Microsoft reports business growth in RP

Microsoft Phils. reported last week an increased demand for its product lines, which translates into 13 percent growth in revenues for the first half of its fiscal year.

Strong product momentum from last year saw demand growing at 27 percent for Windows Server, 41 percent for Windows Desktop, 80 percent for Exchange Server and 49 percent for SQL Server.

Microsoft Phils. officials said they are looking at growing the business up to 20 percent during the year as demand for Windows Client, Windows Advanced Server, SQL Server Enterprise and Exchange Workflow shows strong growth potentials.

Meanwhile, the company is pushing several initiatives geared toward improving customer satisfaction, boosting solutions sales, promoting IT education, and preparing for the May launch of Windows Server 2003.

Kevin Hou, Microsoft Phils. managing director, said they have created new processes and policies in the areas of complaint management, critical situation management, and product support cycle to improve Microsoft customer satisfaction. An escalation process basically guides how the company now handles complaints and technical queries.

For example, user complaints, which are not solved in two days by Microsoft’s customer care group, would be brought to the attention of Hou who, in turn, would then "own" the case till it is resolved. Also, the management of a critical situation by Microsoft engineers would be referred to the regional office if the problem goes unsolved for a week.

Product support

For the product support cycle, Hou said Microsoft’s policy now is to offer support for five years, which can be extended to two more years, from the time a product is launched in the market.

The software giant is also keen on empowering local independent software vendors (ISVs) and developing vertical markets like banking by sponsoring specific events for them.

This year should also see Microsoft continuing with its Connected Learning Community (CLC) program, which to date has benefited 22 schools nationwide.

In addition, Microsoft and the Virtual Center for Technology Innovation in Information Technology (VCTI-IT) unit of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) have set up a project to train and certify IT professionals from the government and academe.

The project plans to train 504 IT instructors and professionals in Virtual Basics and Windows 2000 in the next six months. The training starts this month and also involves the University of the Philippines and Southeastern College.

Among Microsoft Phils.’ key enterprise accounts last year were RCBC and Banco de Oro for finance, San Miguel Corp. for manufacturing, ABS-CBN for media, National Bookstore for retail, and AstraZeneca for health.

In government, Microsoft has ongoing relationships with the Department of Budget and Management, National Statistics Office, Land Transportation Office and the Government Service Insurance System.

Windows Server 2003

Microsoft is launching this summer Windows Server 2003, its latest server operating system coming from the Windows 2000 family. Mark Yambot, marketing director of Microsoft Phils., said about 900 CDs of Windows Server 2003 have been seeded in various enterprises, in addition to downloaded copies of the new server OS.

Preparations leading to the May launch currently include an ongoing early adoptor program, IT Professional review, hands-on training for top customers and partners, and an ISV Applications Migration program which already saw eight local partners signing up, Yambot said.

Also in the pipeline is Microsoft’s Titanium, its second version of Exchange, due in the second half of fiscal year 2003.