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This spring Microsoft will turn 50. From humble starts in Albuquerque, New Mexico, it has turned into one of the largest business worldwide, credited with changing the computing market and, with it, our daily lives.

Microsoft innovation first went on sale over here in the 1980s and, in 1982, Bytes Computer Supplies opened in Surrey, specialising in and other accoutrements from the American group.

Today, Bytes Technology, as it is now understood, is a ₤ 1.1 billion business with about 1,200 employees and 6,000 customers.

It drifted on the Stock market in December 2020, a fortnight before Britain's first Covid Christmas. Shares were priced at ₤ 2.70, market response was enthusiastic and, by January 2024, they were trading at more than ₤ 6.50. The previous year has been less fruitful, and today shares are just ₤ 4.65. At this level they are underestimated and need to rebound through 2025 and beyond.

Back in the 1980s, Bytes' variety was little. Early tech geeks used Microsoft to write simple documents and produce spreadsheets on their computer systems, and Bytes offered the kit that made it possible.

Ever since the computer world has changed beyond recognition, with Microsoft alone using numerous services, from Outlook and Teams to create ware, cloud storage and, lately, Copilot, an expert system tool.

In safe hands: Bytes Technology has sales personnel who understand their items inside out

Individuals can buy many of these items straight, but organizations tend to go through representatives, referred to as resellers, who provide lower costs, advice and assistance when things go awry.

Bytes is the number one Microsoft reseller in the UK, with customers ranging from the authorities, fire service and local authorities to Harvey Nichols, Trainline and Findus food group.

Customers tend to use in between 500 and 2,500 staff - large sufficient to require plenty of IT but not so big that they can arrange everything out themselves. That is where Bytes enters into its own.

Technology has actually become a crucial tool for personal services and the public sector alike, but services have ended up being so complex that even IT teams require professionals to assist them exercise what to buy, when to purchase and how to utilize what they have actually bought.

Bytes personnel are highly trained, typically beginning there as graduates and spending years with the company.

To an outsider, discussions in between these salesmen and their clients can sound like PhD interactions - or gobbledegook. To those in the understand, such extensive settlements are an important part of business success.

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Bytes president Sam Mudd prides herself available high-level service to new and existing customers and, although Microsoft is a significant partner, she deals with a series of providers, covering practically every technology need, consisting of cyber security.

A veteran staffer, Mudd took the helm last spring after former primary executive Neil Murphy resigned, having purchased shares in Bytes without informing the board.

Investors took fright, Bytes stock plunged and, although Murphy was later on cleared, the shares have remained depressed.

Mudd is undeterred, having actually spent recent months drawing up a growth strategy developed to drive sales and revenues over the next 5 years.

Potential is clear. Despite its top position, Bytes has just a 4 per cent share of the market so there must be a lot of opportunities to expand.

Despite wobbles on Wall Street, demand for software is increasing too, forum.altaycoins.com with with forecasters recommending annual development of about 10 percent.

Brokers expect Bytes revenues to increase 19 per cent to ₤ 73 million in the year ending February 28, reaching ₤ 87 million by 2027.

The group has a history of paying ordinary and special dividends too, forking out 8.7 p in ordinaries and 8.7 p in a one-off special last year, and expected to deliver 19.6 p for 2025, rising to 21.5 p next year.

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Midas decision: Recent arise from Microsoft and other tech titans may have dissatisfied financiers, however the days when we managed completely well without IT are long gone.

Bytes assists companies, charities and the general public sector to navigate the digital minefield.

With a strong track record and classihub.in a credibility for providing on its pledges, the business should prove durable, even in today's uncertain times.

That makes the shares a buy, at ₤ 4.65.

Traded on: Main market Ticker: BYIT Contact: bytesplc.com