Microsoft New Zealand 2016 Partner Awards Finalist Projects

Microsoft has released a showcase list of finalist projects for this year's Partner Awards. 

With a record number of submissions, the 2016 annual Microsoft NZ Partner Awards is set to be the biggest in its nine years of existence. The awards recognise excellence in the IT sector from those companies that integrate Microsoft solutions into their products and services to accelerate innovation and go above and beyond customer expectations.  

‘Cloud Enterprise’ category finalists

• Dimension Data
  
  • Dimension Data Hyper-V, System Center, Azure and Azure WAP based solution called Bank in a Box stood out as an accelerator for providing a functioning private cloud for businesses.
• Fujitsu
  
  • Fujitsu’s solution for Hamilton City Council transformed an aging infrastructure to a hybrid cloud based on Microsoft Azure, Office 365, and Skype for Business, with the local flexibility of Fujitsu’s PaaS service built using Microsoft Cloud OS Network.
• Intergen
  
  • Intergen’s solution ‘Cohesion’ is based on a multi-tenanted implementation of SharePoint 2013, designed for NZ Government and running “as a service”, hosted on the government approved IaaS. 

‘Cloud Platform’ category finalists

• Atmospheric
  • Atmospheric’s Carbon 4300K solution offers a hybrid product suite comprising the key features of both public and private cloud, built on the principles of Shared Resources, Continuous Deployment and Business Continuity through high up-time, always on systems.
• Datacom
  • Datacom implemented a full Sitecore development, build and support solution on Azure for Auckland International Airport to enable them to have full HA and DR on their websites, which generate over $100M in revenue each year.
• NV Interactive
  • NZ Interactive’s Georgie Pie Super Smash web site provided a unique platform for New Zealand Cricket to express the Super Smash brand in a more exciting and visually compelling way to engage a younger and broader cricket audience.
• Timely
  • Timely developed a cloud-based, time-saving scheduling software solution for easy use by booking-based businesses such as salons, clinics and therapists, built on the Microsoft .Net stack.

‘Cloud SMB’ category finalists

• IT Engine
  • IT Engine developed a Sharepoint solution for Wigley + Company law firm to meet the needs of the consultants for easy creation of new matter numbers, easy search functionality and online invoice processing.
• Kinetics
  • Kinetics’ SharePoint Igniter solution for the Ross Roof roofing company allows their staff to collaborate on key business information in real time such as stock levels, source up to date price lists and much more.
• ComputerCare
  • ComputerCare built a monthly billed, per-user fixed price product around Office365 and their Service Desk, called OneCare – providing unlimited remote support, antivirus software, mobile device management, system monitoring and monthly reporting.
• Softsource
  • Softsource introduced Office 365 as part of a hybrid cloud solution that would take WaterSafe’s business to a higher more efficient platform, enabling them to reposition existing storage and remove the server requirement.

‘Cloud Hosting’ category finalists

• MHA Cloud Computing
  • MHA Cloud Computing’s CloudOS solution provides a locally hosted high performance Azure Virtual Machine and Networking compatible platform on NZ soil. Customers can extend their existing business network into their own Private Cloud on the CloudOS platform.
• OneNet
  • OneNet’s commitment to leveraging and interconnecting the most suitable cloud platforms and services is represented in their delivery of a fully outsourced IT infrastructure and hosted desktop environment for Armourguard, and consolidating Fuji Xerox’s physical and virtual servers to a standardised private cloud platform
• Revera
  • Apollo extends the established Revera cloud portfolio to enable hosting of built-for-cloud workloads and provides a scalable Platform-as-a-Service solution ideal for empowering DevOps practices in organisations large or small.
• Softsource
  • Softsource’s “entrada Hybrid IaaS” solution brings public cloud and private cloud capabilities seamlessly together through a single pane of glass, giving customers access to order and build their own virtual Data Centres. 

