June 23, 2007 - Intel India today introduced its SMB Advantage Program in Baroda for the first time. With this program Intel will focus on various booming business segments in Baroda like hospitals, modern retail, manufacturing and education. In recent times, Baroda has been growing leaps and bounds. Around 75 companies are expected to set up offices at the SEZs around Baroda. A port has been declared at Dahej close by and a six lane highway is also being planned. Further modern retail is all set to explode with the entry of retail giants like Reliance Mart and Croma. According to a MAIT industry report release on January 31, 2007, the SMB segment in India is today one of the fastest growing segments with overall notebook consumption growth of 120%. Further with 50% of the segment willing and ready to adopt high performance PCs in ’07 the clear answer to their technology infrastructure requirements are PCs which can offer high processing speeds such as Core 2 Duo – based PCs. In line with this trend Intel has adopted a two fold strategy to tap this growing segment.” The SMB segment has been identified as one of the biggest opportunities in the market,” said Rajesh Gupta, Director – Sales and Marketing, Intel India. “Further SMBs prefer to do business with local partners so we feel channel is very relevant to our SMB fulfillment strategy. Keeping this in mind we have introduced the SMB Advantage Program which will help partners make the best use of this opportunity.” Firstly Intel will enable channel members to sell to SMBs through the SMB Advantage Program. Ocean Inc. in Baroda is one such partner identified by Intel to participate. Intel has developed a program framework which will help channel partners to deliver solutions in the SMB segment and achieve a scale across the country.
