The Hindu Business Line : IBM India setting up virtual business centre

New Delhi May 20 IBM India will set up a virtual business centre for its customers in India by the end of the year. This would enable the customers to buy its hardware, software or any service by interacting with IBM's sales executives on this virtual platform.

Further, clients can also exchange credit information, sign contracts and make payment that would be handled through a link to IBM's Web site or by phone.

Globally, IBM has been leveraging this platform for communication amongst its researchers, consultants for exchanging ideas across the different countries. However, this is for the first time that IBM has launched such a platform to support its customers.

Easier, faster access

The centre would be divided in six areas such as reception, sales, technical support, innovation, client briefing and conference. The virtual business centre that has been operational since a week has IBM employees interacting with clients during business hours in their respective countries. With such a platform, IBM believes that it would make it easier and faster for the customers to access information than navigate through the Web site.

"IBM is combining 3 D virtual experience with its existing 2 D website and real IBM people to conduct business. This will make customers' business experiences more effective," said Dr Daniel Dias, Director, IBM India Research Laboratory, adding that the company believed that such a virtual platform would have tremendous business potential.

IBM that has currently trained 37 sales executives to represent the needs of the customers for the US and European countries would now extend its services for countries in the Asia Pacific, including India.