July 4, 2017

Microsoft’s focus on cloud solutions could lead to mass employee exodus

Thousands of Microsoft’s staff could be axed as the company switches its priority to cloud computing services.

According to reports, Microsoft appears to be preparing to shift away from their traditional software offerings as they refocus their attention to cloud computing. The fallout of this move could possibly involve sacrificing thousands of employees in their existing global sales force. While speculation is rife among reports generated today, there has been no official word from the company to validate this switch in focus or the number of jobs to be cut.

An email to Microsoft’s staff on Monday reportedly announced that employees are to be re-allocated into two commercial sales units – one targeting large scale organizations while the other concentrating on acquiring medium to small scale businesses as clients. The restructuring of the sales division could result in thousands of layoffs in roles such as field sales, an unidentified Microsoft official informed Bloomberg.

As things stand, the only statement offered by the company’s spokesman is as follows:

Microsoft is implementing changes to better serve our customers and partners.

Microsoft’s sales departments has been in a state of limbo ever since former COO Kevin Turner departed in 2016. Turner oversaw a group of 51,000 employees which handled the company’s sales, marketing, operations and technology needs. The group was then fragmented following Turner’s exit.

As of March 31, 2017, Microsoft had 121,567 official employees on their payroll.