Announcing our 2016 Microsoft Australia Partner Awards (MAPA) Finalists

In the past few weeks I’ve had the privilege of reading this year’s Microsoft Australia Partner Awards (MAPA) nominations. As I’ve read through these carefully crafted submissions, it really brought home to me that something significant is happening across our Partner Network.

Never before have I read such rich customer stories - all of them incredible examples of technology transforming industries and companies, and making a real difference in everyday lives. Our Partner Network is transforming with the cloud at its core and it’s having an incredible impact on our customers.

But what really struck me are the wonderfully diverse places these stories have come from. From the large national players located in metropolitan areas, to smaller yet equally vital partners in regional Australia; this year’s MAPA submissions are a real showcase of the diverse yet powerfully interconnected tapestry that is our Partner Network.

And I can honestly say I haven’t before seen so many amazing examples of partners using their unique IP and differentiation created and launched from the Microsoft cloud platforms. Ground-breaking products and services brought to life through the power of partnership. From an app that counted and tracked tomatoes for the country’s largest tomato processing company, to an Internet of Things solution that saves lives of outdoor workers. The abundant number of submissions this year that build on unique partner IP is undeniable proof that creativity and transformative work is thriving in Australia.

But at the same time I also felt a little sorry for our judges…what a tough job they had. But this is exactly why we followed such a tight process with three different Microsoft subject matter experts judging each nomination.

The brilliance of MAPA is now we get to showcase these fantastic examples of Partner innovation and success at our premier partner event, the Australia Partner Conference (APC) at the Gold Coast on 5-8 September.

APC 2016 offers a unique chance to hear directly from the people behind these successes and, even more importantly, apply their learnings to your own opportunities. It’s also a great way to celebrate your organisation’s own success with your own teams. So make sure you register now for APC 2016.

I’d like to offer my congratulations to the finalists, as well as to everyone who took the time to submit their stories this year. I look forward to unveiling our winners at what I think will be one of the most inspirational Australian Partner Conferences we've had.

And now, the moment you have been waiting for. The judges’ scores have been carefully tallied and I am proud to present to you our 2016 MAPA finalists.

2016 Microsoft Australian Country Partner of the Year Winner (recognised at the Worldwide Partner Conference) : MOQ Digital

2016 Microsoft Australia Partner Awards (MAPA) Finalists

Emerging Partner Award Engagis Quorum SixPivot

Excellence in Business Insights and Data Award BizData Empired Ltd Expose

Excellence in Cloud Customer Relationship Management Award Empired Ltd UXC Eclipse

Excellence in Cloud Platform Award Ignia Kloud Solutions Satalyst Pty Ltd

Excellence in Cloud Productivity Award Ensyst Readify Thomas Duryea Consulting

Excellence in Customer Lifecycle Management Award Adopt & Embrace EPM Partners Sensei Project Solutions

Excellence in Enterprise Social Award IComm Australia Kloud Solutions

Excellence in Industry and Platform Innovation Award

No Finalist for this award. Four winners will be announced at APC.

Excellence in Learning Award DDLS MGT New Horizons Learning Centres Sensei Project Solutions

Excellence in Licensing Award Data#3 Limited Insight Enterprises Australia rhipe

Excellence in Managed Service Award Kloud Solutions Mexia XCENTRAL

Excellence in Marketing Award Empired Ltd rhipe UXC Eclipse

Excellence in Mobility and Devices Award Dilignet iCareHealth Thomas Duryea Consulting

Excellence in Regional Area Customers Award Advance Computing Mexia XCENTRAL

Excellence in Small and Mid-Market Cloud Solutions Award GCITS Technology ONGC Systems TTS

Excellence in Solution Sales Specialisation Award Datacom Systems Pty Kloud Solutions

Excellence in Surface Resale Award Data#3 Limited Datacom Systems Pty Ethan Group Staples

Excellence in Technology Solutions Specialisation Award Empired Ltd Ignia Mexia

Excellence in Wholesale Distribution Award Dicker Data Limited Ingram Micro rhipe

Technology for Social Impact Award Avanade Kloud Solutions Readify

Winning Together Award Avanade & Sitecore Modality Systems & Telstra Velrada Capital Pty Ltd & Sodexo Remote Sites Australia