2012 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards Fact Sheet June 2012 Microsoft Corp. has announced the following winners and finalists for the 2012 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards. The awards honor Microsoft partners that delivered exemplary solutions to their customers during the past year. Award winners and finalists were chosen from nominations from around the world and will be recognized at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2012, the company’s premier annual event for industry partners, July 8–12 in Toronto. Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards Microsoft Country Partner of the Year Awards MICROSOFT PARTNER OF THE YEAR AWARDS Alliance ISV Industry Partner of the Year Winner: OpenText Finalist: Tribold Finalist: OSIsoft Finalist: Retalix Finalist: Fiserv The Microsoft Alliance ISV Industry Partner of the Year Award honors the alliance ISV partner that has added business value to customers by deploying new and innovative solutions based on Microsoft technologies in any or all of the following sectors: Manufacturing and Resources (Oil and Gas, Power and Utilities, Process Manufacturing, Automotive, Aerospace and Industrial Equipment, High Tech and Electronics, Pharmaceutical, Chemicals), Financial Services (Banking, Capital Markets, Insurance), and Distribution and Services (Retail and Hospitality, Consumer Goods, Professional Services). The award acknowledges the partner that has demonstrated excellence in driving Microsoft-based solutions that solve new or existing business needs for the industry. This award winner is recognized as the most valuable alliance ISV partner on developing and delivering Microsoft-based solutions to our mutual customers in the industry. Alliance Advanced Infrastructure Partner of the Year Winner: Citrix The Alliance Advanced Infrastructure Partner of the Year Award is a special recognition award to acknowledge the alliance partner that has demonstrated leadership in driving Microsoft-based advanced infrastructure solutions to enterprise customers in the past year, as well as field engagement and commitment to Microsoft in opportunities, including Partner Solutions Plans (PSPs). The winner has demonstrated successful wins, including customer references and solutions profiled, infrastructure investments to drive Microsoft-based business (such as headcount and financial investments), joint marketing, readiness, training, and breadth of engagement across the 13 Microsoft areas. Alliance Application Platform Partner of the Year Winner: Accenture/Avanade The Alliance Application Platform Partner of the Year Award is a special recognition award to acknowledge the alliance partner that has demonstrated leadership in driving Microsoft-based application platform solutions to enterprise customers in the past year, as well as field engagement and commitment in opportunities, including PSPs. The winner has demonstrated successful wins, including customer references and solutions profiled, infrastructure investments to drive Microsoft-based business (such as headcount and financial investments), joint marketing, readiness, training, and breadth of engagement across the 13 Microsoft areas. Alliance Cloud Innovation Partner of the Year Winner: Sogeti The Alliance Cloud Innovation Partner of the Year Award is a special recognition award. It acknowledges the alliance partner that in the past year has driven unique and innovative solutions based on Microsoft technologies for enterprise customers. It also recognizes achievement in field engagements and commitment in opportunities, including PSPs. The winner has demonstrated successful wins, including customer references and solutions profiled, infrastructure investments to drive Microsoft-based business (such as headcount and financial investments), joint marketing, readiness, training, and breadth of engagement across the 13 Microsoft areas. Application Integration Partner of the Year Winner: Breeze Training and Consultancy Finalist: Codit The Application Integration Partner of the Year Award recognizes the partner that has delivered a remarkable solution in the middleware and integration space with Microsoft Application Platform products, such as Microsoft BizTalk Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Windows Azure AppFabric and Microsoft Commerce Server. The winner solved a customer’s significant pain point while using the integration capabilities of our platform, including, but not limited to, the latest and premium editions of the products included in the platform. Application Lifecycle Management Partner of the Year Winner: Invit Finalist: Navantis Inc. The Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) Partner of the Year Award recognizes the ALM partner that has exhibited excellence in providing superior services, which increased the speed of deployment or implementation of Microsoft Visual Studio. Its presales activities demonstrated how it influenced the sale of new Visual Studio licenses into a major account while its post-sales solutions had positive impact on the customer’s software design, development, testing and release practices. The winner demonstrated industry knowledge and expertise in ALM and results-oriented service to Microsoft Visual Studio customers, as well as effective partnering by engaging with Microsoft to develop, create demand for and sell Visual Studio solutions. Authorized Distributor Partner of the Year Winner: ETC Finalist: Asahi Electronics Co. Ltd. Finalist: Daiwabo Information System Co. Ltd. The Authorized Distributor Partner of the Year Award recognizes a Microsoft wholesale distributor with a current Microsoft Channel Agreement (full packaged product, Volume Licensing, Channel Developer or Value Added Distributor) or Microsoft Original Equipment Manufacturer Distributor Channel Agreement. This winner demonstrated the following: Innovation, as demonstrated by the distributor that has taken the most creative and effective approach to new or existing business opportunities. Excellence in engagement, as shown by specific examples of partnership with Microsoft at the executive and business development levels. Execution excellence, as defined by effectively reaching resellers and providing a high level of customer satisfaction while delivering strong business results. BizSpark Partner of the Year Winner: Soluto Finalist: News360 The BizSpark Partner of the Year Award recognizes an early-stage software technology company that demonstrated leadership in the areas of innovation, market potential, media and analyst attention, investor value creation, and customer adoption. Business Intelligence Partner of the Year Winner: Fusionex Finalist: Open Text Corp. Finalist: Panorama Software Inc. The Business Intelligence Partner of the Year Award recognizes a partner that has delivered a business intelligence (BI) solution based on the Microsoft Business Intelligence Platform. The winning solution will have empowered a customer’s resources with self-service analysis and enabled the customer to create more aligned and informed decisions with better team collaboration. The solution was based on the Microsoft Business Intelligence Platform, including, but not limited to, the latest versions of Microsoft SQL Server or Microsoft SharePoint. Citizenship Humanitarian Response Partner of the Year Winner: NV Interactive Finalist: iLink Systems Finalist: YCC Information SYSTEM Ltd. The Citizenship