Customer Excellence Awards
The Customer Excellence Awards recognize, honor, and celebrate customer organizations that are achieving outstanding success with their Microsoft solutions. There are nine (9) categories this year, including the Dynamic Business Award which will recognize the organization that best exemplifies a true dynamic business with their use of Microsoft Dynamics ERP, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, and other Microsoft technologies.
We are pleased to announce this year’s award winning customers, as well as their award categories and partner organizations:
Accuray Incorporated
2012 Industry Excellence Award
Partner: Armanino Consulting
Ball Corporation
2012 Technology Innovation Award
Partner: Pariveda Solutions
Bedeschi SpA
2012 Technology Innovation Award
Partner: Altitudo srl
Centene Corporation
2012 Industry Excellence Award
Computer Data Source, Inc.
2012 Technology Innovation Award
Partner: MIG & Co.
DENTSPLY International, Inc.
2012 Dynamic Business Award
Partner: Tectura
Farabi Petrochemicals Company
2012 Industry Excellence Award
Partner: Infosys Limited
Kevin Bowman, Celluphone
2012 Champion Award
Partner: IGNIFY
Safety-Kleen Systems Inc.
2012 Operations Agility Award
Partner: PowerObjects
Saris Cycling Group
2012 Productivity Award
Partner: ABC Computers, Inc.
Specialists On Call, Inc. (SOC)
2012 Cloud Transformation Award
Partner: PowerObjects
Tesco Corporation
2012 Global Business Excellence Award
Partner: Hitachi Consulting
United Stationers Supply Co.
2012 Cloud Transformation Award
Partner: MBS Dev, Inc.
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
2012 Ongoing Evangelism Award
Partner: Avanade
In addition to the above Award Winners, the following companies were named Award Finalists this year:
2012 Award Finalists
BMW Russland Trading
Booz Allen Hamilton
BRAX, Ltd.
Computer Data Source (CDS)
Cox Media Group
Dell Secureworks
FIS Global
Group O
Guitar Center
H-E-B
KapStone
Keller Group
Lazydays RV Center
Luck Stone Corporation
Magma Design Automation
Maiyas Food and Beverages Private Limited
McCain
Microsemi
Morrison Hershfield
OptimizedNow
OSI Systems
Petro-Canada (Suncor Energy)
Survey Sampling International
The Seattle Times
Universal Weather & Aviation
World Vision
Nominating a Customer
Phase I
Phase I of the nomination process was open December 5, 2011 – January 9, 2012, and included a few questions to gather information on the customer organization’s award qualifications. The answers provided during Phase I were very important, providing the Microsoft judging teams with the data to select the customers who met or exceeded the award category criteria. Customer nominations that met or exceeded the criteria were invited by Microsoft to move on to Phase II as award finalists.
Phase II
After Phase I, the Microsoft judging teams chose award finalists. The award nominators for these finalists were asked to complete a Phase II nomination form. Nominators are contacted individually regarding the information they need to provide and the timeline for completion.
Award Categories
Dynamic Business Award
The Dynamic Business Award recognizes an organization that best exemplifies a true dynamic business with their use of Microsoft Dynamics ERP, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, and other Microsoft technologies. The recipient will be chosen by a team of Microsoft executives from nominations submitted in each of the award categories. Nominations are not accepted for this award category.
Champion
The Champion Award recognizes a person who shares their expertise with the Microsoft Dynamics community in activities such as speaking at conferences, contributing to community forums, blogging about tips and tricks, and more.
Award Criteria
- How many years has the nominee used Microsoft Dynamics?
- Share the list of conferences/industry events in which the nominee has participated, as well as the subjects covered.
- Does the nominee participate in a User Group locally or nationally? If so, explain his/her involvement.
- Does the nominee participate on the Microsoft Dynamics Community website? If so, explain his/her involvement.
- Does the nominee contribute to or author a blog? If so, share the URL.
Cloud Transformation
The Cloud Transformation Award recognizes an organization that has achieved measurable success through innovative online, "cloud"-based use of Microsoft Dynamics through a hosted or online deployment.
Award Criteria
- How many years has the nominee used Microsoft Dynamics and how many users do they have?
- Describe the nominee’s cloud-based use of Microsoft Dynamics.
- Provide three (3) bullet points describing the measurable success, productivity gains, and/or ROI of this deployment.
