Microsoft recognises top ANZ partners in 2024 awards

Microsoft has announced the winners and finalists of the 2024 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards for Australia and New Zealand. Vanessa Sorenson, Chief Partner Officer for Microsoft ANZ, expressed her congratulations to all the recipients, highlighting the critical role that Microsoft partners play in delivering innovative solutions and making a significant impact across various industries.

"I am thrilled to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the Australian and New Zealand winners of the 2024 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards and our region's finalists," Sorenson stated. "These awards recognise and feature the most innovative Microsoft partners and customer implementations worldwide."

Arinco received the Country Partner of the Year award for Australia for its AI solutions that enhance operational efficiency and stimulate local business growth. Sorenson praised Arinco's efforts, stating, "Its dedication to modernising and innovating infrastructure showcases our partners' exceptional impact."

In New Zealand, Aware Group Ltd was recognised for its pioneering work in data analytics and AI. This recognition acknowledged Aware Group Ltd's role in empowering businesses to make strategic, data-driven decisions. Sorenson noted, "Their innovative approach has set a new benchmark for what can be achieved through our partnership."

Finalists for the Country Partner of the Year also included Rapid Circle in Australia and LawVu in New Zealand.

ANZ partners also made a notable impact in the Global Category Awards, with several partners emerging as winners and finalists in various categories. The Modern Work category saw Rapid Circle win the Employee Experience award for its efforts in transforming workplace connectivity and productivity through Microsoft Viva and Copilot.

Data#3 was recognised as the Surface Reseller winner for the second year in a row, showcasing its ability to safeguard digital assets and ensure compliance in the modern workplace. Data#3 also secured a finalist position in the Secure Productivity category.

Additional ANZ partners who were named finalists in global categories included Avanade Inc/Accenture and Velrada for Dynamics 365 Service, Avanade Inc/Accenture for Dynamics 365 Supply Chain, PwC for Identity, Dell Technologies for Modern Endpoint Management, Exigo Tech and KPMG Australia for Nonprofit, and KPMG Australia for AI Innovation.

Regional awards highlighted the significant contributions of ANZ partners in transforming industries and enhancing business operations. Logicalis won the Azure category for aiding Western Sydney University in leveraging cloud technology to improve operational efficiency and provide modern digital services. Fusion5 excelled in the Business Applications category, improving service operations with Dynamics 365 and Power Platform.

Data#3's work in modernising a power utility's device fleet with Surface technology earned it the Modern Work category award. Quorum won the Security category for its robust end-to-end security solutions, and Wipro was recognised in the Industry category for its data analytics solution for Water NSW, which significantly reduced data collation time.

HCLTech secured the Partner Innovation award for helping clients achieve transformation goals with Microsoft's digital technology. KPMG Australia won the Business Transformation category for its generative AI solution, KymChat, designed to drive AI adoption and transformation. Lastly, Barhead Solutions was awarded in the Social Impact category for launching a solution to improve efficiency in community legal centres, potentially saving up to AUD $25 million over five years.

Sorenson reflected on the achievements and future outlook for Microsoft's partners. "As we celebrate these achievements, we also look forward to the exciting future. We are eager to continue our journey together, driving innovation and creating impact for our customers."