Microsoft NZ Partner Awards 2021: The finalists are announced

It's November again, which means the Microsoft New Zealand Partner Awards are coming up again — and Microsoft has kick-started the fanfare today with an official announcement of the finalists.

The 14th annual awards ceremony will include 11 separate categories, including Security, Modern Work, Data and AI, Digital and Application Innovation, Azure Migrate, Business Applications, Surface, Channel Development, Cloud for Good, SaaS and Emerging SaaS.

Due to pandemic restrictions in the country, the ceremony will not be an in-person event. Instead, winners will be announced virtually on December 6.

Microsoft New Zealand partner director Matt Bostwick says this year's finalists feature some of the most innovative tech companies in Aotearoa.

"While 2021 has brought a whole new set of challenges to the table, our partners have demonstrated a strong sense of resilience and determination to rise above," says Bostwick.

"When the judges select the finalists for these Awards, they look for partners that demonstrate they don't just view each challenge as a task to be done, but as an opportunity to learn more about their customers.

"These finalists really push themselves to create innovative solutions that drive lasting and meaningful benefits for customers.

Microsoft NZ says the finalists, selected from a pool of local business partners in New Zealand, were each chosen for their ability to use Microsoft's technology to empower customers.

"We were delighted to find so many of our partners share the same vision, looking above and beyond the immediate problem at hand to drive real change across their customers' organisations.

"The high quality of submissions has made the judging process tougher than ever. All of the finalists this year deserve to be celebrated and I'd like to extend my congratulations to each and every one of them and wish them all the best for the Awards.

Earlier this year, IT services management company Fusion5 was declared Microsoft NZ's partner of the year. The company has been nominated as a finalist in two categories in this year's awards: Business Applications and Modern Work.

The 2021 finalists are:

Data - AI Award

• AWARE GROUP
• Datacom
• Intergen
• PwC
• Qrious
• Stellar Consulting
• Theta

Azure Migrate Award:

• Accenture
• CCL
• Digital Data Systems Ltd (DDS IT)
• Emrge (A Division of Kordia)
• Lexel Systems Limited
• The Instillery
• UNIFY Solutions NZ Limited

Business Applications Award:

• AWARE GROUP
• Delta Insights
• DXC Technology
• Fusion5
• Inde Technology
• Magnetism Solutions
• Ricoh New Zealand Limited

Modern Work Award:

• AvePoint
• CodeBlue
• Datacom
• Enlighten Designs
• Equinox 
• Fusion5
• Information Leadership
• Lexel Systems Limited
• Spark Business Group
• Theta
• Vodafone New Zealand

Security Award

• AWARE GROUP
• DEFEND Limited
• Inde Technology
• UNIFY Solutions NZ Limited

Digital - Application Innovation Award

• AWARE GROUP
• CCL
• Enlighten Designs
• Lexel Systems Limited
• Smudge Apps
• Umbrellar

Surface Award

• Acquire and Mobile Mentor
• Fujitsu New Zealand
• SecureCom
• Spark NZ
• The Laptop Company Limited

Channel Development Award

• Dicker Data NZ
• Ingram Micro NZ
• rhipe
• Umbrellar

Cloud for Good Award

• Datacom
• Delta Insights
• Enlighten Designs
• Inde Technology
• Lexel Systems Limited
• Theta

SaaS Award

• 9Spokes
• Cin7
• Volpara Health Technology

Emerging SaaS Award

• FlexiTime
• LawVu
• Medtech Global
• ProWorkflow
• Storbie
• Wipster