It was 2011, and Microsoft had introduced Windows Azure (it was not called Microsoft Azure then) and was about to release Windows 8. We saw an opportunity to get ahead of the curve and position our software services business as a leader in Azure cloud computing and Windows 8. We named our new brand “Agile Windows” and created a website modelled on the Windows Metro UI (inspired by the Windows Mobile Live Tile) offering our software development services for Windows Azure and Windows 8. We tried classic lead generation methods like cold calling and email marketing, as well as online advertising on Google, Facebook and LinkedIn. We also attended industry events and conferences to network with potential clients. The website registered impressive views, but overall we were not able to generate enough leads, other than a few PoCs to sustain the new brand.
Looking back, we realize that we were ahead of the curve. The market for cloud computing was still in its early stages, and businesses were not yet ready to adopt it on a large scale. This was also the time when the inflection point for app development for iOS and Android happened, and we were late to get on that boat. We also made the mistake of focusing on software development services, when the real demand was for infrastructure services like lift-and-shift. In addition, Windows 8 was not a success, and many businesses were hesitant to adopt it. We learned a lot from this experience, and we’re glad that we took the risk. It helped us to better understand the cloud computing market and to develop a more strategic approach to our business.
Agile Windows – Windows Phone, Windows 8, Windows Azure
Software Development Services for Windows 8 and Windows Azure
#MicrosoftAzure #windows8 #leadgenerationstrategy #cloudcomputing
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