Humanitarian Response Partner of the Year Award recognizes a partner for creating a technology solution that provides relief during a humanitarian crisis. The winning entrant developed and deployed a unique technology solution built with Microsoft products that aided people and organizations in a time of need. Citizenship Innovative Nonprofit (NGO) Capacity Building Partner of the Year Winner: Olidata Finalist: Kinetics Group Finalist: Winvision The Citizenship Innovative Nonprofit (NGO) Capacity Building Partner of the Year Award recognizes a partner for creating and deploying a cutting-edge technology solution that improves business processes for a nongovernmental organization (NGO) or nonprofit. The winner created an original solution to solve a pressing NGO need by pushing Microsoft technologies to new levels of utilization. The solutions for this award reflect how NGOs and nonprofits are scaling their businesses through new tools and/or efficiencies using the latest Microsoft technologies. It also integrated technology into the NGO or nonprofit’s strategy while potentially helping the entire sector by creating a replicable model. Citizenship Opportunities for Youth Partner of the Year Winner: New Signature Finalist: Accenture/Avanade Finalist: EACS Ltd. The Citizenship Opportunities for Youth Partner of the Year award recognizes a partner that created a unique technology offering, or supported a strong employee engagement program, to serve the needs of youth (ages 6 to 24). The winning partner engaged its employees to lend time and expertise in support of a nonprofit focused on youth causes. The winning solution or program was deployed within the past year. Communications Market Acceleration Partner of the Year Winner: Hewlett-Packard Finalist: Enabling Technologies Corp. Finalist: Wortell The Communications Market Acceleration Partner of the Year Award recognizes a partner with proven expertise in planning, deployment, management and support of Microsoft Lync. The winning solution advanced how people communicate and collaborate with an improved user experience, increased efficiency and enhanced services. The winning entry featured proof points showing how solutions address customer business challenges on-premises, in the cloud and in hybrid environments. Communications Technology Partner of the Year Winner: Avtex Finalist: Aruba Networks Finalist: Plantronics Inc. The Communications Technology Partner of the Year Award recognizes a partner that is helping customers to advance their businesses by building communications products and/or applications on the Microsoft Lync platform. This solution integrated communications across a wide range of business processes and productivity tools (such as end-user devices, voice and video solution, and communications-enabled business process). It solved customer business challenges by increasing efficiency, enhancing features and functionality, or extending the existing products with unique add-ons. Content Management Partner of the Year Winner: Concurrency Inc. Finalist: Dell Inc. Finalist: Gimmal The Content Management Partner of the Year Award recognizes an exceptional partner that has excelled in offering breakthrough content management solutions. The winner increased a customer’s employee productivity, simplified its access to information and people, maximized its ability to share and use a variety of documents, and enabled a more efficient and effective workforce. Other award attributes include taking advantage of collaborative solutions, such as business value consulting, change management, architectural design or digital asset management. The winning solution showcased its unique and positive effect on a customer’s business challenges and demonstrated expertise in using SharePoint 2010 in the Content Management competency. Corporate Account Virtualization Data Center Services Partner of the Year Winner: Infront Consulting Group Finalist: Dimension Data The Corporate Account Virtualization Data Center Services Partner of the Year Award recognizes a solution partner that has demonstrated leadership and commitment in driving Microsoft virtualization solutions in the Microsoft Corporate Accounts segment. This partner helped customers to achieve a high ROI, derived from driving virtualized datacenter solutions that carry a positive impact across their businesses (for example, revenue acceleration, cost reduction, business productivity and customer satisfaction). The winning partner demonstrated a strong commitment to Microsoft and its customers through investments in infrastructure, resources, and/or funding to support pipeline generation and pursuits through quality PSPs and promotion (joint marketing). Corporate Accounts LAR Partner of the Year Winner: SoftwareONE Finalist: Bytes Finalist: CDW Corp. Finalist: Softchoice Corp. The Corporate Accounts LAR Partner of the Year Award recognizes a large account reseller that has demonstrated leadership, commitment and strong financial performance driving Microsoft licensing results in the Microsoft Corporate Accounts segment. This partner demonstrated exemplary financial results in enterprise agreements (EAs) (net new EA) and strong EA renewal performance, and was a leading partner in driving Enrollment for Applications Platform and Entrollment for Core Infrastructure agreements. The winning partner will have strong engagement with the Microsoft field with good local and/or global coverage and business impact, and it demonstrated a strong commitment to Microsoft, mutual customers and driving net new business. Data Platform Partner of the Year Winner: Systemgroup Consulting Inc. Finalist: DSP Managed Services Finalist: Red Rock Consulting The Data Platform Partner of the Year Award recognizes a partner that has delivered a solution based on the Microsoft Data Platform. The winning solution empowered a customer by taking advantage of the leading capabilities of the platform around reporting, analysis, integration and high availability. The solution used premium editions of Microsoft SQL Server in a missioncritical environment. Desktop Partner of the Year Winner: Insight Enterprises Inc. Finalist: Dell Inc. Finalist: Sogeti Finalist: Thomas Duryea Consulting The Desktop Partner of the Year Award recognizes a partner serving enterprise, midmarket and small businesses with proven expertise in helping customers migrate to Windows 7. The award winner successfully deployed Microsoft technologies with Windows 7, Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack and/or Office 2010 to help customers more efficiently and cost-effectively manage their desktop assets, support and enable their end users, manage security, and deploy new applications. Digital Marketing Partner of the Year Winner: Telligent Finalist: Netcompany Finalist: Webtrends The Digital Marketing Partner of the Year Award recognizes an exceptional partner that has excelled in developing rich Internet solutions that are highly functional, scalable, flexible and secure through a unified platform for intranets, extranets and Internet sites. The winner developed innovative solutions that helped create engaging user experiences, cut costs, increased business agility, and delivered familiar authoring tools and processes for customers. Other attributes include solutions that help customers develop a compelling Web presence, including social marketing, rich media and applications, search, digital marketing integration, and analytics