The power of people-readiness

Patama Chantaruck, managing director of Microsoft (Thailand)

From financial chaos around the world to political turmoil here in Thailand, 2008 will most likely be looked back on not so much as the Year of the Rat, but rather as the Year of the Crisis.

As we cautiously step into 2009, it is during difficult times such as these that people naturally seek out stability in both their personal and professional lives, and no doubt many of us are now focusing our efforts on projects, plans and partnerships that can put us on a path to a secure future.

Managing in any recession is difficult. But this desire to safeguard and prepare for the future is something that I have been fortunate enough to see being applied to every aspect of Microsoft's business culture over the years. Back in 2006, Microsoft Thailand introduced a "People-Ready" concept, which recognised that the ultimate driver of any organisation's success is its people.

By encouraging our partners and customers to invest in software and IT tools that can truly harness the power of their staff, we have been able to spread the word that by empowering the people inside an organisation, you ultimately empower the organisation itself.

This is something that I have been passionate about since taking over as managing director of Microsoft Thailand. I've had the privilege of spreading the People-Ready message among businesses, universities and organisations throughout the country. Under the banner "anything is possible if your people are ready", I believe that by pairing the right people with the right technology, businesses today can "future-proof" themselves against the uncertainties of tomorrow.

This vision is based on the belief that people are the ultimate drivers of a business's success. A business that is People-Ready gives its people software tools that enable them to collaborate and work together globally, to contact and serve customers instantly, and to streamline and reinvent processes intuitively. In the same way, we are continually researching and developing new software solutions that will deliver even greater customer value.

A People-Ready solution is one that empowers everybody to meet whatever business challenge comes next, by utilising intuitive and flexible technology that can keep pace with the demands of your enterprise.

If history has taught us anything, it is to expect the unexpected. Technology might not be able to predict the future, but it can help your business prepare for - and survive - any outcome. With many exciting new Microsoft Solutions in the pipeline for 2009, including the widely anticipated launch of Windows 7, Microsoft Thailand is entering 2009 with a clear goal of helping local businesses to get the best out of their IT solutions, their people and their futures.