Nominating a Customer

Phase I

Phase I of the nomination process was open November 14, 2012 through January 9, 2013, and included a few questions to gather information on the customer’s award qualifications. The answers shared during Phase I provided the Microsoft judging teams with the data needed to select 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 choose award finalists. The award nominators for these finalists are then 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

This year we will award customers in the following categories:

• Dynamic Business Award: Enterprise +
  • The Dynamic Business Award: Enterprise recognizes the organization with 1,000 or more employees that best exemplifies a true dynamic business with their use of business solutions across Microsoft, including Microsoft Dynamics AX, 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. (Note: nominations are not accepted for this category.)
• Dynamic Business Award: Small Business +
  • The Dynamic Business Award: Small Business recognizes the organization with less than 1,000 employees that best exemplifies a true dynamic business with their use of Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Microsoft Dynamics SL and/or Microsoft Dynamics CRM, plus other Microsoft technologies. The recipient will be chosen by a team of Microsoft executives from nominations submitted in each of the award categories. (Note: nominations are not accepted for this category.)
• Business Visionary Award +
  • The Business Visionary Award recognizes a person who has helped their company realize its vision or transform their organization in a significant way through the use of new technology (Microsoft products, including Microsoft Dynamics and other cutting edge technologies).
  • Award Criteria
    1. How many years has the nominee used Microsoft Dynamics?
    2. What is the nominee's role within their organization?
    3. Describe how Microsoft Dynamics helped this individual change the way they work or the way their organization does business, specifically any measurable success, productivity gains, and/or ROI.
• Community Champion Award +
  • The Community 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
    1. How many years has the nominee used Microsoft Dynamics?
    2. Share the list of conferences/industry events in which the nominee has participated, as well as the subjects covered.
    3. Does the nominee participate in a User Group locally or nationally? If so, explain his/her involvement.
    4. Does the nominee participate on the Microsoft Dynamics Community website http://community.dynamics.com? If so, explain his/her involvement.
    5. Does the nominee contribute to or author a blog? If so, share the URL.
    6. Have any prospective customers moved forward with their Microsoft Dynamics purchase because of the work this customer has done?
• Cloud Transformation Award +
  • The Cloud Transformation Award recognizes an organization that has achieved measurable success through innovative cloud-based use of Microsoft Dynamics through a hosted or online deployment.
  • Award Criteria
    1. How many years has the nominee used Microsoft Dynamics and how many users do they have?
    2. Describe the nominee's cloud-based use of Microsoft Dynamics.
    3. Provide three (3) bullet points describing the measurable success, productivity gains, and/or ROI of this deployment.
    4. Which other Microsoft technologies and/or ISV applications does the nominee use?
• Industry Excellence Award: Financial Services +
  • This Industry Excellence Award recognizes an organization that has achieved measurable success in the Financial Services industry through use of Microsoft Dynamics.
  • Award Criteria
    1. How many years has the nominee used Microsoft Dynamics and how many users do they have?
    2. Describe the nominee's industry-focused functionality, such as processes used and departments included.
    3. Provide three (3) bullet points describing the measurable success, productivity gains, and/or ROI of this deployment.
    4. Which other Microsoft technologies and/or ISV applications does the nominee use?
• Industry Excellence Award: Manufacturing +
  • This Industry Excellence Award recognizes an organization that has achieved measurable success in the Manufacturing industry through use of Microsoft Dynamics.
  • Award Criteria
    1. How many years has the nominee used Microsoft Dynamics and how many users do they have?
    2. Describe the nominee's industry-focused functionality, such as processes used and departments included.
    3. Provide three (3) bullet points describing the measurable success, productivity gains, and/or ROI of this deployment.
    4. Which other Microsoft technologies and/or ISV applications does the nominee use?
• Industry Excellence Award: Public Sector +
  • This Industry Excellence Award recognizes an organization that has achieved measurable success in a Public organization through use of Microsoft Dynamics.
  • Award Criteria
    1. How many years has the nominee used Microsoft Dynamics and how many users do they have?
    2. Describe the nominee's industry-focused functionality, such as processes used and departments included.
    3. Provide three (3) bullet points describing the measurable success, productivity gains, and/or ROI of this deployment.