submitted using SharePoint 2010 or SharePoint 2010 and FAST technologies, and that highlight their ability to solve a customer’s needs for a fully integrated Web presence. Exceptional Sales Management Partner of the Year Winner: Quadra Systems Finalist: Ignify Inc. Finalist: SoftwareONE Brasil Finalist: Intellinet The Exceptional Sales Management Partner of the Year Award recognizes the partner that demonstrated exceptional sales management practices and promoted continuous sales improvement. This award honors a partner committed to building a sales team with deep Microsoft solution knowledge, skills training and certification. Winning partners excel in sales management and routinely analyze wins and losses to extract replicable best practices and promote skill development for a competitive edge. The more knowledgeable the sales professionals, the better advisers they can be to customers. As trusted advisers, partner sales teams are better positioned to positively influence customer satisfaction and generate incremental revenue. Hosting Partner of the Year Winner: Rackspace Hosting Finalist: Hostway Corp. The Hosting Partner of the Year Award recognizes a partner that has demonstrated solution innovation and a commitment to engaging with Microsoft. The winning company and hosted solution focused on a customer’s business challenge, either by identifying a new market opportunity or by using technology innovation to address the need. Along with demonstrating innovation, the winning partner actively promoted its solution through marketing campaigns. Identity and Security Partner of the Year Winner: Itergy Finalist: CDW Corp. Finalist: Oxford Computer Group Ltd. The Identity and Security Partner of the Year Award recognizes the partner that has delivered end-to-end security, identity and access solutions enabling customers to achieve their business goals while managing risk and helping to ensure that the right people always have secure access to the information they need to get their jobs done. The winning solution used Microsoft’s security, identity and access products, technologies and solution accelerators, including, but not limited to the following: Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection Microsoft Forefront Protection for Exchange Server Microsoft Forefront Online Protection for Exchange Microsoft Forefront Protection for SharePoint Microsoft Forefront Security for Office Communications Server Microsoft Forefront Threat Management Gateway Microsoft Forefront Unified Access Gateway Microsoft Forefront Identity Manager The winner has dramatically transformed the security of a customer’s IT infrastructure resulting in higher levels of protection and compliance, reduced IT labor or hardware costs, or streamlined overall operational efficiency. Innovative Customer Advocacy Partner of the Year Winner: Mimecast Finalist: Data#3 Ltd. Finalist: Quadra Systems The Innovative Customer Advocacy Partner of the Year Award honors a partner that excelled in innovative customer advocacy and strong, proactive relationship management programs. The winner demonstrated an exceptional practice of developing trusted customer relationships, effectively transforming satisfied, loyal customers into business advocates that generated incremental referrals and contributed to new business growth. ISV/Software Solutions Industry Partner of the Year Winner: Numerix Finalist: Kentico Software Finalist: Newsgator Technologies Finalist: Nintex The ISV/Software Solutions Industry Partner of the Year Award honors the ISV partner that has demonstrated leadership excellence in developing and delivering Microsoft platform-based software applications to mutual customers during the past year. The winning partner was acknowledged as the most valuable software applications business partner to the Microsoft worldwide field. The award acknowledges a partner that added business value to customers by deploying new and innovative software solutions based on Microsoft technologies. Learning Competency Marketing Excellence Partner of the Year Winner: DDLS Finalist: MIPECOM s.r.o. Finalist: New Horizons Worldwide Inc. The Learning Competency Marketing Excellence Partner of the Year Award celebrates the Learning Partner that practiced leading-edge marketing and sales activities to drive skills and certification growth. The winner demonstrated exceptional performance in market share shift from gray market content to official Microsoft Learning Products, led the certification community, reached net new markets or experienced significant growth in training market share. They also demonstrated alignment with advancing adoption and deployment of Microsoft technologies through training and certification. Learning Competency Training Solution Excellence Partner of the Year Winner: Quickstart Intelligence Finalist: Benchmark Learning Finalist: SELA The Learning Competency Training Solution Excellence Partner of the Year Award recognizes the Learning Partner that excels in providing leading-edge learning solutions. The winner brought a new solution to market, built a new platform, or incorporated a new business model successfully, and developed more creative ways to engage as a partner in training. Messaging Partner of the Year Winner: Dimension Data Finalist: Core BTS Finalist: infoWAN Datenkommunikation GmbH The Messaging Partner of the Year award recognizes the partner with proven expertise from onpremises to the cloud in planning, deployment and management of Microsoft Exchange while helping customers lower IT costs, boost user productivity, and better manage risk with anywhere access to communications. The winner drove upgrades from legacy Exchange or migrations from competitive platforms to Exchange Server 2010 or Exchange Online, supported by quantifiable results and customer anecdotes. Microsoft Cloud Partner of the Year Winner: Infusion Finalist: Breeze Training and Consultancy Finalist: Altus Dynamics The Microsoft Cloud Partner of the Year Award honors the partner that sold and deployed innovative solutions and services for customers with hybrid on-premises, public cloud and private cloud needs. The winning solution demonstrated the breadth and depth of Microsoft public and private cloud solutions and services and included at least two of the following: onpremises cloud solution, Microsoft-hosted cloud solution or partner-hosted cloud solution. The winning solution was based on any of the following services or software: Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2 or Microsoft System Center 2012 Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 Partner Hosted Exchange Partner Hosted Lync Partner Hosted SharePoint Microsoft Office 365 (suite or stand-alone SKU) Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Windows Intune Windows Azure and Microsoft SQL Azure Microsoft Dynamics Cloud Business Excellence Partner of the Year Winner: Zero2Ten Finalist: Pareto Platform Inc. Finalist: Rose Business Solutions Inc. The Microsoft Dynamics Cloud Business Excellence Partner of the Year Award recognizes the Microsoft partner that has shown both innovation and results related to selling and delivering Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online or enterprise resource planning (ERP) partner-hosted offerings. The winner proved its ability to meet customer demands by packaging intellectual property (product and/or services) to create a sustainable annuity stream; driving scale through an accelerated sales motion; establishing branding and constructing a marketing engine optimized for Web-based activity to support a cloud service; and building a delivery model based on fixed-bid, highly repeatable offerings. Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner of the Year Winner: PowerObjects Finalist: Avanade/Accenture Finalist: Navantis Inc. Finalist: Sonoma Partners The Microsoft Dynamics CRM Partner of the Year Award recognizes the partner that exhibited excellence in providing innovative and unique sales, services, solutions and/or support based on Microsoft Dynamics CRM. The winner demonstrated consistent, high-quality, predictable service to Microsoft Dynamics customers that helped to ensure significant business benefits for customers from their Microsoft Dynamics CRM investments. It also demonstrated business leadership and success with strong growth in new customer additions and revenue. Microsoft Dynamics Distribution Industry Partner of the Year Winner: Blue Horseshoe Finalist: Junction Solutions Finalist: KORUS Consulting Finalist: Sunrise Technologies The Microsoft Dynamics Industry Distribution Partner of the Year Award recognizes the partner that exhibited excellence in providing innovative and unique solutions based on Microsoft Dynamics to customers in the distribution industry. The winner demonstrated industry knowledge and expertise, as well as consistent, high-quality, predictable service to Microsoft Dynamics customers. It also demonstrated business leadership and success through strong growth in new customer additions and revenue. Microsoft Dynamics ERP Partner of the Year Winner: INFOMA Software Consulting GmbH Finalist: InterDyn AKA Finalist: KCS.net Holding AG Finalist: mcaConnect The Microsoft Dynamics ERP Partner of the Year Award recognizes the partner that exhibited excellence in providing innovative and unique sales, services, solutions, and/or support based on Microsoft Dynamics ERP AX, GP, NAV or SL. The winner demonstrated consistent, highquality, predictable service to Microsoft Dynamics customers, helping to ensure significant business benefits from its AX, ERP, GP, NAV or SL investments. It also demonstrated business leadership and success, with strong growth in new customer additions and revenue. Microsoft Dynamics Financial Services Industry Partner of the Year Winner: Traviata Finalist: AND Project Finalist: Customer Effective Finalist: Veripark The Microsoft Dynamics Financial Services Partner of the Year Award recognizes the partner that exhibited excellence in providing innovative industry solutions based on Microsoft Dynamics (CRM and ERP) to customers in the financial services industry. The winner demonstrated industry knowledge of banking, insurance and capital market expertise, as well as consistent, high-quality, predictable service to Microsoft Dynamics customers in this industry with satisfied customers. It also demonstrated business leadership and success through strong growth in new customer additions and revenue. Microsoft Dynamics Manufacturing Industry Partner of the Year Winner: Edgewater Fullscope Inc. Finalist: Armanino Consulting Finalist: Columbus Finalist: Junction Solutions The Microsoft Dynamics Manufacturing Industry Partner of the Year Award recognizes the partner that exhibited excellence in providing innovative and unique solutions based on Microsoft Dynamics to customers in the manufacturing industry. The winner demonstrated industry knowledge and expertise, as well as consistent, high-quality, predictable service to Microsoft Dynamics customers. It also demonstrated business leadership and success through strong growth in new customer additions and revenue. Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace Solution Excellence Partner of the Year Winner: ClickDimensions Finalist: Armanino Consulting Finalist: InsideView Finalist: proMX GmbH The Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace Solution Excellence Partner of the Year Award recognizes a Microsoft partner that provided a click-try-buy experience through the Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace powered by Microsoft Pinpoint. The winner had a tested solution available through the Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace, which allowed customers to download, adopt and purchase. Special consideration was given to innovative solutions (such as packaged intellectual property, applets, applications and cloud services) that optimized the Microsoft Dynamics CRM or Microsoft Dynamics ERP experience, excellent customer recommendations, traffic driven to listings, and the ability for the solution to effectively convert Microsoft Dynamics CRM or ERP prospects into paid customers. Microsoft Dynamics Professional Services Industry Partner of the Year Winner: Systems Advisors Group Finalist: Computer Generated Solutions Inc. Finalist: proMX GmbH Finalist: Sable Systems The Microsoft Dynamics Professional Services Industry Partner of the Year Award recognizes a Microsoft Dynamics partner that exhibited excellence in providing superior solutions based on Microsoft Dynamics to customers in the professional services industry. The winner demonstrated industry knowledge and expertise, as well as consistent, high-quality, predictable service to Microsoft Dynamics customers. It also demonstrated business leadership and success through strong growth in new customer additions and revenue. Microsoft Dynamics Public Sector Partner of the Year Winner: Rock Solid Technologies Finalist: Accenture/Avanade Finalist: Altus Dynamics Finalist: Ti-M The Microsoft Dynamics Public Sector Partner of the Year Award recognizes a partner that exhibited excellence in providing innovative and unique solutions based on Microsoft Dynamics to organizations in the public sector. The winner demonstrated industry knowledge and expertise, as well as consistent, high-quality, predictable service to Microsoft Dynamics customers. It also demonstrated business leadership and success through strong growth in new customer additions and revenue. Microsoft Dynamics Retail Industry Partner of the Year Winner: Ignify Inc. Finalist: Cole Systems Associates Inc. Finalist: Manzana Group Finalist: QURIUS PRODWARE SPAIN The Microsoft Dynamics Retail Partner of the Year Award honors the Microsoft Dynamics partner that exhibited excellence in providing superior solutions based on Microsoft Dynamics to customers in the retail industry. The winner demonstrated industry knowledge and expertise, as well as consistent, high-quality, predictable service to Microsoft Dynamics customers. It also demonstrated business leadership and success through strong growth in new customer additions and revenue. Management and Virtualization Partner of the Year Winner: Veeam Software Finalist: CDW Finalist: Dyntek Inc. Finalist: Alantex Corp. Finalist: NetApp The Microsoft Management and Virtualization Partner of the Year Award recognizes a partner delivering management and virtualization solutions (desktop or server) that enabled customers to save costs, increase availability and improve the agility of its IT infrastructure. The winner dramatically transformed a customer’s IT infrastructure, resulting in lower operational costs, reduced capital expenditures and improved overall service levels. It used the Microsoft suite of virtualization and system management products, technologies and solution accelerators, including, but not limited to, the