Microsoft need to remember…

I read this interview yesterday from CRN that talks about Microsoft and the need for an SMB channel given everything is moving to the cloud.  One of the things that Microsoft need to remember is that we are SMB IT Professionals, and our job is to ensure that our clients get the right solution for their business needs.  That does NOT translate to the Cloud being the right solution, nor does it mean that Office 2010 is the right solution.  In the interview Microsoft make the statement that…

"The number of PCs in the Australian market is 82 percent. It’s a great opportunity to sell Office 2010, of course. There’s still 56 percent of users who use older versions of Office and there’s a huge opportunity to upsell to Office 2010.

umm.. hello… Microsoft… yeah – well customers are NOT keen to move to Office 2010 just because it’s there.  Customers will only move to it if it solves business problem that they face daily quickly and efficiently for them.  Oh – did I mention that you can not  upgrade to Office 2010 – no – unless you have Software Assurance, you need to pay full purchase price for Office 2010 even if you have a valid copy of Office 2007.  Microsoft have decided that they do not value the investment that you’ve made in the past as a past customer.  What’s more is that the OEM version of Office 2010 is now gone as well, no more cheap way to buy it with your PC.  I’m wondering why I’ve not heard more of an outcry from other resellers over this… maybe they are moving their clients to alternate products.

In the interview, Microsoft also make the comment that…

Hendrikse said those partners that have made money  installing and servicing physical servers by installing and upgrading service packs have to look at their business.

This is so true – if you are not constantly looking at your business model and how you best service the customer, then you will be left behind.  Having said that however, if you simply follow the masses to the cloud without consideration of your customers requirements then you are nothing more than a lemming.  Cloud Computing is the right solution for SOME problems, not ALL problems.  Open your eyes, Think about the issues and then Decide if Cloud is right for that particular problem.  Do not assume that it is right for all problems.