Microsoft to close physical retail stores
Microsoft has announced that it will be closing all of its physical retail stores as it looks to serve customers online and from its corporate locations instead.
The shops have already been shuttered since March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Microsoft corporate vice president David Porter said:“Our sales have grown online as our product portfolio has evolved to largely digital offerings, and our talented team has proven success serving customers beyond any physical location. We are grateful to our Microsoft Store customers and we look forward to continuing to serve them online and with our retail sales team at Microsoft corporate locations.”
The company said its teams have been successfully serving consumers and small business, education and enterprise customers remotely during the Covid-19 crisis.
Porter added: “We deliberately built teams with unique backgrounds and skills that could serve customers from anywhere. The evolution of our workforce ensured we could continue to serve customers of all sizes when they needed us most, working remotely these last months. Speaking over 120 languages, their diversity reflects the many communities we serve. Our commitment to growing and developing careers from this talent pool is stronger than ever.”
The company said it will continue to invest in digital innovation across software and hardware following the store closures. New services will include 1:1 video chat support, online tutorial videos, and virtual workshops.
Porter said: “It is a new day for how Microsoft Store team members will serve all customers. We are energised about the opportunity to innovate in how we engage with all customers, maximise our talent for greatest impact, and most importantly help our valued customers achieve more.”
