By Sachin Kumar
By Sachin Kumar
DOHA: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Qatar will get a major technological boost from Microsoft. The computing giant is aiming to help around 10,000 SMEs in Qatar in three years. It has supported around 2,000 SMEs in the last two years.
The support for SMEs will be ranging from providing training to employees to concessional pricing.
“Last year we touched around 2,000 SMEs, we are hoping to touch around 10,000 SMEs in next three years,” said Naim Yazbeck, (pictured) General Manager, Microsoft Qatar told The Peninsula. “We will be helping them leveraging new technologies, training their people in leveraging technology, assisting them in case they need help from Microsoft in one particular direction they want to go and working with Ooredoo to keep updating their system and using the latest technology. We will make sure that they are up to date on what is happening,” said Yazbeck.
Microsoft is currently running many programmes in Qatar, including BizSpark and Imagine Cup challenge, under which it is providing support to SMEs and start ups.
Micrsoft’s cloud computing service has evoked encouraging response from small and medium sized firms. “Response of SMEs to cloud computing is very positive. We went from less than 500 SMEs to around 2,000 SMEs in 18 months. They are realising that his is the way to go and that it is the most efficient and cost effective way,” he added.
Cloud computing is a kind of Internet-based computing, where shared resources, data and information are provided to computers and other devices. Cloud computing and storage solutions provide users and enterprises to store and process their data in third-party data centres.
“SMEs have their special pricing. Cloud computing is a technology what we call on demand in which basically you pay for only what you use. You don’t invest on initial capex that you don’t use. This by itself is cost effective,” said Yazbeck.
He said that entrepreneurs in Qatar are gradually understanding the importance of technology.
“Good part is that SMEs are also realising that if they are not technologically competitive, they have no chance to survive. I think that maturity is here. Cloud computing offers a big opportunity with SMEs to make sure that they are able to scale and rather than touching 2000-3000 (clients) they can touch 20-30,000 (clients),” said Yazbeck.
Assisting small and medium size firms will be an important focus for Microsoft in 2016.
“Our biggest line on the agenda that how can we help SMEs grow and how can we help more SMEs to come to the table. A part of our commitment to Qatar National Vision 2030 is how can we help contribute to diversification of this economy and how SMEs can play big role in this.
“Without these SMEs not being technologically competitive, they have no chance and many of them don’t have financial capability to invest in heavy technology. This is where cloud computing is going to be the key,” added Yazbeck.
The Peninsula
