Johannesburg, 07 Mar 2005
Cape-headquartered finance budgeting and product development specialist, idu Software, has been awarded Gold Certification status in the Microsoft Partner Programme for its information worker competencies around the Microsoft Office solutions toolset for enabling easier, simpler, multidimensional financial data reporting.
The Information Worker Productivity Solutions Competency is used by Microsoft Gold Certified partners to provide solutions built on familiar programs that enable users to better manage, prioritise and collaborate on increasing volumes of information. The solution developed by idu Software is designed to enhance the Microsoft Office Excel add-in for SQL Server Analysis Services.
The Microsoft add-in is a business intelligence offering that enables users to access relevant information and rapidly create customised reports via Excel. Idu`s model, which targets the accountant as the end-user, enables simple yet enhanced financial reporting using the add-in without need for expensive specialised reporting systems.
The criteria for achieving Microsoft Gold Certification status for information worker competencies around the Microsoft Office solutions toolset are rigorous. Applicants should have at least three Microsoft certified employees with a Microsoft SQL qualification. The company must have a minimum of three sites that have implemented Microsoft Analysis Services and the recent Excel add-in, and that are using the reporting facility. Idu has 16 such sites.
"Gold Certified status in the Microsoft Partner Programme allows us to promote our expertise and relationship with Microsoft to our customers," says idu Software MD Kevin Phillips. "The benefits we will derive from this achievement will allow us to continue to enhance the value-added offerings we provide our customers."
Categories for Gold Certification include business intelligence, collaborative solutions, e-commerce, enterprise systems, hosting and applications services, learning solutions, security solutions, software products and support services.
"Partners play a critical role in delivering solutions and applications to customers with the Microsoft Office system," says Jeff Raikes, group VP 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. The opportunity for partners to highlight their expertise to customer is considerable in the growing information worker solution market."
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