Event Coverage: Microsoft Channel Partner Conference

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen this is Jack from Tech-Critter once again, this time bringing you coverage of Microsoft's annual Channel Partner Conference which was held at Sunway Pyramid Convention Center just earlier today.

With the recent bloom in Cloud IT infrastructure, Microsoft's annual Channel Partner Conference has gathered hundreds of key local service providers, distributors, resellers and businesses in Malaysia this time to brief and encourage the embrace of a mobile-first, cloud-first mindset nationwide.

The conference first started with César Cernuda, President of Microsoft Asia-Pacific sharing with the crowd which consisted of key local service providers, distributors and resellers on how consumers and businesses in Malaysia are already embracing the benefits of a mobile-first, cloud-first world. He also said that the trend is highly positive with business leaders recognizing the need to transform and lead digitally powered organizations that are adaptive to change.

Representatives from Microsoft and distinguished partners of the Cloud Solutions Provider (CSP) program posing for picture at the announcement today. From left to right, Patara Yongvanich, Regional Managing Director, Rhipe South-East Asia. Faycal Bouchlaghem, Executive Vice-President Global Cloud, Crayon Software Experts. Tay Boon Tiang, Managing Director, Ingram Micro Malaysia Sdn Bhd. K. Raman, Managing Director, Microsoft Malaysia. César Cernuda, President, Microsoft Asia Pacific. Azizah Ali, General Manager, Small and Midmarket Solutions and Partners (SMS&P), Microsoft Malaysia. Massimo Migliuolo, Chief Executive Officer, VADS Berhad. Shanti Jusnita Johari, Head of Enterprise Solutions, Maxis Berhad. Jeffrey Khow, Sales Director, Shinjiru Technology Sdn Bhd. Raphael Erb, Vice President, Asia Pacific, SoftwareOne.

From left to right, Azizah Ali, General Manager, Small and Midmarket Solutions and Partners (SMS&P), Microsoft Malaysia, and K. Raman, Managing Director.

César Cernuda, President, Microsoft Asia Pacific delivering his opening address.

K. Raman, Managing Director, Microsoft Malaysia delivering his welcome speech.

Alongside Microsoft's recent initiative (more info can be found here) to create new partner opportunities across cloud and mobility, Microsoft announced in today's partner announcement that it has expanded it's Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) Program to help partners continue to build, grow and overall benefit from Microsoft Cloud and what cloud technology has to offer. This time Microsoft has announced seven new Malaysian partners that will be joining said program which consists of : MAXIS, VADS, INGRAM MICRO, SHINJIRU, SOFTWAREONE, RHIPE and CRAYON.

Azizah Ali, General Manager, Small and Midmarket Solutions and Partners (SMS&P), Microsoft Malaysia introducing the Cloud Solutions Provider (CSP) partners.

Under the CSP program, there are two models available for vendors to provide Microsoft solutions to customers:

• 1-Tier for strategic partners who interact directly with customers, and are able to bill and provide support accordingly. These are partners who will deal directly with Microsoft. 
• 2-Tier is for partners who will be working with resellers with easy-to-customize cloud services from Microsoft by leveraging a Cloud distribution partner’s billing, support, and value-added services.

With the greater cloud market expected to reach US$200 billion by 2018, Microsoft continues to work closely with its partners by empowering them to transform today’s businesses with powerful productivity offerings, ubiquitous mobile solutions and intelligent cloud. Microsoft has the largest partner ecosystem in the industry, investing over US$2 billion annually in channel operation – also the largest amount in the industry. In Malaysia alone, the company maintains over 5,000 partners nationwide, the largest in Malaysia’s IT industry.

“For the millions of Microsoft customers in Malaysia and around the world who need help to transition their business to the cloud, channel partners are often their unsung heroes. With so many technology choices to consider, partners bring relevant business solutions to life for customers, and in many ways they make those solutions better. What hasn’t changed is that Microsoft knows that partners are the best way to bring this reinvention to customers, and we will continue to take steps to make it more valuable, less expensive and easier for local partners to do business. Together we have a unique opportunity to help customers embrace the mobile-first, cloud-first world with a differentiated vision for the future,” Raman added.

With all that being said, it really proves to us that the move and adaptation to cloud technology will truly be a win-win situation for everybody, including businesses and customers alike!

After a pleasant lunch session, we also had the chance to join a short small group interview with The Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI), which is a global network of financial policymakers from developing and emerging countries working together to increase access to appropriate financial services for the poor; and also ROCA, a business who deals in the manufacturing of plumbing fixtures and bathroom accessories, two of Microsoft's Cloud customers which would be sharing and discussing how their respective companies benefited from making the move to cloud technology.

The interview started with a short introduction to AFI and ROCA by Azizah Ali who is the General Manager of Small and Midmarket Solutions and Partners (SMS&P), Microsoft Malaysia.

Azizah Ali, General Manager, Small and Midmarket Solutions and Partners (SMS&P), Microsoft Malaysia introducing AFI and ROCA.

Moving onwards, Nudhi Paricharttanakul, Senior Finance Manager for AFI and Josep Delicado, Managing Director of ROCA Malaysia and Singapore and their respective Microsoft solutions partners went on to share about their experiences when making the move towards cloud based technology and how it has been beneficial for them. Both individuals had stated that cloud storage has given them the opportunity to maximize efficiency, cut costs and open up countless possibilities. They have also advised businesses and startups alike who are on the fence about cloud storage to make the daring plunge as it will be a move that they most likely won't regret.

Nudhi Paricharttanakul, Senior Finance Manager for AFI, sharing his experience and advice on cloud technology.

Josep Delicado, Managing Director of ROCA Malaysia and Singapore, sharing his experience and advice on cloud technology.

After the fruitful and cheery interview, it ended with Azizah Ali presenting tokens of appreciations to both Microsoft's cloud customers and partners alike for sharing their experience and advice during the interview session.

Nudhi Paricharttanakul, Senior Finance Manager for AFI receiving a token of appreciation.

Josep Delicado, Managing Director of ROCA Malaysia and Singapore receiving a token of appreciation.

And that's a wrap, what an eventful day! Overall, the movement towards cloud storage within our nation is certainly fascinating and I hope it would open up many more options and possibilities for both businesses and customers alike! Once again this has been Jack bringing you event coverage of Microsoft's Channel Partner Conference, stay tuned for anything and everything tech related right here at Tech-Critter. Thank you for reading and I hope you have a nice day!