“The awards have been small before because we’ve been tacking them onto the end of an ANZ event,” says Microsoft small and mid-size and partner manager John Bessey. “This is a move from us to have a more New Zealand identity to it.”
A recent gathering of Microsoft’s managed partners wanted the opportunity to have more staff recognised by being involved in an expanded awards event, Bessey says.
Thirteen awards will now be offered at the black tie function, to be held in or near next August in Auckland. New prizes specific to New Zealand are Citizenship: Solution that adds the most value to the New Zealand community, and Partner to Partner (where at least two certified partners work together on a project for a customer).
Other additions include Business Productivity Solution of the Year and Infrastructure Solution of the Year, (each with a separate award for a small business), and Learning Solutions Partner of the Year, (aimed at trainers). Small Business Partner of the Year will change to Partner Solution of the Year by a small business.
Microsoft wants to make specific criteria available as early as possible, to encourage partners to enter next year.
Partner group manager Brendan Bain says the expansion of the awards could also result in more recognition for New Zealanders at the worldwide partner conference in the US.
“If they’re going to go to the effort for New Zealand, what we’re encouraging is to register for the worldwide awards as well,” Bain says.
Bessey says last year 15 Australian partner representatives were in the running at the worldwide conference, while no New Zealanders were. “That’s just not acceptable for us, especially in a nation of innovators.”
As a follow up to this year’s ANZ awards, Microsoft recently held a celebration in Auckland to less formally recognise winning partners.
Representatives from Simpl (Software Solution of the Year winner), Dynamics CRM solution winner Complete Solutions, Olympic (ERP Solution of the Year), Gen-I (Partnering for Growth winner) and Small Business partner of the Year Mark Two Network, joined Microsoft staff at the function.
Complete Solutions head John Biggs says his company got into CRM “when a lot of people were still watching” and has since tried hard to make it work. He thanked his staff and Microsoft for sharing in its success.
Mark Two Network CEO Mark Rundell says his company's focus is on the one to 75 seat firms so that it can also reach the upper end of the SME size scale. He says the Tauranga-based company is taking a position of consolidation at the moment.
Microsoft will hold a partner awards function specifically for the New Zealand channel next year and will offer more titles, including two unique to this country.
“The awards have been small before because we’ve been tacking them onto the end of an ANZ event,” says Microsoft small and mid-size and partner manager John Bessey. “This is a move from us to have a more New Zealand identity to it.”
A recent gathering of Microsoft’s managed partners wanted the opportunity to have more staff recognised by being involved in an expanded awards event, Bessey says.
Thirteen awards will now be offered at the black tie function, to be held in or near next August in Auckland. New prizes specific to New Zealand are Citizenship: Solution that adds the most value to the New Zealand community, and Partner to Partner (where at least two certified partners work together on a project for a customer).
Other additions include Business Productivity Solution of the Year and Infrastructure Solution of the Year, (each with a separate award for a small business), and Learning Solutions Partner of the Year, (aimed at trainers). Small Business Partner of the Year will change to Partner Solution of the Year by a small business.
Microsoft wants to make specific criteria available as early as possible, to encourage partners to enter next year.
Partner group manager Brendan Bain says the expansion of the awards could also result in more recognition for New Zealanders at the worldwide partner conference in the US.
“If they’re going to go to the effort for New Zealand, what we’re encouraging is to register for the worldwide awards as well,” Bain says.
Bessey says last year 15 Australian partner representatives were in the running at the worldwide conference, while no New Zealanders were. “That’s just not acceptable for us, especially in a nation of innovators.”
As a follow up to this year’s ANZ awards, Microsoft recently held a celebration in Auckland to less formally recognise winning partners.
Representatives from Simpl (Software Solution of the Year winner), Dynamics CRM solution winner Complete Solutions, Olympic (ERP Solution of the Year), Gen-I (Partnering for Growth winner) and Small Business partner of the Year Mark Two Network, joined Microsoft staff at the function.
Complete Solutions head John Biggs says his company got into CRM “when a lot of people were still watching” and has since tried hard to make it work. He thanked his staff and Microsoft for sharing in its success.
Mark Two Network CEO Mark Rundell says his company's focus is on the one to 75 seat firms so that it can also reach the upper end of the SME size scale. He says the Tauranga-based company is taking a position of consolidation at the moment.
