IBM rolls out SME range in Orissa

IBM has launched its Small and Medium Business (SMB) operations in Bhubaneswar, as part of its expansion plans in Tier 2 cities.

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

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

Says Vivek Malhotra, vice-president, Global Mid-Market Business, IBM, India and South Asia, "We have made it a priority to recognize the needs and challenges Indian SMEs face in various industries across the board. It is our goal to provide SMEs with affordable offerings and a support network for IBM Business Partners." In fact, 98 per cent of the software business in Orissa is done by the SME sector.

Of the 139 IT companies registered with the Software Technology Parks of India ( STPI), most belong to the SME sector. Big companies working out of Bhubaneswar are TCS, Infosys and Satyam. Other biggies like Wipro, MindTree, Hexaware and BPO Genpact are also planning facilities in this Temple City.

IBM happens to be one of the companies with a focus on the SME market since the early 1990s. According to an IBM release nearly 60 per cent of IBM India's revenue comes from SMBs. Nearly 15-20 per cent of the company's workforce is dedicated to the SMB market.

Earlier this year IBM announced plans to extend its presence to 14 cities outside the key metros. Operations have been launched in Bhopal, Chandigarh, Coimbatore, Cochin, Goa, Jamshedpur, Jaipur, Lucknow, Nagpur, Nasik, Surat and Vizag. The company also has plans to move into Ludhiana and Madurai.