IIT(ISM) DHANBAD

Sales and Distribution Management

ASSIGNMENT

Instructor: Dr. Saumya Singh

TOPIC: MICROSOFT AZURE

Name: Hritik Gupta

Admission No.: 20JE0426
INTRODUCTION

Cloud computing is the on-demand availability of computer system resources,

especially data storage (cloud storage) and computing power, without direct
active management by the user Large clouds often have functions distributed
over multiple locations, each of which is a data center. Cloud computing relies
on the sharing of resources to achieve coherence. It typically uses a
pay-as-you-go model, which can help reduce capital expenses but may also
lead to unexpected operating expenses for users.

Regardless of the kind of service, cloud computing services provide users with
a series of functions including:
• Email
• Storage, backup, and data retrieval
• Creating and testing apps
• Analysing data
• Audio and video streaming

Azure is Microsoft’s cloud services platform. It offers basic cloud hosting

services like virtual machines, advanced cloud services like Kubernetes
engine-powered deployment, machine learning, AI-powered bot services, and
more.
First launched as Windows Azure in early 2010, Microsoft Azure is Microsoft’s
direct answer to the growth of Amazon’s AWS and Google’s Cloud Computing
platforms.
Microsoft Azure Currently Has a 1% Market Share Within
Cloud Hosting
Since Azure is a horizontal platform (with a multitude of different solutions
ranging from IaaS to full-on SaaS apps), accurately calculating its market
share is a challenge.

Azure offers. 303 companies currently use Azure Blockchain Workbench,

which represents a 5.07% market share of the Blockchain as a service market.

Global Reach:

Microsoft Independent Software Vendor (ISV) partners, including Allscripts,

AvTex, Innovaccer, Mazik Global, and Popcorn Apps, and system integrator
partners, including Accenture, Avanade, Cognizant, DXC Technology, EY, HCL,
KPMG, and PWC, are providing industry-specific IP and solutions, built on
Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, that address the most urgent challenges the
healthcare industry faces today.
There are over 450,000 Websites Hosted with Microsoft
Azure

At 6.82%, it’s a marked improvement compared to the 1.83% usage share

among the top one million websites on the internet.

It’s not surprising that cloud providers are so well represented in the top 10k
of sites.

Company Overview:

Name: Google Cloud (often referred to as Google Cloud Platform or GCP)

Parent Company: Microsoft Corporation

Launch Date: February 1, 2010

Leadership: Satya Nadella

Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, USA (Global data center presence)

Mission and Focus: Empowering organizations with a wide range of cloud

computing services, including infrastructure, data storage, AI and machine
learning, IoT, and more, to drive digital transformation.

Target customers:

● Enterprises: Large corporations across industries.

● Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs): Scalable solutions for
SMBs.
● Startups: Resources and services to support startup growth.
● Government and Public Sector: Government-specific cloud solutions.
● Educational Institutions: Cloud-based tools for education.
● Healthcare: HIPAA-compliant solutions for the healthcare industry.

Marketing Strategy: Microsoft Azure

Microsoft Azure employs a comprehensive marketing strategy to promote its

cloud services, engage customers, and distinguish itself in the competitive
cloud computing landscape.

● Digital Advertising: Microsoft Azure leverages ideas Digital marketing

includes pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns, advertising, and promotional
content. online platform. Azure leverages Microsoft's digital advertising
capabilities to target specific audiences and content through platforms
such as Microsoft Publishing.
● Events and Conferences: Azure frequently attends industry events,
hosts webinars, and organizes conferences. These events provide the
opportunity to connect with customers, present solutions, and share
insights for business in the cloud.
● Developer Engagement: Microsoft Azure supports developer relations
by providing resources, hosting hackathons, and organizing
developer-focused conferences. It provides developers with the
necessary tools and support to build and deploy applications on the
Azure platform.
 ● Free Tiers and Trials: Azure has expanded free plans and free trials of
select services to allow customers to explore and evaluate the
platform's capabilities without making an immediate financial
commitment.

Sales Strategy:

Microsoft Azure prioritizes its sales to increase revenue, expand its customer
base, and strengthen business operations in the competitive cloud market.

