Microsoft launches 'Trade-In' scheme for Indian SMEs

Company to allow SMEs to trade their old hardware for Windows Azure

In a first of its kinds move, Microsoft India has lunched a 'Trade-In' scheme in order to attract small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to its cloud platform, Windows Azure. Under the scheme, which is currently limited only to India, SMEs can sell their old hardware and opt to use proceeds from the same to migrate to Windows Azure.

The valuation of hardware and purchase of the same would be done by Microsoft's recycle partner--Just Dispose, said Karan Bajwa, managing director at Microsoft India.

"The Trade-In scheme is yet another step in a series of initiatives that Microsoft has undertaken to enable small and medium businesses (SMB) to leverage the opportunity and value that cloud offers," the Bajwa said. "As we work with SMBs, it is clear that they are looking at growing their businesses with minimal investments. This is a great opportunity for them to convert their existing capital expenditure to operating expenditure."

The Trade-In scheme is valid from March 20, 2014 to June 30, 2014.

To use this scheme, any company can call on a toll free number or log on to Microsoft India's website to register, post which they would be contacted by Just Dispose, which will collect the hardware, and decide its residual value. The SME would be paid the residual value in cash and be given some 'Azure credit points', which the company can use for part-paying the upfront requirement at the time of moving to Windows Azure.

Microsoft defines any company will less that 250 computers as SME.

The company estimates there are over 40 million SMEs in India, and around 40 per cent of the total Indian workforce works with these small and medium companies.

Windows had Thursday said that it is was witnessing 'incredible' momentum for its cloud platform, Windows Azure, which the company claims is adding 2,000 new clients each month.

According to Microsoft, a significant portion of its growth in India over the past 12 months has come from its cloud business. The company said it was adding clients across several sectors, including banking, manufacturing, health care and media, and across large, mid-sized and small companies.

"In cloud, we have seen probably the fastest transition from incubation to scale," Bajwa had told Business Standard. "India is among the fastest growing markets for Azure." He added while cloud was a becoming a trend about two years ago, today it was 'the new normal'.

According to Bajwa, Windows Azure's clients in India include three leading private banks, five leading automobile manufacturers, four leading health care organisations (including Fortis Healthcare) and three leading media houses.

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