Microsoft to set up shop in Nagpur

Firm wants to increase penetration in smaller class cities.

After Dell Corporation, Satyam and other IT majors evincing interest here, software services and business solutions giant, Microsoft, too has decided to set up an office at Nagpur.

The office of Microsoft Corporation of India Private Limited will function under the Mumbai module of the company and aim at strengthening direct sales infrastructure besides undertaking other activities. This forms part of Microsoft's endeavour to increase penetration in 'B' and 'C' class cities besides metros.

The company intends increasing presence to cover 33 markets under its hub and spoke model of business in the coming months. It currently has seven offices and will be opening five more besides the one at Nagpur to take the tally to 13. These are to come up at Indore, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Kochi and Coimbatore.

According to Microsoft India, the enhanced presence will give the company more reach and also enable small and mid-market organisations to access its comprehensive portfolio of products and services.

Microsoft will be able to deploy customised solutions for its customers and also offer better support either directly or through its trade channel partners.

The IT major will also encourage interaction with industry associations to appreciate and address local business challenges. Channel engagement will be under the Microsoft Partner Programme (MSPP) framework.

Microsoft has already done a study of the region and calculates it to have over 36,000 small and medium businesses, a few big industries and numerous government organisations.

It sees these businesses posting a good turnover and contributing to Maharashtra's economy. The software major acknowledges that the spending on information technology is growing and believes that there is a need for "proper guidance and hand holding from channels and vendors."

It hopes that its direct presence in the city will help in partnering small and medium industries and also in consolidating their growth trajectory.