‘Collaboration and Content’ category finalists

• Datacom
  • Datacom designed a new Intranet for Tourism NZ called Kōhanga (Nest) to get geographically disparate teams working together, with Yammer embedded on the front page with Yammer Translation Services for people to write and read in their native languages.
• Information Leadership
  • This project was a fast deployment for Wellington Water using SharePoint, combined with iWorkplace tools and methodology, to provide future-proofing and a powerful search engine of over 250,000 documents from Council repositories.
• Leapthought
  • Leapthought’s solution ‘Sheldon’ – a suite of SMART enterprise features available as accelerators/extensions/plug-ins/add-ons/apps to Microsoft Technologies – has the objective of transforming enterprises to be more “Informed as a Business”.
• Theta
  • Theta’s solution for contractor management at Vector used SharePoint features where possible to aid supportability, manageability and ensure any customisations were in line with MS Product Line Architecture for any future SharePoint Online migration. 

‘Communications’ category finalists

• Lexel
  • Travel company JUCY were looking for a more efficient way to connect staff and customers. Lexel provided a balanced solution, underpinned by a range of Microsoft technologies, led from the front by Skype for Business.
• Spark Digital
  • Spark Digital developed Voice for Skype for Business - a carrier grade cloud offering featuring centralised Spark Voice Connect SIP trunking (Microsoft Qualified), bundled calling and SfB server infrastructure provisioned and maintained in the Revera cloud.
• Datacom
  • Datacom started deploying Microsoft Skype for Business for Craig’s investment Partners on the day of its official release. On completion of the project they had successfully deployed the solution to 27 sites and 700 end users across New Zealand. 

‘CRM’ category finalists

• Fusion5
  • Fusion5 created the MyLinc system for Lincoln University with Dynamics CRM to provide a personalised dashboard for applicants and students where they could see and manage their key interactions with the university.
• Intergen
  • Global food safety company AsureQuality engaged Intergen to implement a robust, easy to use CRM solution delivered on time and under budget with SharePoint Online incorporated as an added extra for document management.
• Datacom
  • Datacom’s CRM solution for TSB Bank improved sales opportunity data availability, as well as mobility and data gathering, and helped consolidate data across branches in real time, reducing processing times.
• Magnetism
  • Magnetism built a database for Callaghan Innovation so they could in turn build New Zealand’s innovation capability. The solution integrates with the Companies Office, MBIE and internal systems to save time and ensure data is always up-to-date.

‘ERP’ category finalists

• Sable37
  • Sable37, with their retail client Citta Design, have pioneered Cloud37 Retail, a completely cloud-based end-to-end Dynamics AX Azure Solution, opening up a world of possibilities where the retail service can come to the customer.
• Theta
  • Theta’s Dynamics NAV implementation for Postie Plus streamlined Postie Plus’ end-to-end procurement process along with enabling advanced financial reporting across 65 stores. 

‘Volume Licensing’ category finalists

• Datacom
  • Datacom’s Software Licensing business operates within a Shared Services model, which with their alignment to their Cloud Business, a dedicated SAM Service and unique position across multiple verticals has helped grow Datacom’s Volume Licensing business year on year.
• Insight
  • Insight took a big step forward in 2015 by launching a fully managed SAM service and have developed a number of sales and customer tools to help fulfil their customers Volume Licensing needs.
• Spark Digital
  • Spark Digital’s Volume Licensing business spans from standard Volume Licensing procurement, to integrated and dedicated services, to one-off consulting and/or Software Asset Management engagements. 

‘Education’ category finalists

• Cyclone
  • Cyclone has grown its presence in the education sector by offering a wide range of institutions specialised professional development in planning and implementation of the best fit technologies on each side of the purchase.
• Enlighten Designs
  • Enlighten has engaged with Waikato institute of Technology (Wintec) as a key client over the past 8 years and been recognised as a trusted advisor whenever the feasibility of new initiatives and functionality are being investigated.
• New Era IT
  • Working solely in the education sector, New Era provides network and IT support, strategic planning, and professional development from early childhood to tertiary institutions to help revolutionise curriculum delivery through leading edge technologies.
• pcMedia
  • pcMedia delivers a unique, cost effective, cloud based solution for the education sector. Their innovative approach has saved schools hundreds of thousands of dollars, while considerably improving the learning outcomes of the students. 

‘Learning’ category finalists

• Auldhouse
  • Auldhouse, an early adopter to address the training needs of cloud-focused clients, offers a broad range of training solutions from End User to Professional Development and Technical IT.
• Kinetics
  • Kinetics’ Computer Coaching is people focused. Their approach balances instructor led training with 1:1 floor-walking, meeting the user at their computer, using the client’s software and data files to embed the learning.
• Ripped Orange
  • Over the last 12 months, Ripped Orange have focused on assisting business who have moved to Office 365 to take advantage of the new productivity features. They achieve this through Private Classes, One-on-One Coaching and support from their Cloud Trainer Service. 

