Vodafone bets big on IT services to strengthen its enterprise subsidiary

Ruchika M. Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 23

Vodafone is strengthening its enterprise arm, Vodafone Business Services (VBS). As SMEs are the fastest-growing segment for VBS, it is betting big on IT services which will have customised tools to help their small enterprise customers tap new business opportunities.

The company is looking at increasing its SME business accounts from the present five lakh to 7.50 lakh within a year.

Ajay Sehgal, national head, SME, VBS, said they are building an entire ecosystem by which they can offer the best IT services to this segment, which comprises 30% of the total enterprise customers under their belt. “Our SME segment is growing by 40% year on year as compared to the VBS, which is growing by 20%,” he said. VBS serves seven million corporate customers in global, corporate, government and SME business verticals and contributes 15% to overall revenue (Rs 42,000 crore).

To cater to the SMEs, the company will engage 300 channel partners and 1,000 advanced resellers by March to indirectly sell IT-driven business solutions portfolio in tier-II cities. “We are managing customers’ IT needs through internal and external associates and plan to engage channel partners and vertical advanced resellers,” he said.