KalingaTimes.com: IBM advances with SME expansion plan in Orissa

IBM advances with SME expansion plan in Orissa

KalingaTimes Correspondent
Bhubaneswar, Dec 5: As part of its ongoing expansion strategy to Tier 2 cities throughout the country, IBM India on Wednesday announced the launch of its SMB operations in Bhubaneswar .

This expansion will enable IBM to provide better support to SME clients in and around Bhubaneswar and help IBM's customers leverage IT for business growth.

In addition, mid-market businesses will also benefit from the new IBM Express Advantage initiative that provides SMEs with a unified end-to-end approach to help them innovate and expand.

IBM is one of the first companies to have a focus on the SME market starting in the early Nineties. In India , IBM saw the potential for growth in SME market businesses and recognised the need for innovative offerings to give SMEs a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving marketplace. Nearly 60 percent of IBM India's revenue comes from SMBs with 15-20 percent of IBM India's workforce dedicated to the SMB market.

Earlier this year, IBM had announced a plan to extend its presence to 14 cities outside of the key metros, and has successfully launched operations in Bhopal , Chandigarh , Coimbatore , Cochin , Goa, Jaipur, Jamshedpur , Lucknow , Nagpur , Nashik, Surat , and Vizag. It will look to expand into Ludhiana and Madurai as well.

“We have made it a priority to recognise the needs and challenges Indian SMEs face in various industries across the board. In order to help them minimise the business challenges they face while increasing their return on investment we are providing easy access to a full range of SME specific solutions and services. It is our goal to provide SMEs with affordable offerings and a support network of IBM Business Partners who understand their marketplace in order to help them succeed,” said Vivek Malhotra, Vice President, Global Mid-Market Business, IBM India/South Asia.

IBM's SME offerings have already been accepted in various industries and organisations. Some existing customers in Bhubaneswar include, Government of Orissa IT Department - OCAC, Dept of Treasury Orissa, Paradeep Phosphates Ltd, Vedanta Alumina Ltd, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Biju Patnaik University of Technology, and Utkal University to name a few.