Published on the 09/03/2015 | Written by Clare Coulson
Microsoft partners are touting their prowess and comparing achievements in the run up to the awards night on 19th March…
The Microsoft New Zealand Partner Awards 2015 has attracted 99 entries this year, and Brent Kendrick, Microsoft New Zealand’s SMB and Partner Lead, says there was a significant increase in entries from new partners who have never competed in the Awards’ eight-year history.
That said, it’s the old rivals that are making the most noise prior to the event, trumpeting the number of finalist spots that they have achieved and comparing previous wins.
Koorb Consulting came out last week saying it has been named a finalist in all three of the categories for which it submitted entries – CRM Partner of the Year, ERP Partner of the Year and the Innovative Technology for Good Citizenship categories – and is aiming for a three-in-a-row win.
Koorb won the CRM category for its 2013 implementation of Dynamics CRM into Green Cross Health (read the case study here) and is a Microsoft Gold Partner for CRM, ERP, and data analytics and a Silver Partner for collaboration and content.
As a slightly amusing side-note, a mathematical ‘leap year’ correction comes into play for the 2015 awards. The 2013 awards were held in 2014, but partner feedback has seen the 2014 awards dropped for the better currency of 2015.
Koorb is hoping to gain recognition for the work it has done at Hamilton City Council (ERP), Independent Liquor (CRM) and Plunket (Good Citizenship).
Following Koorb’s announcement, its long-term competitor Intergen, now owned by the Australian Empired, announced its finalist status in five categories. It will be up against Koorb in the CRM and ERP Partner of the Year categories as well as being considered for the Collaboration & Content; Marketing; and Windows App Developer of the Year categories. Its work for PGG Wrightson is a particular standout, being nominated in two categories (CRM and Windows Apps).
Intergen says it is one of the largest and longest-serving dedicated providers of Microsoft-based solutions in New Zealand and has received Microsoft Partner awards in seven of the past eight years, and has been overall Partner of the Year three times.
The Australian influence on New Zealand’s ICT sector is further evidenced by new-comer Sable37 – the New Zealand division of Australia’s Sable Systems. It has been listed as finalist in the ERP category for its work with Kiwi client Kathmandu who last year received the Microsoft Worldwide Customer Excellence in Retail award for its Microsoft Dynamics AX project. The full line up of finalists is here.
The winners will be revealed at the Microsoft New Zealand Partner Awards black tie gala dinner on 19th March. The event is open to any and all businesses to attend, and tickets can be purchased through the Partner Awards website.
