Microsoft theatre of possibility

Ross Peat says Microsoft NZ will spend $1.5 million showcasing IT solutions. Picture / Richard Robinson

As New Zealand businesses face an employment squeeze, Microsoft is this week opening a facility designed to demonstrate how they can use IT to be more productive.

The world's first Microsoft-led business productivity centre will be launched in Auckland on Friday to show businesses how to work smarter, faster and at lower cost.

Microsoft New Zealand managing director Ross Peat said Microsoft would invest $1.5 million over three years to "showcase how New Zealand companies can use technology to gain competitive advantage".

Aimed primarily at medium-sized businesses with from 100 to 1000 employees, the centre uses business scenarios to examine office processes.

The benefits of the business technology focused centre would become increasingly apparent, Peat said.

"One of the factors making a review of technology quite compelling for customers in New Zealand is the very low unemployment and the relative scarcity of resources.

"People are having to look at new ways of doing things to ensure that they can continue to meet demand."

Strategic investment by New Zealand companies, maturity of the business environment and strong partnerships with IT solutions and services companies made New Zealand a good choice.

"It's a tight market out there and a relatively strong economy and people are looking at, 'If we can't get more skills or manpower, let's look to technology to be part of the solution in continuing to grow the business'."

Motivation may not be solely altruistic, with invitation-only customers, interested in new technology investment, providing Microsoft the perfect opportunity to market its wares. Designed like a mini-theatre, the centre has five wall-mounted screens that can be used for PowerPoint presentations while simultaneously running business scenarios. "Maybe here's John in Auckland placing an order and then we may look at Mary in Christchurch or Sydney or London or literally anywhere in the world observing that order come through, or looking at some credit checking process," Peat said.

Within three months, the centre aims to hold three sessions a week with up to 10 people in each session and, within the first year, the software giant expects to host 100 visits. For business security reasons visiting companies will generally use the centre exclusively.

The facility is based on a centre in Thailand that opened in December 2003 but is the first that Microsoft controls directly.

The Auckland-based centre was initially opened last November for Microsoft partners. That allowed IT solutions companies such as Axon, Gen-i, Datacom and Computerland to familiarise themselves with it.

Hewlett-Packard has provided all hardware. HP's head of innovation, Todd Irving, said last November that the centre was evidence of a long-standing commitment by Microsoft to help New Zealand business grow.

"This new facility provides a unique environment for companies to experience and understand the benefits of hardware and software solutions and apply that innovation into business."