following: Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2 Microsoft Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Suite Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization Remote Desktop Services Microsoft Application Virtualization And at least one of the following: Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager Microsoft System Center Operations Manager Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager Microsoft System Center Service Manager Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager Microsoft System Center Essentials Microsoft System Center App Controller AVIcode Microsoft Office 365 Commercial Partner of the Year Winner: Cloud Business Finalist: Quadra Systems Finalist: utilitas GmbH The Microsoft Office 365 Commercial Partner of the Year Award honors the Microsoft partner that has built a successful cloud practice and shown both innovation and results in delivering solutions to small and midsize business (SMB) customers based on Office 365 (including Microsoft Office SharePoint Online, Microsoft Office Exchange Online, Microsoft Lync Online and Microsoft Office 2010). The winner excelled in meeting customer demands with scale and momentum. Key considerations included mainstream and accelerated sales motions and delivery of value-added solutions on top of the Microsoft service to customers; business model attributes, customer references or case studies showcasing impact with our mutual SMB customers; and whether the partner transformed its business inclusive of multiple Office 365 offerings. Microsoft Office 365 Innovation Partner of the Year Winner: Wortell Finalist: Accenture/Avanade Finalist: SkyKick The Microsoft Office 365 Innovation Partner of the Year Award recognizes the partner using Office 365 technology to create, market and sell a truly innovative solution. The winner developed flexible, scalable, robust applications using the Office 365 platform and demonstrated innovation, competitive differentiation and customer value while showcasing the benefits of using Office 365 in unique scenarios. Microsoft Office 365 Solution Partner of the Year Winner: Slalom Consulting Finalist: Content and Code Finalist: Penman Designs The Microsoft Office 365 Solution Partner of the Year Award honors the Microsoft partner that has built a successful cloud practice and shown both innovation and results in selling and delivering solutions to Corporate Account and enterprise customers based on Office 365 (including Microsoft Office SharePoint Online, Microsoft Office Exchange Online, Lync Online, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online and Office 2010). Key considerations are mainstream and accelerated sales motions and delivery of value-added solutions on top of the Microsoft service to customers; business model attributes, customer references or case studies showcasing impact on our mutual Corporate Account and enterprise customers; and whether the partner transformed its business inclusive of multiple Office 365 offerings. Microsoft Services Outstanding Collaboration Partner of the Year Winner: Capgemini Finalist: Dimension Data Finalist: Veripark The Microsoft Services Outstanding Collaboration Partner of the Year Award recognizes the partner that demonstrated outstanding teamwork and willingness to collaborate with Microsoft Consulting Services (MCS) on the joint sales and delivery of high-quality solutions to our common customers. The winner proactively and consistently teamed with MCS, acknowledged that partnering with Microsoft is a successful strategy that drives incremental consulting services business for both, and in turn delivered higher quality and more innovative solutions to customers. The winner invested resources and time in establishing infrastructure (people, processes and technology) that enabled improved collaboration and drove deep relationships with MCS to pursue and close more consulting services wins. Microsoft Support Partner of the Year Winner: Wortell Finalist: Dimension Data Finalist: Fujitsu Ltd. The Microsoft Support Partner of the Year award recognizes the partner with particular competency in the enrollment in, and use of, at least one of the Microsoft partner support offerings via the Microsoft Partner Network. The Microsoft Partner Network team and the Microsoft service team evaluated submissions based on detail, completeness and corroborating evidence. Midmarket Solution Provider Partner of the Year Winner: Quadra Systems Finalist: ITnorth.ca Finalist: Wirebird The Midmarket Solution Provider Partner of the Year Award honors the partner that used Microsoft technology in innovative ways to deploy critical infrastructure solutions serving customers in the midmarket business space (50–250 PCs, up to ~500 people). This award is only for partners with the Midmarket Solution Provider competency, and the winner demonstrated innovative excellence and proficiency in deploying solutions that use the Microsoft technology stack scaled for midsize businesses. The key Microsoft products considered were Windows 7; Office 2010; Windows Server 2008 R2, including virtualization and management technologies; Exchange Server 2010 SP1; Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2; and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and SharePoint 2010. The solution could have been either an on-premises or cloud solution, and the winning differentiator was clear articulation of how the solution significantly helped midmarket businesses with their unique challenges to saved money while being competitive. Mobility Business-to-Business Application Partner of the Year Winner: FOXit The Mobility Business-to-Business (B2B) Application Partner of the Year Award recognizes exceptional innovation from a partner that has developed B2B applications on Windows Phone 7 technologies. B2B applications include solutions that help accelerate business cycles, increase productivity, reduce operating costs, and enable a business customer to extend its infrastructures and provide an exceptional user experience. These solutions can have a singular business focus or combine a range of business functions. Mobility Business-to-Consumer Application Partner of the Year Winner: Sequence Collective The Mobility Business-to-Consumer (B2C) Application Partner of the Year Award recognizes exceptional innovation from a partner that has developed B2C applications on Windows Phone 7 technologies. B2C applications include, but are not limited to, social networking, news and information, and collaboration and tools that increase productivity, reduce operating costs, and provide an exceptional user experience. These solutions can have a singular consumer focus or combine a range of consumer functions. Mobility Partner of the Year Winner: Accenture/Avanade The Mobility Partner of the Year Award recognizes a partner that specialized in deploying, integrating, supporting and marketing breakthrough software solutions and services for businesses, based on Windows Phone 7 technologies. The winner worked with a business customer to implement Windows Phone 7 solutions to accelerate its business cycles, increase productivity, reduce operating costs and extend the customer’s infrastructures. OEM Hardware Reseller Partner of the Year Winner: Micro Center Finalist: GRUPO DELTRON SA Finalist: Motion Computing Inc. Finalist: Xiotech The OEM Hardware Reseller Partner of the Year Award recognizes a reseller of branded PC or server hardware that demonstrated