● Customer approach is crucial: Microsoft Azure takes a

customer-centric approach, which is essential for a deep understanding
of customers' challenges and needs. This approach involves listening to
customer feedback, conducting in-depth research, and creating
solutions to address specific pain points.
● Sales Team: Azure has a sales team dedicated to serving enterprise
customers. These groups typically span industry sectors and
geographic regions to provide expert guidance and support.
● Sales Support: Azure sales experts work with customers to understand
their business goals using interactive sales methods. They recommend
customized air conditioning solutions that provide long-term benefits
and meet customer objectives.
● Proofs of Concept (PoCs) and Pilot Projects: Microsoft Azure
frequently provides PoCs and pilot projects to build trust and
demonstrate the value of its services. These tests allow customers to
test Azure solutions in the real world before committing.
● Customized pricing: Azure offers flexible pricing to meet customer
needs. This includes pay-as-you-go models, discount agreements, and
premium pricing models for large commercial customers.

Microsoft Azure's sales strategy is designed to deliver unique value and

solutions to enterprise customers. Many businesses follow Microsoft's
commitment to cloud computing innovation and customer satisfaction.

Sales and Distribution Performance Metrics:

Microsoft Azure tracks various sales and distribution metrics to measure its
performance and drive business growth. Here are some key metrics for
Microsoft Azure.

● Revenue: Microsoft announced $198 billion in revenue and $83 billion in

operating income for 20221. However, revenue data specific to
Microsoft Azure is not presented in the current data.
● Growth: Microsoft Azure revenue increased. Microsoft Cloud's annual
revenue exceeds $100 billion for the first time.

Challenges and Opportunities:

Challenges:

● Cost Management: Cloud cost management is difficult because cloud

services can become expensive if not managed properly. Azure
customers need to monitor complex billing processes and optimize
resource usage.
 ● Security and Compliance: Although Azure offers excellent security
features, configuring them correctly and following best practices is still
important for data management and security of the application.
● Data Management: Managing valuable data (including integration,
performance, management, and storage decisions) in the Azure cloud
environment can be challenging.
● Competition: Microsoft Azure faces stiff competition from Amazon Web
Services (AWS) and other industry leaders, making gaining and
maintaining market share a difficult task.

Opportunity:

● Expansion into emerging markets: Azure can create specific areas by

investing in local infrastructure and adjusting its needs to explore
opportunities. In emerging markets such as Africa, Latin America, and
Southeast Asia.
● Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology: Azure can further
leverage blockchain and distributed ledger technology to enable secure
and transparent transactions across businesses.
● Business-Specific Solutions: Azure can create business-specific
solutions for industries such as healthcare, finance, retail, and
manufacturing. These design solutions can attract new customers and
strengthen Azure's commercial presence in these markets.

Microsoft Azure's strengths, challenges, and opportunities reflect its

commitment to delivering innovative cloud solutions and its desire to remain
competitive in weather forecasting.

Recommendation:

● Microsoft Azure should first invest in training and resources to provide

users with the knowledge and skills they need to get the most out of
Azure cloud services. This will increase user satisfaction and support
long-term customers.
 ● To increase customer satisfaction and transparency, Azure should work
on streamlining and streamlining its pricing model. A simple and
easy-to-understand pricing model will make it easier for customers to
measure and manage their cloud spend.
● Azure can improve user experience by providing service and support for
local businesses and languages. This approach increases the global
availability of Azure by providing easy access and adaptability to
regional differences and preferences.

Following these recommendations will allow Microsoft Azure to manage its

continued growth and success, improve its ability to meet the diverse needs of
its customers, and maintain its leadership position.

Conclusion:

Microsoft AzureMicrosoft Azure has evolved from its inception into a

dominant force in the global cloud computing landscape. As a pioneer and
industry leader, Azure consistently pushes the boundaries of innovation and
expands its suite of services. It has solidified its position as a trusted and
extensive cloud provider, though not without formidable competition and the
complexity of pricing structures. In this ever-evolving cloud industry, Microsoft
Azure stands as a prominent player, poised to seize opportunities while
navigating the challenges it faces. Microsoft Azure's sales and distribution
strategy plays a pivotal role in accomplishing its overarching business
objectives. This multifaceted strategy is centered on key elements such as
maintaining market leadership, driving revenue growth, acquiring and retaining
a diverse customer base, global expansion, fostering innovation, ensuring
profitability, collaboration with strategic partners, regulatory compliance, and a
commitment to sustainability.

References:

● Microsoft Official Website

● Wikipedia
● Statista
● Azure Resources