Indian Industries Association (IIA), an apex representative body of Micro, Small and Medium 
Enterprises (MSME) and Microsoft have come together to enable 20,000 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in Uttar Pradesh with cloud technology. With support from Pentacle IT Solutions, one of Microsoft’s leading system integrators (SI), MSMEs can adopt modern technologies easily to make their business more profitable and productive. Technologies like cloud will connect them better with suppliers, distributors, government agencies and empower them to expand their geographical reach.
As per the 4th Census of Ministry of MSME, Govt. of India, Uttar Pradesh, with over 75 districts, is home to 31 lakhs MSMEs across verticals. This provides an opportunity to technology providers like Microsoft to educate them on the latest technologies and help them adopt them to expand their business. A recent study by Zinnov states that SMBs can enhance their performance by 75% due to technology adoption. Keeping the needs of the MSMEs in mind, Microsoft is working closely with its network of over 10,000+ partners nationally, to assist MSMEs in their cloud journey. Pentacle IT Solutions has registered a 30% year-on-year growth in its business, riding on high adoption of Microsoft Office 365, Azure and CRM amongst its customers. It aims to extend this success to more MSMEs in the state.
Sudhir Nayar, Director -Partner Sales, Microsoft India said, “Technology is a key factor for businesses in India and around the world to succeed. With the recently launched Windows 10 on PC and phone, devices like the Lumia 950 and our cloud-based services, businesses can access new markets, engage with customers more efficiently, and manage their costs better. Microsoft, in association with IIA and with the commitment of our partners like Pentacle IT Solutions aims to enable MSMEs across the country to grow with technology helping them accelerate their business.”
Manish Goel, National President, Indian Industries Association (IIA) said, “The adoption of technology can no longer be an IT agenda for organization. It is now a business prerogative, empowering businesses to transform and scale up at a minimum cost with accelerated growth. Working with thousands of MSMEs in the state, we understand both their business requirements and are excited to partner with Microsoft to enable businesses to ride on the next wave of growth.”
Also, speaking at the event was Kulmani Gupta, Chairman IT Working Group, Indian Industries Association (IIA). He said, “We are living in a technology enabled world and it is important for organizations of all sizes and sectors to adopt technology if they wish to succeed. Our association with Microsoft is the first major step in this direction. The need for this transformation has prompted us to work closely with Microsoft and we are happy that they are supporting our members in their business journey. “
Snehal Shah, General Manager, Ingram Micro said, “Technology has traversed from becoming just an IT function to a business function and it is encouraging to see industry bodies like IIA come forth to support and educate MSMEs about the true potential and benefits of technology. This is a big step not just towards modernization, but an opportunity to showcase the power of modern technology and encourage its adoption. We look forward to working closely with MSMEs in the state and equip them with the right tools to succeed in this dynamic age.”
Speaking about the technology landscape in Uttar Pradesh, Tilak Raj Ratra, Managing Director, Pentacle IT Solutions, said, “Uttar Pradesh is home to lakhs of MSMEs. With the right technology and guidance, MSMEs can attain exponential success. It is extremely encouraging to be associated with industry bodies like IIA and this will provide us the opportunity to showcase the power of modern technology and encourage its adoption. We look forward to working closely with MSMEs in the state and help them drive efficiency and business growth with Microsoft’s offerings.”’
Microsoft Office 365 helps SMBs collaborate, communicate, and connect better in their ecosystem and expand to more markets and customers. The combination of online applications and always-on customer support gives SMBs the desired competitive edge and helps open newer business opportunities. This initiative will not only help SMBs expand their business, but also help the country progress toward the “Make in India” vision of transforming itself into a global leader.
As per a study by global consulting firm, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) states that SMBs that embraced IT solutions grew faster than the ones that lagged in terms of IT adoption. The study also shows that SMBs that decided to take the IT plunge created more new jobs and more revenue growth over the past three years compared to SMBs that trailed in this regard. The BCG study, ‘Ahead of the Curve: Lessons on Technology and Growth from Small Business Leaders’ found that if more SMBs in India adopt the latest IT tools, there is potential for this sector to grow revenues by $56 billion and create as many as 1.1 million new jobs.
