Microsoft has announced a reorganization of its global sales force and marketing operations.
The reorganization is part of the company’s effort to place greater focus on artificial intelligence and the cloud as it competes with companies like Amazon and Google’s parent company, Alphabet, for customers who want to make use of cloud software and take advantage of advances in artificial intelligence.
Bloomberg, which obtained a copy of the email that Microsoft sent to staff on Monday, reports that the company will provide sales staff with greater technical and industry-specific expertise through these three steps:
- Commercial sales will be split into two segments – one focused on the biggest customers and one for small and medium clients.
- Employees will be aligned around six industries – manufacturing, financial services, retail, health, education, and government.
- The employees in the six industries will then focus on selling software in four categories – modern workplace, business applications, apps and infrastructure, and data and AI.
Microsoft wants to better equip its salesforce and marketing teams to sell cloud software rather than desktop and server solutions. “There is an enormous $4.5 trillion market opportunity across our Commercial and Consumer businesses,” states the email, which was sent out by Worldwide Commercial Business chief Judson Althoff, Global Sales and Marketing group leader Jean-Philippe Courtois, and Microsoft’s chief marketing officer Chris Capossela.
According to Bloomberg, no mention of job cuts was made in the email, but people familiar with the plan said last week that the reorganization will result in some job losses.
Danita White for TechFunnel.com
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