This week, Microsoft celebrated the grand opening of a new Microsoft Technology Center (MTC) in Houston. With close to forty locations around the globe, MTCs offer hands-on experiences where customers can test out the latest and greatest Microsoft enterprise technologies and services, like Microsoft Azure, Windows 10, and Surface Hub.
The MTCs offer interactive demos built to provide workshops and instructional sessions to provide immersive experiences to show off the latest enterprise tools from Microsoft and its partners in cloud productivity, mobility, and security. Nick Kritikos, Microsoft’s Director of MTCs in North America, commented on the reason for them:
“The MTCs in general are very customer-centric and solution-oriented. Customers come to the MTC not to buy something or get sold something, but to understand how they can transform their business using Microsoft’s innovative technology and do it as a partner. It literally is a technology toy box, where customers can come in and touch it and see how it works. It’s not just a PowerPoint presentation or a bunch of talking. Customers can roll up their sleeves and do it themselves, so they can develop their own understanding.”
The MTC in Houston is Microsoft’s first cloud-based MTC, featuring a small data center, with a heavy focus of Microsoft Azure cloud platform and services. The MTC also serves as an “Oil & Gas Center of Excellence,” featuring many oil and gas technologies designed for energy company based in Houston and the surrounding Gulf Coast.
MTCs support a enterprise customer’s entire life cycle; providing technical support, ongoing education in technology, informative webinars, and even special events for the youth in the community. Kritikos added:
“All customers are welcome. Whether they want to engage us through the MTC Studio from their own desk, want to come in themselves, or want to bring their Girl Scout troop to get inspired by Microsoft technology, they’re welcome. It’s Microsoft’s commitment to help local businesses and the community prosper.”
The MTC is just another way that Microsoft can help solve enterprise problems, while still making a significant contribution to the Houston community.
