Microsoft has come out and said that it is going to reduce its workforce by 5,000. Now if you read the article there are some other interesting gems including:
“sales and profit will probably drop as the recession eats into software demand”
”as personal-computer sales slow and companies curb software purchases in what may be the worst recession since World War II”
”customers opted for machines with cheaper versions of the operating system”
”People aren’t buying PCs”
”The economy and technology spending slowed more than expected”
”The PC market will be the same, or weaker, for the remainder of the fiscal year”
“All of them saw a very sort of violent slowdown in spending”
“While consumers and businesses hold off buying computers with the latest premium version of Windows, demand is increasing for netbooks, machines that cost less than $US500 and use the cheaper Windows XP or the rival Linux operating system.”
Gloomy eh? So the question is what steps are you taking in your business to combat this slow down? What strategies do you have in place to reduces expenses and grow revenue. What’s your marketing strategy? Or do you simply live in hope that this will all blow over and you won’t feel the effects? If you haven’t taken action then the sooner you start the better.
Even Google is going to be affected:
“Spending in the US on ads linked to Web-search results increased 21% in 2008, compared with a growth rate of 30% in 2007, according to research firm EMarketer Inc. in New York. The firm estimates growth of 15% in 2009”. – SMH
Now more than ever you need to be carefully considering your whole business because if you’re in the IT business chances are you’re going to see a downturn unless you have made investments in strategy, revenue growth and cost reductions.
If you need help, advice or support start building a network of businesses and people who can help, don’t leave it till it’s too late.
CIAOPS 