Software giant’s People-Ready campaign puts spotlight on companies’ “number-one asset”

Microsoft channel partners will play a key part in the software giant’s latest campaign to get businesses focused on providing the right technology for employees.

Speaking at the Institute of Directors’ annual conference last week, Microsoft’s chief executive, Steve Ballmer, revealed that 78 per cent of UK businesses regard people as their number-one asset. However, the research, which was carried out by PwC on behalf of Microsoft, discovered that only 39 per cent of firms equip their people with adequate IT equipment.

“Great people make companies great, but I also believe that great companies attract great people,” Ballmer said. “We believe that IT can assist employees. At Microsoft, part of the way we inspire our staff is by investing in the tools and technology that really tell them they’re our number-one asset.”

To coincide with the findings, Microsoft last week launched its People-Ready campaign. The company said it believed the channel had been moving towards People-Ready for some time, but without a formalised structure.

Simon Hughes, director for medium-sized businesses at Microsoft UK, told CRN: “The challenge now is for Microsoft and its channel part-ners to work together to show customers how they can use IT to benefit their people.”

Robin Barker, director at Microsoft VAR Blueloop, said: “I’m not sure the People-Ready business model is the ‘all-new theory’ that Microsoft is claiming it is. I sat in management seminars more than 10 years ago to be told people are a business’s greatest asset. However, I do welcome the fact that Microsoft has now adopted this ethos, because it has to be good for us and our customers.”

Robert May, managing director of VAR Ramsac, said: “I think that it’s a very good idea. All the new versions of Microsoft software include good collaborative tools, so this campaign will refocus business managers’ minds on people.”