The new Microsoft Cloud Solution Providers will make SMBs more competitive with enterprise-grade technology and value-added services from Microsoft cloud,” said Microsoft India, Managing Director, Karan Bajwa. According to Microsoft India, General manager, SMS&P, Meetul Patel, till now Microsoft operated through three distinct verticals that comprised of SMBs approaching the company directly for cloud services and also the advisor model of reaching out to customers. To have greater engagement Microsoft initiated the reseller programme, which resulted in increases adoption. “However local solutions and local support was missing. CSP will be the single window to access the power of cloud.”
Microsoft has launched the program with seven CSPs in India – GlobalOutlook, ZNetLive, Trimax IT Infrastructure and Services Limited, Sify Technologies, Emkor, Opto Telelinks Limited and XcellHost Cloud Services.
