Aptronics, a South African customer-focused, IT solutions and service provider, today announced it has attained Gold Certified status in the Microsoft Partner Programme with a competency in advanced infrastructure solutions and information worker productivity solutions, recognising Aptronics` expertise and total impact in the technology marketplace.
As a Gold Certified partner, Aptronics has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and proven ability to meet customers` needs. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, giving them a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
"Aptronics is a customer-focused, IT solutions and service provider with an all-consuming belief in customer service, quality and integrity. As such, we have a sound industry reputation for putting principles into practice when it comes to having high standards of skills development and customer service excellence," said Appie Pema, Managing Director of Aptronics.
The company provides a full spectrum of solutions based on the Microsoft product set, specialising in Active Directory, Microsoft Exchange, and Windows 2003 design, deployment and management.
"We are extremely pleased to have attained Gold Certified status in the Microsoft Partner Programme. This not only allows us to clearly promote our expertise and relationship with Microsoft to our customers, but is testimony to Aptronics` substantial ongoing investment in developing our Microsoft skills and expertise, in both the advanced infrastructure solutions space and the information worker productivity space.
In addition, Aptronics has attained both the exchange migration and deployment, and the office systems desktop deployment specialisations from Microsoft," said Pema.
"The benefits provided through our Gold Certified status will allow us to continue to enhance the offerings that we provide for customers," he adds.
"Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities. They need to trust in someone that can act as an expert adviser for their long-term strategic technology plans. Microsoft Gold Certified partners, which have certified expertise and direct training and support from Microsoft, can build a positive customer experience with our technologies," said Allison Watson, vice-president of the Worldwide Partner Sales and Marketing Group at Microsoft Corp.
"Today, Microsoft recognises Aptronics as a new Microsoft Gold Certified partner for demonstrating its expertise in providing customer satisfaction with Microsoft products and technology."
As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified status, Aptronics had to declare its Microsoft competencies. Microsoft competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner`s capabilities with specific Microsoft technologies to customers looking for a particular type of solution. Each competency has a unique set of requirements and benefits, formulated to accurately represent the specific skills and services that partners bring to the technology industry.
The advanced infrastructure solutions competency is designed for partners with proven expertise in designing and/or implementing complex infrastructure solutions such as Active Directory-based and Microsoft Integration Server design and deployment solutions, or Microsoft Exchange Server migration or deployment solutions. Because customers are increasingly asking to do more with less, partners with the advanced infrastructure solutions competency can identify their unique skill in helping customers access management solutions, improving operational efficiency and reducing security risks.
"Our industry partners allow us to deliver high-quality solutions and applications to our customers. And we`re always looking at ways to improve our relationships," said Paul Flessner, senior vice-president of the Server Platform Division at Microsoft. "Solutions competencies enable Microsoft to provide resources and training to partners seeking to meet, and even surpass, customer needs. The competencies also provide industry partners with a way to showcase their expertise to customers who depend on them for services, such as building their critical infrastructure needs such as storage and hosting solutions."
Designed to provide additional benefit and support to partners specialising in collaboration, portals and other productivity solutions, the information worker productivity solutions competency is utilised by Gold Certified partners that provide their customers with solutions built on familiar programs that enable them to better manage, prioritise and collaborate on increasing volumes of information. Partners that have obtained the information worker competency can help their customers realise increased service revenues and new market opportunities.
"Partners play a critical role in delivering solutions and applications to customers with the Microsoft Office System," said Jeff Raikes, group vice-president of productivity and business services at Microsoft. "The value of solutions competencies is that they enable Microsoft to deliver resources and training to partners that are meeting their customer needs. And for partners, the opportunity to highlight their expertise to customers is tremendous in the growing IW solution market."
The Microsoft Partner Programme was launched in December 2003 and represents Microsoft`s ongoing commitment to the success of partners worldwide. The programme offers a single, integrated partnering framework that recognises partner expertise, rewards the total impact that partners have in the technology marketplace, and delivers more value to help partners` businesses be successful.
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Aptronics is a customer-focused corporate IT solutions and service provider. As such, we have a sound industry reputation for putting principles into practice when it comes to having high standards of skills development and customer service excellence.
As a very active corporate reseller, Aptronics works closely with several key international vendors, including HP, IBM and Microsoft.
Aptronics` mission is to be the leading corporate reseller of world-class products and IT infrastructure, achieved through strategic partnerships, teamwork and integrity based on an inherent customer service ethic.
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