Microsoft connects with SMEs at Night of Business Unusual

As part of its strategy to empower individuals and organisations to achieve more, Microsoft Mobile Devices and Services (MMDS) in Nigeria connected with over 150 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) business owners at an event tagged, ‘Night of Business Unusual’.

At the event, Microsoft shared its end-to-end business mobility solution with the business owners as well as products and services that could enable them and their businesses do more and be more productive on the go.

 

Kabelo Makwane, managing director, Microsoft Nigeria, in his address of welcome shared new trends in technology which included social, cloud, mobility and big data.

 

Makwane also gave insights into Microsoft strategy for the future with emphasis on mobility and productivity.

 

In his presentation on ‘Driving Productivity for SMEs’, Ade Ajayi, business group director, Microsoft Office Division, said Microsoft had developed solutions that would enable small- and medium-sized businesses to collaborate effectively.

“Every small business really wants to grow and Microsoft is investing in technologies to enable them do this.  We have a cloud environment that allows you respond to your customers regardless of where you are, so you no longer have to be bound by physical environments.  It is Microsoft’s priority to make sure small- and medium- sized businesses are safe either online or offline,” Ajayi said.

 

“The world is changing and you need to adapt to how you do business. We have solutions that allow you drive connection to your business. Office 365 enables SMEs get the competitive advantage by understanding their customers and making meaningful connections to build long-term relationships.  With SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business, you can easily share documents – from invoices to orders for new materials with customers and partners,’’ Ajayi further said.

 

Speaking on ‘Microsoft Lumia in Business’, Mario Okonya, business sales lead, Microsoft Mobile Device and Services, explained that the world was changing into a system where people’s first interaction was always with their mobile devices, given that such had become the new normal.

Okonya projected that 350 million people would do businesses with their mobile phones by year 2016, adding that leading businesses globally were reimagining their businesses with Microsoft business mobility solutions.

‘’Regardless of which Lumia device you choose, you will still get same Windows experience across all the devices,’’ he said.

Bidemi Ladipo, head enterprise marketing, Etisalat Nigeria, spoke on how Etisalat and Lumia were mobilising businesses and helping them achieve great feats through seamless online connectivity and Microsoft Office 365 offerings.

Speaking on ‘The Epix Tablet: Affordable Productivity’, Amit Sagar, executive director, Midcom Group Nigeria, said: “The Epix tablet, which was recently introduced, brings affordable technology of Windows with all productivity tools to Nigeria”.

To thrill guests at the night of Business Unusual and give them a first-hand experiences with Lumia devices, raffle draws were held and several Lumia devices were given out to guests.  On the band stand were chocolate city’s duo of Nosa and Ruby who performed to the delight of the guests.