Australia shines as ARN unveils record-breaking number of finalists for enhanced Innovation Awards
- 06 October, 2021 10:45
ARN is proud to announce the finalists of an enhanced Innovation Awards in 2021, housing a record-breaking number of submissions in what will be the largest celebration of ecosystem excellence in delivering transformative customer solutions across Australia.
Now set for Thursday 9 December, Innovation Awards will run as an in-person black tie event to bring the industry back together under the ARN roof at ICC Sydney -- aligned to COVID-safe conditions of entry to in-person event formats.
Representing the entire Australian ecosystem, 315 finalists (including 85+ individuals) make the shortlist from a pool of over 195 organisations and more than 470 nominations, spanning partner, start-up, telco, vendor and distributor businesses.
This marks a significant expansion in reach, support and market appeal, outpacing a best effort of over 200 finalists in 2020 to position Innovation Awards as the leading technology awards program for customer innovation and ecosystem excellence in the Australian channel.
Reflective of a diverse technology network, more than 125 partners and start-ups are represented and range from large-scale multinational consultancy firms to emerging start-ups, alongside leading system integrators, managed service providers and solution consultants, plus cloud specialists, independent software vendors, boutique agencies and application developers.
This is in addition to over 55 channel-centric vendors and telecommunications providers, plus 15 supply chain experts in distribution.
Within this standout group, finalists are located across the entire country and represent all states and territories, spanning New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Australian Capital Territory (ACT), South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and Northern Territory.
Aligned to the ARN approach of representing established and emerging technology providers in equal measure, Innovation Awards in 2021 stands tall as the leading forum for setting the industry benchmark for ecosystem excellence across Australia.
“The 15th running of ARN Innovation Awards has undoubtedly captured the most challenging yet transformative period of the Australian channel,” said Cherry Yumul, vice president of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation at IDG. “On the one hand, battling against the odds to keep businesses running during COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions, yet on the other, raising the bar for industry excellence through the deployment of bleeding-edge technologies and solutions.
“Such juxtaposition perfectly illustrates the DNA of this industry -- tough and transformative in equal measure.”
In 2021, Innovation Awards will honour the channel across eight categories, spanning Partner Innovation, Tech Innovation, Australia-wide Innovation, Start-up Innovation, Personal Innovation, Vendor Innovation, Distributor Innovation and Hall of Fame.
In streamlining the program -- reducing the category count from 10 to eight -- the aim is to increase focus on the pace-setters of the local market, those revving up the innovation engine and powering ahead in the delivery of transformative solutions and services.
One new category introduced is Australia-wide Innovation which recognises partners headquartered outside of the two most-populated metropolitan areas in the country (Sydney and Melbourne) delivering customer value and transformation.
“We sought transformative projects and examples of best practice that produced significant impact to businesses and customer service, and this year's nominees did not disappoint,” Yumul added.
“The strong calibre of submissions is testament to the ecosystem’s innovation and creativity in the face of adversity. We are especially honoured to highlight the solid performance hailing from the regional areas which provides an impressive national picture of the country's innovation and entrepreneurship assets.”
Other award additions include Think Differently, acknowledging partners operating beyond transactional engagement to deploy creative and unique solutions in the pursuit of customer transformation.
Specific to distribution, Creativity will acknowledge distributors delivering outside-of-the-box initiatives to enhance vendor value propositions and spearhead partner innovation efforts, aligned to the collective goal of driving ecosystem growth.
In response to a wealth of standout submissions, Personal Innovation has been divided to best acknowledge and highlight the depth of talent in the Australian market. Technical Excellence, Marketing Excellence, Sales Excellence and Management Excellence will be segmented into two sub-categories spanning Partner and Vendor / Distributor awards.
This is alongside the addition of a Collaboration award within the Vendor Innovation category, acknowledging the sharp rise in unified communications and remote working solutions being deployed via the channel during the past 12 months.
This decision was made by the IDG shortlist panel consisting of Cherry Yumul (vice president of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation); James Henderson (Editorial Director) and Julia Talevski (Senior Journalist) with the aim of providing a foundation upon which a broader range of exceptional companies can be recognised.
In addition to honouring winners, ARN also holds wider responsibility for ensuring as many credible technology providers are endorsed through this unique awards program, aligned to the collective goal of providing a platform upon which the ecosystem can shine across Australia.
Finalists will now be selected by an executive judging panel of business leaders from partner, vendor and distributor organisations.
Enhanced customer exposure
In a step away from predictable awards programs, local partner ecosystem expertise will not only be acknowledged and celebrated, but transformative examples of partner best practice amplified further to more than 210,000 potential customers nationwide via a digital marketing alliance with the end-user media brands of IDG -- CIO, CSO and Computerworld.
Notable enhancements centre around the increased prioritisation of customer case studies to showcase the innovative capabilities of expert partners, a commitment to expand reach into all states and territories and a heightened focus on both established and emerging providers.
