Kinetics Group has won the Worldwide 2013 Microsoft Small Business Partner of the Year Award, the first time the company has claimed global honours.

The achievement means the Auckland-based IT firm has won the category three years in a row, among a global field of top Microsoft partners.

"We are absolutely delighted to be awarded on the global stage for doing something we regard as necessary to meeting our clients’ needs," says Andrew Hunt, CEO, Kinetics.

"SME businesses must be nimble, agile and able to compete against the scale of larger businesses and we love helping them do that with tailored, innovative solutions.

"We are hugely proud of our team and our clients for giving us the opportunity to demonstrate that our work locally is world class.”

Microsoft will officially present the award to Hunt at the Microsoft Partner conference in Texas early next month, with the company recognised for providing outstanding solutions and services in SME business development.

The Small Business Partner of the Year Award awards a partner using Microsoft technologies in innovative ways for their small business customers (1–50 PCs, up to approximately 100 employees), specialising in design, deployment, and delivery of high-quality solutions.

This award is limited to partners actively enrolled in the Microsoft Small Business Competency.

“Microsoft is pleased to recognise Kinetics Group as the Small Business Partner of the Year," says Thomas Hansen, vice president, WW SMB at Microsoft.

"Kinetics has a deep understanding of the needs of its small business customers and consistently provides the right mix of solutions to help them meet their unique business needs, save money and remain competitive."