excellence in positioning and delivering genuine Microsoft software solutions across all customer segments. OEM Hardware System Building Partner of the Year Winner: Wortmann AG Finalist: MouseComputer Finalist: Seneca Finalist: ThirdWave Corp. The OEM Hardware System Building Partner of the Year Award honors the OEM local system builder, branded or unbranded, that created superior customer value through PC or server hardware systems preinstalled with genuine Microsoft software, along with key support services to an end-user customer. Outstanding Sales Operations Partner of the Year Winner: Softchoice Corp. Finalist: Quadra Systems The Outstanding Sales Operations Partner of the Year Award honors the partner that demonstrated exceptional commitment to aligning people, processes, systems and tools to enhance sales effectiveness. The winner exemplified a culture in which technology innovation is pivotal to driving continuous improvements in sales execution and management. Implementing an integrated, comprehensive sales platform can offer insights that empower sales resources to orchestrate with more precision. The winning entry demonstrated how current Microsoft technology is deployed to foster improvements in predictability and sales effectiveness, and it delivered an innovative approach that improved lead generation, pipeline management and forecasting to generate strong, predictable results. Portals and Collaboration Partner of the Year Winner: Foundation SP Finalist: Infusion Finalist: Slalom Consulting The Portals and Collaboration Partner of the Year Award recognizes the partner that excelled in offering breakthrough SharePoint solutions to meet team and organizational collaboration and connectivity needs across intranets, extranets and the Internet. The winner delivered technology and marketing offerings that increased a customer’s workforce productivity and enabled teams to work more effectively across boundaries with partners and customers. Other attributes include innovative thinking that helped solve a technical challenge or addressed a customer’s business needs and empowered its employees through the use of collaborative solutions. The winning portals and collaboration solution showcased the partner’s unique and positive impact on a customer’s business challenges and reflected an ability to innovate with SharePoint 2010 and Business Productivity Online Suite technologies. Private Cloud Partner of the Year Winner: NetApp Finalist: DataCore Software Corp. Finalist: Inovativ Finalist: Wipro Ltd. The Private Cloud Partner of the Year Award recognizes the partner that excelled in offering innovative private cloud solutions for its customers based on Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V, Microsoft System Center and related products. The winner used the Microsoft platform for private cloud computing (for dynamically pooling, allocating, provisioning and managing cloud resources) including, but not limited to, the following: Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2 Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager Self-Service Portal 2.0 Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager Microsoft System Center Operations Manager Microsoft System Center Service Manager Microsoft Forefront Identity Manager Project and Portfolio Management Partner of the Year Winner: SharkPro Software Finalist: BrightWork Finalist: Prosperi Finalist: UMT The Project and Portfolio Management Partner of the Year Award recognizes the partner that excelled in offering breakthrough solutions that extended or integrated the Office Enterprise Project Management Solution. The winner provided technology and marketing offerings that enabled a business customer to easily prioritize its investments, align its resources and strategies, and effectively manage the completion of its projects. Other attributes include innovative thinking that helped solve a technical challenge or addressed the customer’s business needs and empowered its employees. The winning solution showcased the partner’s unique and positive effect on a customer’s business challenges and reflected an expertise in the Microsoft Project and Portfolio Management competency. Public Sector, Education Partner of the Year Winner: Dell Inc. Finalist: Business Mechanix Finalist: Helliwood Media & Education Finalist: Integrity Solutions The Public Sector, Education Partner of the Year Award recognizes a partner that exhibited excellence in providing innovative and unique services or solutions based on Microsoft technologies to education customers. The winner demonstrated industry knowledge and expertise, as well as consistent, high-quality, predictable service or solutions to education customers. It also demonstrated business leadership and success through strong growth in new customer additions and revenue, such as integrating with Microsoft cloud-based technology, including Live@edu and Windows Azure, in addition to the Windows Phone platform. Public Sector, Government Partner of the Year Winner: IEG4 Finalist: Innofactor Plc Finalist: Solidsoft Ltd. Finalist: VBrick Systems Inc. The Public Sector, Government Partner of the Year Award recognizes a partner that exhibited excellence in providing innovative and unique services or solutions based on Microsoft technologies to government customers. The winner demonstrated industry knowledge and expertise, as well as consistent, high-quality, predictable service or solutions to government customers. It demonstrated business leadership and success through strong growth in new customer additions and revenue, as well as effective engagement with Microsoft by using the Microsoft Partner Network to develop, create demand for and sell its software solutions or services. Public Sector, Health Partner of the Year Winner: Ascribe Finalist: Colibrium Partners Finalist: Globalweb The Public Sector, Health Partner of the Year Award recognizes the partner that exhibited excellence in providing innovative and unique services or solutions based on Microsoft technologies to health customers. The winner demonstrated industry knowledge and expertise, as well as consistent, high-quality, predictable service or solutions to health customers. It also demonstrated business leadership and success through strong growth in new customer additions and revenue, as well as effective engagement with Microsoft by using the Microsoft Partner Network to develop, create demand for and sell its software solutions or services. Public Sector, Public Safety and National Security Partner of the Year Winner: iLink Systems Finalist: TITUS Finalist: Total Computer Software The Public Sector, Public Safety and National Security Partner of the Year Award recognizes the partner that exhibited excellence in providing innovative and unique services or solutions based on Microsoft technologies to public safety and national security customers. The winner demonstrated industry knowledge and expertise, as well as consistent, high-quality, predictable service or solutions to public safety and national security customers. It also demonstrated business leadership and success through strong growth in new customer additions and revenue, as well as effective engagement with Microsoft by using the Microsoft Partner Network to develop, create demand for and sell its software solutions or services. Sales Specialist of the Year Winner: Glenn Williams from Intellinet Finalist: David Geevaratne of New Signature Finalist: