While Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries sets record after record in building large scale businesses, RIL on Monday announced plans for small and medium enterprises, offering cloud connectivity and a suite of enterprise applications at one-tenth of regular prices, in partnership with Microsoft. “This is a unique and first-of-its-kind partnership that brings the capabilities of two large companies focused on creating significant value to Indian enterprises — small and large,” Mukesh Ambani said in a company statement during the group’s 42nd annual general meeting.
The tie-up will provide SMEs access to a range of cloud-based productivity, collaboration, and business applications including Office 365 to help them compete better. Moreover, stressing on the Jio Fiber’s aim to empower 2.4 million (24 lakh) small and medium businesses and provide cloud connectivity to MSMEs at ultra-affordable cost, Ambani said, “To run their (MSMEs) business, a bundle of connectivity, productivity and automation tools costs a micro and small business between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000 per month currently. For a similar service, customers abroad pay over 1,000 dollars per month. Today we are taking the bold step of giving these applications along with our connectivity to small businesses for 1/10th the cost starting at Rs 1,500 per month.”
Reliance Jio would provide all small businesses access to unlimited enterprise-grade voice and data services, video conferencing, security solutions, marketing and sales solutions and many more productivity tools that will help them run their business efficiently and at par with larger enterprises, Mukesh Ambani said.
“Together, we will offer comprehensive technology solutions – from compute and storage, to connectivity and productivity – to SMBs everywhere in the country,” said Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella in a video message.
The medium and larger businesses spend even higher between Rs 3 – 5 lacs per month for which Reliance has custom-designed plans with similar value benefits. “With this step, I am certain that the two to five million MSMEs will propel towards prosperity and march towards creating a new digital India,” Ambani added.
Jio Fiber enables a powerful combination of fixed-line connectivity and cloud applications leapfrogging them from no technology to having a complete line-up of cutting-edge, plug-and-play technology-enabled tools. This will make them productive from day one and empower them to succeed in the marketplace even against much larger enterprises, said Ambani adding “I believe that in their success lies the recipe for sustainable growth and large-scale employment for the Indian economy.”