‘Distribution’ category finalists

• Dicker Data
  • Dicker Data NZ is a premier ICT distributor in NZ with nearly two decades of expertise in software licensing and networking.
• Exeed
  • Exeed has been operating since May 2002 and has 85 employees and more than 600 actively trading resellers, and markets to more than 1200 resellers.
• Rhipe
  • Rhipe is recognised as a leading expert in subscription software licensing in Asia Pacific and its multi-award winning services and support division is an industry leader in implementation of Microsoft products. 

‘Partner Seller’ category finalists

• Andrew Kosmadakis – Intergen
  • Andrew Kosmadakis has been a close and proactive partner driving Cloud services and solutions within Microsoft customers. Andrew was a key player and instrumental in leveraging the customer and Microsoft relationship with Ryman Healthcare.
• James Stainton – Datacom
  • James has worked to establish a ground-breaking dedicated Microsoft division at Datacom Auckland. He has brought together the Business Units that were previously selling Microsoft solutions independently, to create a cohesive and coordinated sales and marketing machine for Microsoft propositions at Datacom.
• Justin Whelan – Spark Digital
  • Justin Whelan joined the Partner Seller program in 2015 and Acland Holding Group was one of the first opportunities he worked on. Justin owned the agreement from start to finish and engaged relevant stakeholders during the engagement. 

‘Sales Specialist’ category finalists

• Craig Davis – Dimension Data
  • Craig Davis is a recognised leader within Dimension Data and the Microsoft and customer community, committed to ensuring clients gain the full value of MS products. Craig has a strong “trusted advisor” relationship with a wide number of agencies and corporate entities in the Wellington market.
• David Ollason – Spark Digital
  • With strong accreditations, an in-depth knowledge of how to design, develop, integrate, deploy and support Skype for Business and his reputation as a leader of Skype for Business within Spark Digital, David Ollason has earned a track-record stretching to over 30 deployments over the past five years.
• James David – Datacom
  • Backed by strong and partner testimonials, James David is recognised for his close working relationship with Microsoft and engagement with key stakeholders, allowing customers to make informed decisions based on the business value Datacom and Microsoft bring together.
• James Stainton – Datacom
  • James Stainton is a dedicated Microsoft Sales Specialist at Datacom and a registered Microsoft Partner Seller. His deep technical understanding allows him to speak with confidence and satisfy IT stakeholders with solution credibility, but he always links these discussions back to the business outcomes that result for the client. 

‘Devices and Deployment’ category finalists

• Fujitsu
  • Fujitsu has led a highly successful Office 365 ProPlus project at Meridian Energy, taking Meridian from an aged Office suite to a modern and best-of-breed Office 365 ProPlus operating environment across 900 end users.
• Intergen
  • Intergen’s myRyman solution is all about improving communication between residents, relatives and staff, ultimately improving the care experience. The device and app solution transformed Ryman from paper to a modern, cloud connected, mobile world. 

‘Data Analytics’ category finalists

• Altis Consulting
  • AUT University gave Altis Consulting the challenge of getting over 30 different source systems together in a central data repository. The result was “Agile with an Edge”, a solution that takes advantage of the full Microsoft stack.
• Enlighten Designs
  • Enlighten worked closely with the Waikato institute of Technology (Wintec) to integrate analysis and forecasting of data into their regular business processes to deliver a customised Power BI in Office365 solution that works alongside their existing SharePoint Online
• Intergen
  • Intergen delivered a self-service business intelligence environment for travel company JUCY that allowed the business to track performance and KPIs, be proactive in assigning valuable resources and achieve greater business efficiency through data insights. 

‘Data Centre’ category finalists

• Computer Concepts Limited (CCL)
  • Maritime NZ engaged CCL to help them take the next steps in their IT datacentre requirements. CCL engaged closely with Maritime, providing professional services for the planning, design, migration and establishment of a revised datacentre solution.
• Dimension Data
  • Dimension Data built a Bank-in-a-Box style automation approach solution for PowerCo to provide an automated mechanism that enabled failover of all data workloads from one data centre to another in the event of a disaster.
• Spark Digital
  • Spark Digital’s Managed Services solution was developed and provided to multiple clients as a managed services product portfolio from the Spark Service Delivery Platform (SDP) solution incorporating major functionality from System Center 2012 R2 suite. 

