NetApp has today announced the finalists for its inaugural Australia and New Zealand Partner Awards, which will be revealed at a gala dinner to be held in Sydney on November 12.
According to the storage giant, the finalists were selected based off their ability to deliver “innovative cloud services, excellence in service delivery and enabling customers to realise cost efficiencies through best practice, increased turnover and improved productivity.”
NetApp also recognised individual excellence in partner organisations through several individual awards.
“We were very impressed by the participation in our first A/NZ awards, which made selecting finalists a challenging one,” says Neville James, Director of Channels & Enablement, NetApp.
“While all who submitted are worth acknowledging for their commitment to providing expert counsel, these finalists were selected as partners who deliver cutting edge guidance and solutions to their customers. We are proud to be working with all of them.”
James says the selection criteria varied for each category, but all include a focus on new business activity, deployment quality and customer experience.
Here’s a rundown of the 2015 finalists:
New Partner of the Year – Meridian IT, Telstra, Westcon
Criteria: Honours a reseller in its first full calendar year of partnership that has delivered a sizeable revenue contribution
Service Provider of the Year – Dimension Data, Interactive, Nexon
Criteria: Recognises the cloud services provider that has created, marketed, and sold innovative cloud-based solutions that have high-market impact and exceed customer expectations
Reseller of the Year – Platinium – Dimension Data, Virtual Machine Technology, Xpanse
Criteria: Recognises excellence in the delivery of NetApp solutions, service and support to end user customers
Reseller of the Year – Gold – Flexdata, Katana1, Meridian IT
Criteria: Recognises excellence in the delivery of NetApp solutions, service and support to end user customers
Converged Infrastructure Excellence – Dimension Data, SAS IT, Virtual Machine Technology
Criteria: Honours the partner who has significantly improved end users business efficiency and insight through the selling and deployment of a best-of-breed Converged Infrastructure Solution
Marketing Excellence – Distribution Central, Virtual Machine Technology, Westcon
Criteria: Acknowledges the partner who has been implementing a marketing initiative that integrates online and offline programs and channels in order to create awareness, generate demand, and engage customers and prospects at all stages of the buying cycle
Outstanding Cloud Initiative – HarbourIT, Nexon, Virtual Machine Technology
Criteria: Recognises the top Pathways Partner who has successfully integrated NetApp technology into their own cloud-based solution or offering for their end user customers
Technical Excellence – Dimension Data - Rob Gee, Distribution Central - Shane Ferris, Katana1 - Ross Ogilvie, Virtual Machine Technology - Jon Dawes
Criteria: Recognises an individual who has demonstrated best-of-breed technology leadership, a commitment to maintain high-levels of skills, quality processes and consistently high customer satisfaction through investment in their technical capabilities.
Sales Excellence – Fujistu Australia - Renee Chandler, UXC Connect - Tony Arena, Xpanse - Tarran Merlo
Criteria: Will be made to the individual who has demonstrated exceptional growth in revenue and how partner profitability is achieved, showcasing exceptional customer relationship knowledge and sales management expertise.
Alliance Partner Champion – Dimension Data - Aman Lodhia, NEC - Chris Anders, Westcon - Henry Benjamin
Criteria: Honours an individual who continuously aims to connect and build key relationships whilst strengthening alliance engagement as well as uncovering new collaboration opportunities