To achieve this, ARN has joined forces with the Enterprise media brands of IDG to enhance Innovation Awards value to emerging and established partners across Australia, providing heightened end-user exposure via market-leading CIO, CSO and Computerworld publications.
In a first-of-a-kind industry move, the alliance will centre on running targeted digital campaigns designed to showcase leading technology providers to potential customers nationwide, illustrating ecosystem excellence to more than 210,000 end-users in the process.
Specifically, the core stable of IDG media brands -- Channel (ARN) and Enterprise (CIO, CSO and Computerworld) -- will combine to raise brand awareness levels of transformative partners delivering innovative solutions and services, based on the finalist submissions for the upcoming Innovation Awards in December.
All shortlisted partners in 2021 will receive marketing exposure via IDG’s prominent Enterprise publications -- in addition to customary ARN publicity -- to showcase specialised consultation, transformative projects and leading-edge implementation within the channel.
This will take shape in the form of a strategic sponsored article housed on each respective end-user brand detailing all partner category finalists and winners, providing opportunity to position partners as standout outsourcing providers.
The decision to add an outside-of-the-box marketing element to the Innovation Awards was motivated by a desire to further accelerate connection levels between partners and customers in Australia.
As an ongoing champion of the channel, ARN is uniquely positioned to not only advise and amplify the value of the ecosystem -- via editorial content, executive conferences and awards programs -- but to also assume an active role in contributing to partner success and future growth.
Shaped by EDGE Research -- commissioned by ARN and delivered in partnership with Tech Research Asia -- this approach is also designed to reflect the top strategic priorities of channel partners in 2021 and beyond, centred primarily around attracting new customers.
The equation for partners is simple: industry recognition via ARN Innovation Awards + marketing exposure via CIO, CSO and Computerworld publications = enhanced end-user brand profile and positioning.
ARN congratulates all finalists and thanks all organisations and individuals for taking the time to submit nominations.
PARTNER INNOVATION
Partner Innovation recognises customer innovation and excellence across the key market segments of Enterprise, Mid-Market and SMB, in addition to pioneering technology specialists and collaborative providers.
Enterprise:
- AC3
- Advanced Mobile IT
- ASI Solutions
- Brennan IT
- CMD Solutions
- Data#3
- Ericom
- Insight
- Kiandra
- KPMG
- Logicalis
- Versent
Mid-Market:
- Advent One
- blueAPACHE
- Brennan IT
- CCNA
- First Focus
- Kaine Mathrick Tech
- NetStrategy
- Nexon
- Oreta
- Seccom Global
- Somerville
- TechSpecialist
- The Missing Link
SMB:
- Calibre One
- CrossPoint Technology Solutions
- eNerds
- Int Tec Solutions
- JCurve Solutions
- Lanrex
- Powernet IT Solutions
- TechForce Services
- Traction IT
- Wiise
Think Differently:
- Acurus
- Arq Group
- Barhead Solutions
- Cognizant
- CSO Group
- Ericom
- LAB3
- Lanrex
- Opsis
- SixPivot
- TeleApps
Collaboration:
- Be Nimble IT
- Citrus Solutions & Taleka
- Cyconsol
- Dynamic Aspect & Platinum Technology
- Exigo Tech
- InfoTrust
- PEXA & Accenture
- Subnet, Core Technology Partners, Kaine Mathrick Tech & OPC IT
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TECH INNOVATION
Tech Innovation recognises partners leveraging established and emerging solutions to enhance customer innovation levels, underpinned by deep levels of expertise and specialist services.
Cloud:
- ASI Solutions
- Cognizant
- Data#3
- Exigo Tech
- Insight
- Kablamo
- Katana1
- KPMG
- Lancom Technology
- Linktech Australia
- Oreta
- Rubicon Red
- Tecala Group
Security:
- Arinco
- Exigo Tech
- Operational Systems
- Privasec
- Quorum Systems
- Tecala Group
Digital Transformation:
- ASG Group
- Cevo
- Cognizant
- Dynamic Aspect
- Evolution Business Systems
- First Focus
- Jasco Consulting
- Orro
- Outcomex
- Powernet IT Solutions
- PwC
- TechSpecialist
Emerging:
- Accenture
- Arinco
- Coevolve
- DiUS
- Eliiza
- Konica Minolta
- KPMG Origins
- LAB3
- Lynkz
- Outcomex
- Tata Consultancy Services
- Tecala Group
Homegrown ISV:
- Airlock Digital
- Atlastix
- Centorrino Technologies
- Cloudcase Software Solutions
- CloudWave
- Complexica
- Cyara
- Eftpos Australia & Slalom
- iasset.com
- meldCX
- OnePlace Solutions
- Wiise
AUSTRALIA-WIDE INNOVATION
Australia-wide Innovation recognises partners delivering customer innovation headquartered outside of the two most-populated metropolitan areas in the country. This is partner is a market-leading specialist which thrives in challenging end-user environments, sparking new ideas and outcomes through an unconventional approach to technology consulting and implementation. Note: This award is open to partners headquartered outside of Sydney and Melbourne.