Quadra Systems The Sales Specialist of the Year Award recognizes the individual sales professional who demonstrated exceptional Microsoft solution knowledge and sales expertise. This award was coupled with the company-level Sales Excellence Partner of the Year Award, and the winner was selected based on his associated partner becoming a finalist in the organizational-level award. The winning sales professional demonstrated proficiency in solution selling and a commitment to continuous improvements in customer satisfaction. The professional’s sales prowess was evident in his ability to target and generate business and revenue growth with new and existing customers. Search Partner of the Year Winner: EMC Corp. Finalist: Hitachi Consulting Finalist: SurfRay Inc. The Search Partner of the Year Award recognizes the partner that excelled in delivering robust search solutions that effectively and efficiently supported complex searches in exploding data environments across desktops, mobile devices and the Internet. The winner increased a customer’s revenue by creating engaging, search-driven experiences, which have helped it monetize its online assets, enhanced its employees’ productivity and saved costs. It also enhanced the customer’s information management projects by using advanced search functionality, analytics, and behavior tracking for internal and external websites. Eligible search solutions used SharePoint 2010 and Search Server 2010, or SharePoint 2010, Search Server 2010 and FAST technologies. Server Platform Partner of the Year Winner: CDW Finalist: ITQAN Finalist: Janus Networks The Server Platform Partner of the Year Award recognizes the partner that has delivered solutions enabling a customer to increase the reliability and flexibility of its server infrastructures, save time and reduce costs, and provide a server platform for a dynamic and efficiently managed datacenter. The winner used the Windows Server 2008 platform, technologies and solution accelerators, including, but not limited to, the following: Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 Windows Web Server 2008 R2 The winner’s solution dramatically transformed a customer’s server infrastructure, resulting in higher levels of scalability, availability and reliability, reduced IT labor or hardware costs, or streamlined, overall operational efficiency. Small Business Specialist Partner of the Year Winner: eMazzanti Technologies Finalist: Kinetics Group Finalist: The Hole Group The Small Business Specialist Partner of the Year Award honors a partner that used Microsoft technology in innovative ways to deploy integrated solutions that served customers in the small business (one to 50 PCs, up to ~100 people) space. This award is only for partners actively enrolled in the Microsoft Small Business Specialist Community. The winner demonstrated innovative excellence and proficiency in deploying solutions that used the latest Microsoft technology stack scaled for small businesses. Key Microsoft products to be considered were Windows 7, Office 2010, the Windows Server 2008 product family (Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Small Business Server 2008, and Windows Essential Business Server 2008) including virtualization and management technologies, SQL Server 2008, Exchange Server 2010, and SharePoint Server. Software Asset Management Partner of the Year Winner: Specialist Software Services Finalist: Asset Consult GmbH Finalist: CSK Win Technology The Software Asset Management (SAM) Partner of the Year Award recognizes the partner that consistently delivered comprehensive SAM consulting with a focus on proactive assistance that enabled customers to adopt SAM best practices. The winner’s consulting engagements resulted in outstanding customer satisfaction and helped customers strategically implement SAM. It also provided measurable results that were obtained, along with appropriate supporting customer evidence documentation. Software Asset Management Market Acceleration Partner of the Year Winner: Chengdu Time Carnival Software Technology | (Chengdu Shi Dai Jia Hua) Finalist: Servicios Especializados en Recursos Informaticos, SA de CV Finalist: Softcat Ltd. The Software Asset Management Market Acceleration Partner of the Year Award recognizes the partner that delivered world-class SAM services engagements, superior experiences and exceptional value. The winner showcased innovative marketing strategies for demand generation and demonstrated an integrated solutions approach leading to follow-on services and other best practices that continually delivered measurable benefits and savings to the customer. Software Development Partner of the Year Winner: Readify Finalist: Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. Finalist: Infusion The Software Development Partner of the Year Award recognizes exceptional innovation from a partner that developed a custom application infrastructure solution on and with Microsoft technologies. The application could be Internet-facing or intranet-facing, hosted either on- or offpremises, and based on cloud platforms, such as Windows Azure. The solution could fall into one or more patterns, such as the following: Application data consistency — independent applications achieve consistency usually through asynchronous data exchange. Multistep business process implementation or composite applications — business functions implemented as components within a heterogeneous information architecture. These solutions were built with tools (Microsoft Visual Studio development platform), frameworks (Microsoft .NET – Windows Communication Foundation/Workflow Foundation), or infrastructure (Windows Server AppFabric or Windows Azure platform AppFabric). Specifically, the winner’s highly customized solution supported unique business practices, delivered a one-off enhancement enabling existing systems to be integrated with new technologies, or developed an extension to existing Microsoft solutions. Sustainability Partner of the Year Winner: Iconics Inc. Finalist: Accenture/Avanade Finalist: ESRI The Sustainability Partner of the Year Award recognizes the partner that delivered software and technology innovations built on the Microsoft platform that helped people and organizations around the world reduce their impact on the environment. Systems Management Partner of the Year Winner: Catapult Systems Finalist: Organised Computer Solutions Ltd. (OCSL) The Systems Management Partner of the Year Award recognizes a partner that delivered solutions to manage physical and virtual infrastructures across datacenters, client computers and devices. The winner enabled customers to reduce costs, improve application availability and enhance service delivery. The successful solution used the Microsoft suite of systems management products, technologies, and solution accelerators, including, but not limited to, the following: Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager Microsoft System Center Operations Manager Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager Microsoft System Center Service Manager Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager Microsoft System Center Essentials AVIcode Additional criteria included dramatically transforming a customer’s IT infrastructure, resulting in operational efficiencies, reduced IT labor or hardware costs, or automation of management tasks. Visio Partner of the Year Winner: Process4Biz Finalist: ProModel The Visio Partner of