The Hindu Business Line : Microsoft IT builds on software + service model

Hyderabad, Aug. 19 For Microsoft Corporation it is no longer merely software sales, it is ‘software plus service,’ both real time and offline. It is here that Microsoft IT, the specialised unit of Microsoft Corporation, is playing a strategic role in supporting its global operations.

Service is a form of consultancy that Microsoft provides to enterprises globally helping them in their business transformation.

As Microsoft IT consolidates in India, it has carved out separate centres of excellence (CoEs) serving as a cog in the MS tech wheel, where innovation has become its key driver.

The Chief Executive of Microsoft IT-India, Mr Murthy K. Uppaluri, said “Microsoft IT is extension of IT teams in Redmond. As the offshore unit, this centre works on a variety of technologies within Microsoft and helps enterprises outside in their business transformation. With the technology landscape poised for change, Microsoft is poised to play a bigger role in enterprises, extending beyond software through services.”

Traditionally, Mr Murthy said IT companies handled infrastructure, support and in the development of applications (that is business software applications). Work is no longer confined to creating applications, but enabling them with pro-active support, transforming their business.

Strategic unit

Mr. Murthy told Business Line “MS IT India has grown at compounded annual growth of about 80 per cent over last four years. We have crossed the magical 1,000 people mark. It has emerged one of the strategic elements of Microso ft almost contributing to about 50 per of MS IT in its global operations”

In fact, most of the products that MS develops first get deployed by MS IT. Illustratively, all the 60,000-plus MS employees were the first to use Vista operating system, helping check the product features, reliability. Likewise, it partners technology companies in helping enterprises in their business transformation.

Partner portal

Apart from this, this centre hosts a Global Network Operations Centre (NOC) that manages Microsoft’s IT backbone extending 24x7 support, with business continuity capability. MS IT works for the company within and with enterprises guiding them.

“We run and manage Partner Portal that provides for interface between implementation partners. The work has changed to an enterprise wide solutions approach as opposed to products business services,” Mr Murthy explained.

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