‘Windows App Developer’ category finalists

• Lazyworm Apps
  • Lazyworm Apps developed Trade Me Property for Windows 8.1. The app has an innovative, immersive experience fully optimized for Windows 8.1 without compromising on a unique Trade Me Property look and feel.
• NV Interactive & Intergen
  • NV Interactive and Intergen partnered to deliver myRyman, a transformative solution for Ryman Healthcare, that enabled them to move from paper to a modern, cloud connected, mobile world, and empower staff to deliver the best possible levels of care through better communication between residents, relatives and staff. 

‘Innovative Software Product’ category finalists

• 11Ants Analytics
  • 11Ants’ Retail Analytics Platform has enabled 11Ants to eliminate the traditional barriers that are experienced in selling analytics solutions. They have developed and deployed a scalable SaaS solution at a very competitive development-to-delivery price.
• Datacom
  • Datacom’s Smart Timetables product is a digital Personal Assistant for students and teaching staff. It delivers live class timetables, due dates, resource bookings and more, directly into their Office365 Calendar in real time on mobile phone, tablet and computer.
• Eight Wire
  • Eight Wire automates the thousands of hours of work required to move data between databases, files and the cloud. It can scale to handle thousands of data feeds at once and requires minimal training, hardware or software.
• Putti
  • The Putti Platform, built on a host of Microsoft Azure services, is an application marketplace designed to let its customers create, manage and synchronise their entire digital presence across all platforms and devices. 

‘Innovative Technology for Good Citizenship’ category finalists

• Fujitsu
  • Through its support of Young Enterprise Trust (YET) and the development of a CRM solution, Fujitsu are enabling YET to deliver on their raison d'être of fostering the desire and imparting the skills required to drive future economic growth in New Zealand.
• Fusion5
  • Fusion5 engaged with Barnados in the second stage of BConnect, a complex and comprehensive on-line case management system underpinned by Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
• NV Interactive
  • NV Interactive’s Boosted is a crowd-funding platform for The Arts Foundation of New Zealand, responsible for generating almost $2M of new funds for the arts and redefining the creative and cultural landscape in New Zealand. 

‘Rising Star’ category finalists

• Acre PC
  • Acre PC act as a ‘one stop I.T shop’ for businesses and home users in the Bay of Plenty and beyond, looking after clients’ IT needs including cloud, VoIP, web, networks and workstation support.
• Inde
  • Inde are an enterprise technology provider focused on creating great customer and stakeholder experiences, specialising in cloud strategy and migration, enterprise networking and application delivery, who have grown from 2 to 10 staff in the last 12 months
• SecureCom
  • SecureCom provides cloud based infrastructure as a service and have been in business for 13 years, growing steadily to $6m revenues over the past 4 years, operating in the small to medium customer segment with customers ranging from 10 employees to 300.
• Timely
  • Timely – which creates simple, affordable and reliable scheduling software for small businesses – launched in 2012 and now has almost 5000 paying customers in 76 countries and has grown its team from 3 to 27. 

‘Marketing’ category finalists

• Acquire
  • Recognisable for their Windows 10 and Surface Pro 4 campaigns, Acquire’s marketing department specialises in Integrated Marketing Communication enabling them to utilise multiple channel platforms from direct marketing to above the line, social and direct engagement.
• Intergen
  • From March until September 2015 Intergen ran an innovative, multi-platform, ‘SMARTER NOT HARDER’ campaign. Focusing on productive workforces, this campaign aimed to help organisations be more productive - anywhere, anytime, on any device.
• Provoke
  • Provoke’s FastTrack for Government campaign drove activation and usage of Office 365 amongst the New Zealand public sector. The campaign required a full end-to-end process, from strategy and planning, to brand development through to execution and sales activation.
• Revera
  • Revera Apollo delivers the capabilities and scale of Microsoft Azure public cloud from Revera's Homeland cloud network. They have engaged in extensive social media, roadshow, conference and marketing activities focussing on promoting the hybrid cloud story.