the Year Award recognizes the partner with proven expertise in the planning, implementation and management of solutions using Microsoft Visio as a platform. The winning solution was based on any of these Visio solution scenarios: BI, process management, IT management, facilities management, and quality and compliance. The winner demonstrated how these solutions helped customers reduce costs, gain business insights, enhance compliance and reduce IT risks. Volume Licensing Partner of the Year Winner: SoftwareONE Brazil Finalist: Brasoftware Informatica Finalist: SHI International Corp. Finalist: SoftwareONE USA The Volume Licensing Partner of the Year Award recognizes the partner that consistently sought to innovate with its volume licensing solutions and services and provided ongoing attention to customer-service excellence. The winning organization was dedicated to customer engagement with T-36 activities, as well as descriptions of how the company provided the most trained and qualified staff (Microsoft Certified Professionals for licensing) that deliver services and marketing strategies used to increase the following: Volume licensing revenue and annuity. Retention of volume licensing customers by successful ongoing relationship management throughout the life of an Enterprise Agreement. Web Development Partner of the Year Winner: NV Interactive Finalist: Affinity Systems Ltd. Finalist: DM Assessoria e Sistemas Ltda The Web Development Partner of the Year Award recognizes the innovative partner that focused on the development and deployment of websites and Web-based applications built on the current portfolio of Microsoft technologies, including the following: Microsoft .NET Framework Windows Server with Internet Information Services Microsoft Silverlight Microsoft Visual Studio Microsoft SQL Server Microsoft Expression HTML5 The winner showcased expertise in using the Web as a platform to develop and deliver key business applications to market faster, more easily and for a lower maintenance cost on Internetfacing websites hosted on- or off-premises, and/or cloud platforms such as Windows Azure. Windows Azure ISV Partner of the Year Winner: Jack Henry & Associates Inc. Finalist: BEDIN Shop Systems srl Finalist: CommVault Systems Inc. The Windows Azure Platform ISV Partner of the Year Award recognizes ISVs that together or independently incorporated Windows Azure and SQL Azure, developing flexible, scalable, robust applications using the cloud platform. The winner demonstrated innovation, competitive differentiation and customer value while showcasing the benefits of using the Windows Azure platform. Windows Azure SI Partner of the Year Winner: Sogeti Finalist: Accenture/Avanade Finalist: Aditi Technologies Inc. The Windows Azure Platform SI Partner of the Year Award recognizes SI partners that together or independently incorporated Windows Azure and SQL Azure, developing robust services and practices around the cloud platform. The winner demonstrated innovation, competitive differentiation and customer value while showcasing the benefits of using the Windows Azure platform. Windows Intune Partner of the Year Winner: New Signature Finalist: CDW Corp. Finalist: Fritz & Macziol Finalist: Venzo The Windows Intune Partner of the Year Award honors the Microsoft partner that built a successful Windows Intune practice and demonstrated innovation and results related to selling and delivering Windows Intune solutions to SMBs or Corporate Accounts customers. The winner met customer demands with scale and momentum. Key considerations for this award are mainstream and accelerated sales motions and delivery of value-added solutions on top of Windows Intune; business model attributes; and customer references or case studies reporting positive impact on our mutual SMB or Corporate Accounts customers. COUNTRY PARTNERS OF THE YEAR Winner: Angola – Menshen Winner: Argentina – DATCO SA Winner: Australia – Object Consulting Winner: Austria – ETC - Enterprise Training Center Winner: Bahamas – Southworth Consultants Ltd. Winner: Bahrain – Computer World W.L.L. Winner: Belgium – Ferranti Computer Systems Winner: Bolivia – COGNOS Winner: Botswana – Kolari Winner: Brazil – Programmer’s Winner: Bulgaria – CAD R&D Center PROGRESS Ltd. Winner: Burkina Faso – Softnet Winner: Canada – Navantis Inc. Winner: Cayman Islands – MCS Ltd. Winner: Chile – +people Winner: China – Huajian Warmstar (Beijing) Technology Co. Ltd. Winner: Colombia – Compufacil Winner: Costa Rica – Consulting Group Winner: Côte d’Ivoire – AXXEND Winner: Croatia – Algebra d.o.o. Winner: Czech Republic – DAQUAS Winner: Denmark – Atea Winner: Ecuador – Maint Cia. Ltda. Winner: Egypt – Online Modern Solutions – OMS Winner: El Salvador –Tecnología Aplicada Winner: Estonia – Net Group Ltd. Winner: Ethiopia – Computer Revolution Africa Winner: Finland – Logica Finland Plc Winner: France – Accenture/Avanade Winner: Germany – Wortmann AG Winner: Greece – BYTE COMPUTER ABEE Winner: Guatemala – Grupo SEGA Winner: Honduras – IT Global Corp. Winner: Hong Kong – Atos Information Technology HK Ltd. Winner: Hungary – T-Systems Hungary Ltd. Winner: Iceland – Advania Winner: India – Dimension Data Winner: Indonesia – PT Bhinneka Mentari Dimensi Winner: Ireland – Ergo Winner: Israel – Neway Technologies Winner: Italy – 4ward S.r.l. Winner: Jamaica – Softmart West Indies Winner: Japan – Otsuka Corp. Winner: Jordan – Farah Trading and Contracting Co. Winner: Kenya – Coretec Systems and Solutions Ltd. Winner: Korea – Softvision Winner: Kuwait – Diyar United Co. Winner: Latvia – DPA Winner: Lebanon – Procomix Technology Group Winner: Lithuania – Affecto Winner: Luxembourg – Elgon Winner: Malawi – Technobrain Ltd. Winner: Malaysia – Fusionex Winner: Mauritius – Harel Mallac technologies Winner: Mexico – Axiltia Consulting Technologies S.A. de C.V. Winner: Montenegro – Cikom d.o.o. Winner: Morocco – Nelite North Africa Winner: Mozambique – Bytes & Pieces Winner: Netherlands – Winvision Winner: New Zealand – Intergen Winner: Nicaragua – Tecnasa Nicaragua (Tecnologia Aplicada) Winner: Nigeria – ATB Techsoft Winner: Oman – KalSoft Winner: Pakistan – Maison Consulting & Solutions Winner: Panama – iThink Panama Winner: Peru – G&S Gestion y Sistemas Winner: Philippines – DB Wizards Winner: Poland – ITMagination Winner: Portugal – Portugal Telecom Winner: Puerto Rico – Rock Solid Technologies Winner: Qatar – Information And Communication Technology Winner: Romania – Dimsoft Winner: Russia – I-Teco Corp. Winner: Saudi Arabia – Secured Services Systems Co. – SSS Winner: Senegal – FTF Winner: Serbia – CPU Winner: Singapore – Challenger Winner: Slovakia – TEMPEST, a.s. Winner: Slovenia – S&T Slovenija d.d. Winner: Spain – Qurius Prodware Winner: Sri Lanka – ZILLIONe Technologies (Pvt) Ltd. Winner: Sweden – Sogeti Sverige AB Winner: Switzerland – Redtoo Winner: Taiwan – Syscom Computer Engineering Co. Winner: Tanzania – Technobrain Ltd. Winner: Thailand – Synnex Thailand Public Co. Ltd. Winner: Trinidad & Tobago – Infotech Winner: Turkey – Intertech Winner: UAE – Exceed IT Services Winner: Uganda – Computer Revolution Africa Winner: Ukraine – BMS Consulting Winner: United Kingdom – OCSL Winner: United States – Motion Computing Winner: Uruguay – Arnaldo C. Castro S.A. Winner: Venezuela – Eniac C.A. Winner: Vietnam – Lac Viet Computing Corp. Winner: Zimbabwe – Westchase For more information, press only: Katie James, Weber Shandwick, (206) 576-5514, kjames2@webershandwick.com