- Which other Microsoft technologies and/or ISV applications does the nominee use?
Global Business Excellence
The Global Business Excellence Award recognizes an organization that has achieved measurable success and business efficiency across multiple countries, currencies, languages, and/or business processes due to their use of Microsoft Dynamics.
Award Criteria
- How many years has the nominee used Microsoft Dynamics and how many users do they have?
- Describe the nominee’s global business endeavors.
- Provide three (3) bullet points describing the measurable success, productivity gains, and/or ROI of this deployment.
- Which other Microsoft technologies and/or ISV applications does the nominee use?
Industry Excellence
The Industry Excellence Award recognizes an organization that has achieved measurable success in their particular industry through use of Microsoft Dynamics.
Award Criteria
- How many years has the nominee used Microsoft Dynamics and how many users do they have?
- Describe the nominee’s industry-focused functionality, such as processes used and departments included.
- Provide three (3) bullet points describing the measurable success, productivity gains, and/or ROI of this deployment.
- Which other Microsoft technologies and/or ISV applications does the nominee use?
Ongoing Evangelism
The Ongoing Evangelism Award recognizes a past Customer Excellence Award recipient that has continued their Microsoft Dynamics advocacy since Convergence 2011 Atlanta through evangelism activities such as case studies, presentations, and reference calls. The recipient will be chosen by a team of Microsoft executives from the pool of 2011 award recipients. Nominations are not accepted for this award category.
Operations Agility
The Operations Agility Award recognizes an organization that has achieved measurable success in responding to rapidly changing IT needs by connecting Microsoft Dynamics to their existing IT infrastructure for a subsidiary location or specific business process.
Award Criteria
- How many years has the nominee used Microsoft Dynamics and how many users do they have?
- Describe the nominee’s use of Microsoft Dynamics for a subsidiary location or specific business process.
- Provide three (3) bullet points describing the measurable success, productivity gains, and/or ROI of this deployment.
- Which other Microsoft technologies and/or ISV applications does the nominee use?
Productivity
The Productivity Award recognizes an organization that has experienced measurable productivity gains due to their use of Microsoft Dynamics.
Award Criteria
- How many years has the nominee used Microsoft Dynamics and how many users do they have?
- Describe the nominee’s use of Microsoft Dynamics.
- Provide three (3) bullet points describing the measurable success, productivity gains, and/or ROI of this deployment.
- Which other Microsoft technologies and/or ISV applications does the nominee use?
Technology Innovation
The Technology Innovation Award recognizes an organization that has achieved measurable success through innovative use of Microsoft Dynamics.
Award Criteria
- How many years has the nominee used Microsoft Dynamics and how many users do they have?
- Describe the nominee’s innovative use of Microsoft Dynamics.
- Provide three (3) bullet points describing the measurable success, productivity gains, and/or ROI of this deployment.
- Which other Microsoft technologies and/or ISV applications does the nominee use?
Judging Process
A Microsoft lead is assigned to lead a team of 5-6 judges for each category. The judges review each award nomination and rate them to determine the customer organizations that will move into Phase II as finalists. Microsoft will contact the award nominators of these finalists to direct them to the Phase II nomination forms.
Phase II nomination forms will be reviewed by each judging team, who will then select their top finalists. The lead for each category will meet with a panel of Microsoft executives to present their proposed winner for approval. Upon executive approval, nominators and winning customers will be notified.
Benefits of Winning a Customer Excellence Award
Prior to Convergence 2012 Houston, award recipients can expect:
- recognition as an award finalist and then award winner on the Convergence website
- press release templates for use by the award winner and their partner(s)
During Convergence 2012 Houston, award recipients can expect:
- recognition and a reserved table at the awards luncheon hosted by Microsoft executives
- trophy for award winner and their partner(s)
- photographs taken with executives
- recognition in Convergence materials
- one 30 minute meeting scheduled with a Microsoft executive
- one complimentary registration pass for Convergence
After Convergence 2012 Houston, award recipients can expect:
- continued recognition on the Convergence website with the addition of your commemorative awards photo
- electronic version of your commemorative awards photo
Expectations of Award Recipients
Award recipients are expected to:
- be a participating member of the customer reference program
- sign a Microsoft legal release to allow use of company name, logo, etc. in Convergence materials
- provide company logo (.eps and .jpg) for use in Convergence materials
- RSVP for the awards luncheon hosted by Microsoft executives