Microsoft has announced the winners of the 2017 Partner of the Year Awards at a gala function that took place last week Tuesday at Sandton Convention Centre.
These annual awards recognise the cream of the crop in terms of Microsoft partners, who have demonstrated excellence in innovation and implementation of customer solutions based on Microsoft technology.
For 2017, Microsoft acknowledged partners in 17 categories, celebrating each of the core partner competencies that includes cloud technology, solutions for the public sector, and citizenship amongst others.
The award finalists and winners were selected based on their commitment to their customers, the impact that their solution has had on the market, as well as the exemplary use of Microsoft platforms and services to power the specific solution.
“For us, it’s not only about our technology – it is about what our partners can do with our technology to create their own solutions that have real impact in moving our mutual customers, society and the local economy forward. That’s what is central to our mission,” says Zoaib Hoosen, MD of Microsoft SA.
A stand out amongst the impressive list of winners was Astel Systems, who is the winner of the coveted MD Partner of the Year.
Astel provides an innovative billing and revenue management platform for telecommunications, cloud and utility services providers.
“Astel is a great example of technological evolution in action. They had the forethought to understand the power of cloud computing and the impact it would make on business and the world. In the past three years, this proudly South African business has expanded globally serving customers across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean, and in fact is one of the billing platforms for Microsoft’s Cloud Service Provider (CSP) programme,” explains Hoosen.
“In a nutshell, they are extremely good at partnering with businesses to help facilitate a more fruitful form of digital transformation,” he adds.
Alkesh Singh, founder and Manager Director at Astel Systems adds that, “We are ecstatic about having been named MD Partner of the Year. Microsoft technology at the edge and the cloud are enabling us to fundamentally transform the solutions we build for our customers. The recognition for our hard work is highly rewarding and appreciated.”
Award winners were:
* Cloud Solutions Aggregator — Indirect — Axiz
* Cloud Solutions Reseller – XContent
* Cloud Platform – BUI
* Application Development – Tangent Solutions
* Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement – Mint Management Technologies
* Dynamics 365 Operations, GP and NAV – Chase Software
* Re-inventing Productivity – Information Systems Partners — Karabina
* Learning Solutions – Torque IT Computer Training
* Software Asset Management (SAM) – First Technology
* Microsoft Consulting Services – Business Connexion
* Datacenter — BUI
* Data Analytics – Information Systems Partners — Karabina
* Enterprise Mobility & Security — BUI
* Consumer Distributor — Rectron
* License Solution Provider (LSP) – First Technology
* Education Partner – CTU Training Solutions
* Managing Director – Astel Systems.