From Canadian Fashion Designers To Office Supply Retailers, Microsoft Canada Co. Recognizes Businesses Using IT To Help Stay Competitive
Second annual Heroes of Innovation Event showcases Canadian businesses that leverage Microsoft-based technologies to help increase productivity and competitiveness.
MISSISSAUGA, ON, February 2, 2005 - Microsoft Canada Co. today announced it is recognizing Canadian IT professionals at its second annual Heroes of Innovation event, for helping make their companies more competitive by improving productivity with innovative solutions based on the Microsoft-based platform. The Microsoft Heroes of Innovation event showcases how Canadian companies across a range of industries are using the Windows Server System™ integrated server software, which integrates with Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system, Microsoft Business Solutions, Microsoft Visual Studio® development system, the Microsoft Office System and technology partner solutions, to help increase productivity and competitiveness.
From helping customers find the right designer dress to getting prime seafood from ocean to table even faster, Canadian companies are using Microsoft-based technologies to help improve employee and system productivity, making them more competitive overall. Alliance Atlantis, Benjamin Moore, Chubb Insurance, Comsense, The Credit Valley Hospital, ESCADA Canada, Frontier Adventure Racing, Grand & Toy, London Drugs, National Fast Freight, Niagara Health Systems, Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan, Pembina Trails School Division, Shoppers Drug Mart, Source de Sport, Stolt Sea Farm, and Webcom Ltd. have all overcome unique business challenges, and are doing more with less using the integrated innovation of the Microsoft-based platform.
"Pembina Trails School Division will save $2 million by moving from a mix-match of Linux, Macintosh and Windows NT® operating system to Windows Server™ 2003 operating system," said Don Reece, Director of IT, Pembina Trails School Division. "Microsoft-based technology has enabled us to create a consistent IT environment that lets teachers and students across 33 schools communicate and collaborate with one another, while allowing us to handle 50 per cent more services calls without expanding our IT team."
The Microsoft Heroes of Innovation event also recognizes technology partners like NexInnovations, CMS Consulting, LegendCorp, Clarity Systems, Axentia, GHI Technologies, Sunaptic Solutions, Dakis Decision Systems Inc., Charon Systems, Raymark Xpert Business Systems Inc., VOX Wireless, Lanworks, Ideaca and ObjectSharp, who work with small, medium and large businesses to help solve their unique IT challenges.
"Canadian companies are looking for new ways to drive business value and better compete in the marketplace," said John F. Payés, Vice President Marketing and Corporate Development, Dakis Decision Systems Inc. "Leading software vendors and technology partners are working with every size of enterprise to develop technology solutions that will help businesses overcome their challenges, and increase productivity and operational efficiencies."
"Customers are telling us they need tools that enable them to help reduce network complexity, so they can develop proactive business solutions that help increase worker productivity, provide exceptional customer service, and improve operational efficiencies," said Jordan Chrysafidis, Director, Windows Server System, Microsoft Canada Co. "The integrated innovation of the Microsoft Windows Server System and the extensive technology partner ecosystem helps customers focus less on managing network infrastructure, and more on using IT as a competitive business advantage for their organizations."
The Canadian Heroes of Innovation use the Windows Server System, Microsoft Windows XP SP 2, Microsoft Business Solutions, Microsoft Visual Studio and the Microsoft Office System to help solve different business challenges. Highlights of some of the attendee's heroic deeds include:
Management Tool Makes Stars Of Alliance Atlantis IT Team
Alliance Atlantis is delivering improved uptime and a more reliable computing experience for employees at Alliance Atlantis offices around the world. IT staff can now quickly and accurately resolve IT-issues and rely less on outside contractors to identify system problems.
The CreditValleyHospital Gets A Clean Bill of IT Health
The Credit Valley Hospital was able to decrease after-hour support calls by 30 per cent, and can now apply single security profiles to multiple computers, eliminating the need to visit 1,069 staff computers to help ensure security policies are being met.
IT Helps Dress Fashion-Forward Customers from Vancouver to Montreal
ESCADA Canada, the Canadian division of an international luxury retailer of high-end women's designer fashions, is meeting the needs of its discerning shoppers by giving staff access to real-time inventory and sales data, enabling them to see which designer items are flying off the shelves in which stores, and transfer inventory between locations as per customer demand.
Making Offices Work: IT Helps Grand & Toy Anticipate Customer Needs
Grand & Toy is using IT to gain a competitive advantage over other bricks and mortar companies. It has increased customer service with Microsoft-based tools like Defector Detector, which alerts sales reps to changes in customer buying patterns.
Sporting Goods Retailer takes Service to the Extreme with IT
Brolisport La Source du Sport, a sporting goods retailer, is using IT to differentiate itself from big-box chains by offering top-notch customer service through an artificial intelligence solution, which has helped increase sales of alpine skis by 21 per cent.
IT Hooks Customers on Seafood
Stolt Sea Farm, a global player in the aquaculture industry, has given its worldwide sales reps instant online access to reports and purchase information rather than having them wait until month-end, helping to improve customer service.
Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan Employees Learn Work-Life Balance From IT
Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan is teaching employees how technology can help them manage their time and priorities, assisting staff to achieve a better work/life balance. As a result, employee productivity has increased 77 per cent.
About Microsoft Canada Co.
Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Co. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT") the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in both French and English. Headquartered in Mississauga, Microsoft Canada has 10 regional offices across the country dedicated to empowering people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. Visit Microsoft Canada's web site at www.microsoft.ca
©2005 Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft, Visual Studio, Windows, Windows NT, Windows Server and Windows Server System are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
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