    4. Which other Microsoft technologies and/or ISV applications does the nominee use?
• Industry Excellence Award: Services Industry +
  • This Industry Excellence Award recognizes an organization that has achieved measurable success in the Services Industry through use of Microsoft Dynamics.
  • Award Criteria
    1. How many years has the nominee used Microsoft Dynamics and how many users do they have?
    2. Describe the nominee's industry-focused functionality, such as processes used and departments included.
    3. Provide three (3) bullet points describing the measurable success, productivity gains, and/or ROI of this deployment.
    4. Which other Microsoft technologies and/or ISV applications does the nominee use?
• Industry Excellence Award: Retail +
  • This Industry Excellence Award recognizes an organization that has achieved measurable success in the Retail industry through use of Microsoft Dynamics.
  • Award Criteria
    1. How many years has the nominee used Microsoft Dynamics and how many users do they have?
    2. Describe the nominee's industry-focused functionality, such as processes used and departments included.
    3. Provide three (3) bullet points describing the measurable success, productivity gains, and/or ROI of this deployment.
    4. Which other Microsoft technologies and/or ISV applications does the nominee use?
• Ongoing Evangelism Award +
  • Congratulations to our 2013 winner, Ball Corporation!
  • The Ongoing Evangelism Award recognizes a past Customer Excellence Award recipient that has continued their Microsoft Dynamics advocacy since Convergence 2012 Houston through evangelism activities such as case studies, presentations, and reference calls. Ball Corporation, last year’s Technology Innovation Award winner, is this year’s recipient. (Note: nominations are not accepted for this category.)
• Productivity Award: Customer Care +
  • This Productivity Award recognizes an organization that has experienced measurable productivity gains in their customer care and support efforts due to their use of Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
  • Award Criteria
    1. How many years has the nominee used Microsoft Dynamics CRM and how many users do they have?
    2. Describe the nominee's use of Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
    3. Provide three (3) bullet points describing the measurable success, productivity gains, and/or ROI of this deployment.
    4. Which other Microsoft technologies and/or ISV applications does the nominee use?
• Productivity Award: ERP +
  • This Productivity Award recognizes an organization that has experienced measurable productivity gains in managing their back office with a Microsoft Dynamics ERP solution.
  • Award Criteria
    1. How many years has the nominee used Microsoft Dynamics and how many users do they have?
    2. Describe the nominee's use of Microsoft Dynamics.
    3. Provide three (3) bullet points describing the measurable success, productivity gains, and/or ROI of this deployment.
    4. Which other Microsoft technologies and/or ISV applications does the nominee use?
• Productivity Award: Sales Force Automation +
  • This Productivity Award recognizes an organization that has experienced measurable productivity gains in managing their sales and marketing functions with Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
  • Award Criteria
    1. How many years has the nominee used Microsoft Dynamics CRM and how many users do they have?
    2. Describe the nominee's use of Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
    3. Provide three (3) bullet points describing the measurable success, productivity gains, and/or ROI of this deployment.
    4. Which other Microsoft technologies and/or ISV applications does the nominee use?
• Technology Innovation Award: Enterprise +
  • This Technology Innovation Award recognizes an enterprise organization with 1,000 or more employees that has achieved measurable success in transforming their IT footprint through innovative use of Microsoft Dynamics.
  • Award Criteria
    1. How many years has the nominee used Microsoft Dynamics and how many users do they have?
    2. Describe the nominee's innovative use of Microsoft Dynamics.
    3. Provide three (3) bullet points describing the measurable success, productivity gains, and/or ROI of this deployment.
    4. Which other Microsoft technologies and/or ISV applications does the nominee use?
• Technology Innovation Award: Small Business +
  • This Technology Innovation Award recognizes a small business organization with less than 1,000 employees that has achieved measurable success in transforming their IT footprint through innovative use of Microsoft Dynamics.
  • Award Criteria
    1. How many years has the nominee used Microsoft Dynamics and how many users do they have?
    2. Describe the nominee's innovative use of Microsoft Dynamics.
    3. Provide three (3) bullet points describing the measurable success, productivity gains, and/or ROI of this deployment.
    4. 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 2013 New Orleans, 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 2013 New Orleans, 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 2013 New Orleans, 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