Cloud solutions dominate as record number of entries make annual event the biggest ever
Microsoft New Zealand today announced the finalists for the 2016 Microsoft Partner Awards, with cloud solutions continuing to stand out for their transformational impact on the Kiwi IT sector.
With a record number of submissions, the 2016 annual Microsoft NZ Partner Awards is set to be the biggest in its nine years of existence. The awards recognise excellence in the IT sector from those companies that integrate Microsoft solutions into their products and services to accelerate innovation and go above and beyond customer expectations.
Brent Kendrick, Microsoft New Zealand’s Director for Small and Midmarket Solutions and Partner, says there was an even broader range of entries this year.
“This year we were happy to see a good mix of new and old, large and small partners entering compelling IT solutions in their submissions. The relevance and impact of cloud computing continues to be a strong theme this year, and the finalist partners are, by no accident, those that are transforming their businesses most intentionally and effectively toward cloud-based services.”
In 2016, a new special internal recognition category called Partner Seller will be included for the first time, which recognises partners who are not only best-in-class solution sellers but who also collaborate most effectively with the Microsoft team to deliver value to customers.
“This category is unique in that partners don’t submit projects themselves. Instead, the Microsoft NZ sales teams nominate and recognise the best partner sellers directly,” says Kendrick.
Kendrick noted that New Zealand companies have also traditionally done well in the Microsoft Global Partner Awards program. This year’s global winners will be announced at Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference taking place in July in Toronto Canada.
According to Kendrick, the Microsoft headquarters team has taken special notice of the internal recognition category that makes its debut in New Zealand this year. and has decided to include it as a new category at the global level.
“New Zealand has tended to punch above its weight in this global competition, as we celebrated two global winners and four global finalists in 2015.”
“Last year we included our new Marketing Partner of the Year Award as a local New Zealand award for the first time ever. The Microsoft team in our Redmond headquarters loved this idea as well and have now included a similar marketing category in this year’s Global Partner Awards.”
The local New Zealand partner winners will be announced on the 31st March 2016 at a black tie, sit down dinner event at The Langham in Auckland with entertainment, speakers, networking opportunities and live music. Partners are also welcome to invite their customers to join in their success at the event. Tickets can be purchased here.
A full list of finalists follows:
| Category Name | Partner name | |
| Cloud Enterprise | Dimension Data
Fujitsu Intergen |
|
| Cloud Platform | Atmospheric
Datacom NV Interactive Timely |
|
| Cloud SMB | ComputerCare
IT Engine Kinetics Softsource |
|
| Collaboration and Content | Datacom
Information Leadership Leapthought Theta |
|
| Communications | Datacom
Lexel Spark Digital |
|
| CRM | Datacom
Fusion5 Intergen Magnetism |
|
| Data Analytics | Altis Consulting
Enlighten Designs Intergen |
|
| Datacenter | CCL
Dimension Data Spark Digital |
|
| Devices and Deployment | Fujitsu
Intergen |
|
| Distribution | Dicker Data
Exeed Rhipe |
|
| Education | Cyclone
Enlighten Designs New Era IT pcMedia |
|
| ERP | Sable37
Theta |
|
| Hosting | MHA Cloud Computing
OneNet Revera Softsource |
|
| Innovative Software Product | 11 Ants Analytics
Datacom Eight Wire Putti |
|
| Innovative Technology for Good Citizenship | Fujitsu
Fusion5 NV Interactive |
|
| Learning | Auldhouse
Kinetics Ripped Orange |
|
| Marketing | Acquire
Intergen Provoke Revera |
|
| Partner Seller | Andrew Kosmodakis – Intergen
James Stainton – Datacom Justin Whelan – Spark Digital |
|
| Rising Star | AcrePC
Inde SecureCom Timely |
|
| Sales Specialist | Craig Davis – Dimension Data
David Ollason – Spark Digital James David – Datacom James Stainton – Datacom |
|
| Volume Licensing | Datacom
Insight Spark Digital |
|
| Windows App Developer | Lazyworms Apps
NV Interactive |
For more information on the 2016 Microsoft NZ Partner Awards, visit http://www.microsoft.com/nz/partnerawards/
ENDS
For more information, contact:
Brendan Boughen
Communications Manager, Microsoft NZ
Phone: 027 839 6044
Email: [email protected]
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