Intelligent cloud and intelligent edge offer $100 Bn opportunity: Microsoft India Head

As India grows towards becoming a digital economy, the country offers $100 billion opportunities in the intelligent cloud and intelligent edge business for companies in the segment, said Anant Maheshwari, President of Microsoft India.

"We hear about artificial intelligence and all the cognitive capabilities inside the cloud. You put all of that together and it starts becoming more than $100 billion dollar opportunity for all of us,” said Maheshwari, in his keynote address during the annual Microsoft media day in Hyderabad.

According to the company, around 70 of the top 100 BSE-listed companies were now using Microsoft cloud to drive their digital transformation. Microsoft today is leading the digital momentum in India with a renewed thrust on Intelligent Cloud and Intelligent Edge.

He also talked about opportunities in other fields. "Look at any industry in India and you will see Intelligent Edge around. Think about a farm where a farmer can leverage Intelligent Edge. Health care and education are areas where the application of Intelligent Edge is now being seen in the country," Maheshwari added.

The Intelligent Edge brings the power of the Cloud to mobile and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, thus creating a connected ecosystem. Azure IoT Edge is an implementation of the Intelligent Edge. Cloud-enabled computing at the edge means concentrating data, making sense of it by analysing it and then leveraging it to its full potential.

"More than just delivering devices and Cloud experiences to millions, Microsoft has now turned its focus on empowering healthcare and education in the country with its Next-Gen Cloud and Edge solutions," Maheshwari said.

Maheshwari took over the operations of the company from Bhaskar Pramanik, Chairman, Microsoft India, with effect from January 1, 2017. He is responsible for all of Microsoft’s product, service, and support offerings across India and continuing the company’s transformation into the leading productivity and platform company for the mobile-first, cloud-first era.

Anant Maheshwari joined Microsoft from Honeywell where he was their President for India.

Microsoft growth in India

Setting up India operations in 1990, Microsoft employs more than 8,000 people in the country. According to Maheshwari, there are four pillars to bring in real digital transformation for India.

The company has brought together Office 365, Windows 10, Enterprise Mobility and Security -all packaged into a single offering.

The company claimed to work with more than 2,00,000 large, medium and small enterprises, 29 State Governments and more than 5,000 start-ups in the country.

In July, Microsoft has launched a made-in-India communication and work management app Kaizala. Microsoft Corporation is also planning to invest around $100 million in ANI Technologies, which owns ride-hailing service Ola.