The Sikh Geek

Mark Crall and Karl Palachuk have had some really interesting posts recently regarding Microsoft’s strategy to Small Businesses.  This relates to the Comcast deal and I know Microsoft are doing similar things with BT. They’ve already announced some Small Business services with BT and I’m sure there will be more. Should we be worried? Does this mean Microsoft doesn’t love us?

My view is that we shouldn’t be surprised by Microsoft’s moves. One thing we know is that the SME/SMB sector is large and the current number of SBSC Partners couldn’t service the number of potential businesses in this area. Microsoft wants to make money, it’s very good at doing that and arguably the best that there has ever been. Should we be surprised that it has multiple strategies for the small business market. Not that many years ago the SBSC Programme did not exist and so Microsoft did not have channel partners in the Small Business space, or partners that were managed programmatically. The SME market is large enough for many niches and I do believe Microsoft is committed to the SBSC Partners because we will drive the innovation and the case studies and the new adoptions. Which business market doesn’t have competition and fierce competition at that? One thing is sure, Microsoft is on a roll delivering financial performances and growth which are making organisations like Sun and Novell look like they are going backwards at a rapid rate. We need to ride that wave and we need to learn how to ride it effectively! Reading Karl’s blog is a very good place to start along with Susanne’s blog and listening to successful business people like my fellow UK PAL Gareth Brown of Sytec. High quality advice delivered with passion, leadership, humility and with optimism. People who see a glass half full rather than half empty. There are many, many others so don’t believe SBSC is not full of leaders but remember a Community (…any Community) is made up of ordinary people. If I can’t learn something from meeting another SBSC Partner, then there’s something wrong with me not something wrong with the other person.

One thing you can bet your house on is that the SBSC PALs will make it known through the channels we have that SBSC Partners should be a key component of Microsoft’s Small Business Strategy.