Who made the cut? Microsoft NZ announces 2017 Partner Awards finalists

Digital transformation has been one of the central themes around Microsoft New Zealand's finalists this year.

Now in its 10^th anniversary, the Microsoft Partner Awards have undergone a number of changes to keep ahead of the constantly evolving industry, recognising excellence in the IT sector from companies that integrate Microsoft solutions into their products and services.

The company has lauded the work of the Kiwi IT companies that are leading the efforts to bring digital transformation to New Zealand.

Microsoft New Zealand's newly appointed director for small and midmarket solutions and partner group, Phil Goldie says the entries for this year's competition reflect how digital transformation has become the top priority for the Kiwi IT sector.

"Microsoft New Zealand's partner ecosystem boasts some of the most innovative IT companies in the world, and over the 10 years since the inception of the awards programme, the partner channel has matured, grown in capability, and transformed toward cloud-based services," says Goldie.

"The need for Kiwi businesses to transform digitally has never been more urgent, and the work our partner companies are doing across the country is taking New Zealand businesses and organisations on that journey in innovative and forward thinking ways.

Goldie says the judges this year will have a tough time singling out the winning solutions as the quality of entries this from the New Zealand partner channel is very high.

The local New Zealand partners will be announced on the 11^th April 2017 at a black tie, sit down dinner event at The Langham in Auckland with entertainment, speakers, networking opportunities and live music. Partners are also welcome to invite their customers to join in their success at the event.

Click here to find out more.

Here is a full list of the finalists:

Cloud CRM

• Datacom
• Fusion5
• Intergen
• Magnetism

Cloud Packaged Solutions

• Crossware
• Datacom
• Softsource
• Virsae

​Cloud Platform

• Computer Concepts
• Datacom
• Provoke

Cloud Productivity

• Datacom
• Kinetics
• Provoke

Communications

• Dimension Data
• Lexel
• Spark Digital

Data Platforms - Analytics

• Datacom
• Enlighten Designs
• Stellar Consulting
• UXC Eclipse

Enterprise Mobility Solutions

• Datacom
• Datacom (Bay of Plenty)
• Intergen

ERP

• Intergen
• Theta

Learning

• Auldhouse
• Kinetics
• Ripped Orange

Licensing

• Datacom
• Insight
• Spark Digital

Managed Services

• Computercare
• Data com (Bay of Plenty)
• Lucidity
• Softsource

Market Development

• Dicker Data
• Exeed
• Ingram Micro

Modern Marketing

• Acquire
• Datacom
• Intergen

Partner Seller

• Datacom - James David
• Inde - Rik Roberts
• Intergen - Anna Tarasoff
• Intergen - Bevan Sinclair

Public Sector - Education

• Cyclone
• Enlighten Designs
• New Era IT
• PCMedia

Public Sector - Government

• Enghouse Interactive
• Information Leadership
• Intergen
• PCMedia

Rising Star

• Inde
• Securecom
• The IT Team
• Virsae

Small - Midmarket Cloud Solutions

• IT Engine
• Kinetics
• Softsource

Solutions Sales Specialist

• Datacom - James David
• Provoke - Benedict Davidson
• Provoke - Nick Westbrook

Technology for Good

• Intergen
• NV Interactive
• Stellar Consulting

Windows - Devices Deployment

• Acquire
• Computer Concepts
• Fujitsu
• The Laptop Company

Internet of Things

To be confirmed - finalist assessment still in progress