MicroWorld to embark on 20-city roadshow

Mumbai-based MicroWorld Software Services plans to started a 20-city roadshow
that will cover B and C-class cities like Jaipur, Ahmedabad, etc where the
company expects to see faster uptake of its products. “This will be a part of
MicroWorld's awareness program for its resellers in tier-2 cities,” said Rajat
Sahu, Head-Marketing, MicroWorld Software Services, “The program will help
empower and educate our channel, which in turn will take us closer to our
end-customers,” he added.

The roadshow will provide training to all MicroWorld resellers about the
existing security issues, and how MicroWorld's products fit into this scenario.
Besides this, the company will also educate participating resellers about its
support network, which includes chat session, e-mail as well as 24x7 telephonic
support.

The program will start by the end of September and will run for 45 days.
MicroWorld will also use the event as a vehicle to double its channel base.
Currently, the company has eight regional distributors, 130 sub-distributors and
75 systems integrators. “We are looking at doubling this number by the end of
the year,” said Anil Gupta, National Head-Sales, MicroWorld Software Services.
When asked whether this will create competition with more partners targeting the
same set of customers, Gupta said, “According to market reports, eight million
PCs will be sold in India this year. We are targeting these new customers for
the PCs and are confident that there is a lot of potential for the channel to
engage with them without eating into each other's territories.”

The company is content with its existing channel structure and will not be
signing up any national distributors in the near future. “When you work with a
national distributor, they do not focus on your products. Channel partners also
feel happy when they are in direct contact with the vendor company, which is
possible only if you operate through regional distributors,” added Gupta.

The company is also planning to create security specialists who can provide
security risk management for SME and SMB clients. “These specialists will also
be able to assess security risk and provide services to their clients with our
expertise in a customized manner and not as a package,” informed Gupta.

POONAM SINGH