National:
- ASG Group (Perth, Western Australia)
- Exposé (Adelaide, South Australia)
- Forward IT (Belconnen, ACT)
- Operational Systems (Adelaide, South Australia)
- Pursuit Technology (Canberra, ACT)
- Rubicon Red (Brisbane, Queensland)
- Subnet, Core Technology Partners, Kaine Mathrick Tech & OPC IT (AU-wide)
- TelcoDataCloud (Adelaide, South Australia)
Regional:
- Area9 (Darwin, Northern Territory)
- Calibre One (Mawson Lakes, South Australia)
- Colton Computer Technologies (Orange, New South Wales)
- Essential Tech (Brisbane, Queensland)
- Int Tec Solutions (Mildura, Victoria)
- Lindentech (Perth, Western Australia)
- TechConnect IT Solutions (Hope Island, Queensland)
- TasmaNet (Hobart, Tasmania)
START-UP INNOVATION
Start-up Innovation recognises market-leading start-ups building unique businesses to bring innovative new technologies to the Australian market. Note: All submissions must be from Australian-based start-ups.
Product:
- Backup365
- Invarosoft
- Lynkz
- MicroGifts
- The U Group & Co
- Wondaris
Sector:
- Acusensus
- Archistar AI
- Education360
- SolBox
- Umlaut
Customer Value:
- Arinco
- Baidam Solutions
- BluBiz Solutions
- Otto IT
- Nueva Solutions
- Smart-Ui Group
Entrepreneur:
- Chris Padgett & David Lee - Arinco
- Amit Sethi - BluBiz Solutions
- Xara Tran - Champions of Change
- Andre Morgan - CMD Solutions
VENDOR INNOVATION:
Vendor Innovation recognises vendors helping partners deliver transformative solutions and services to customers, operating market-leading approaches to engagement and enablement across the key technology segments of Cloud, Security, Hardware, Software, Networking, Collaboration and Specialist.
Cloud:
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise
- Informatica
- Kong
- Microsoft
- OVHcloud
- Veeam Software
- VMware
Security:
- BlackBerry
- ESET Software
- ExtraHop
- Fortinet
- LogMeIn (LastPass)
- Microsoft
- Proofpoint
- Sophos
- Virsec Systems
- WatchGuard Technologies
- Webroot
- Zscaler
Hardware:
- Cisco
- Dell Technologies
- Dynabook
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise
- HP
- Lenovo
- Vertiv
- Zebra Technologies
Software:
- Avaya
- Cisco
- Citrix
- Datto
- GitLab
- NICE
- Schneider Electric
- Veeam Software
- VMware
Networking:
- Cisco Meraki
- Cradlepoint
- NBN Co
- Telstra
- VMware
- Vocus
Specialist:
- Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise
- BlackLine
- Cohesity
- ConnectWise
- Datto
- Huawei Technologies
- Nintex
- Schneider Electric
- StorageCraft (an Arcserve company)
Collaboration:
- 3CX
- 8x8
- Access4
- Avaya
- Cisco (Webex)
- Dubber
- MaxContact
- RingCentral
- Poly
DISTRIBUTOR INNOVATION:
Distributor Innovation recognises distributors spearheading ecosystem innovation and growth through transformative approaches to vendor engagement and partner enablement, spanning the core categories of Hardware, Software, Specialist and Creativity.
Hardware:
- Dicker Data
- Leader
- Westcon-Comstor
Software:
- Dicker Data
- Ingram Micro
- Nextgen Group
- Rhipe
- Westcon-Comstor
Specialist:
- ACA Pacific
- Bluechip Infotech
- Exclusive Networks
- Mia Distribution
- Nextgen Group
- SecureSoft Distribution
- Synnex
- Westcon-Comstor
Creativity:
- Aria Technologies
- Dicker Data
- Exclusive Networks
- Ingram Micro
- Nextgen oSpace
- Orca Technology
- Tech Data
- Westcon-Comstor
PERSONAL INNOVATION
Personal Innovation recognises standout individuals who contribute to customer, company and channel success through a transformative approach to management, channel, sales, technical and marketing positions.
Channel Excellence:
- Rebecca Bradburne - BlackBerry
- Yenny Moey - BlackLine
- Ruth Holmes - Check Point
- Luke Neofytou - Ingram Micro
- Sunny Gandhi - Lenovo
- Yvette McEnearney - LogMeIn
- Andrew Charitou - NBN Co
- James Walters - Nextgen Group
- Stephen Schuffelen - Veeam Software
- Winston Wong - VMware
- Lani Edwards - Vocus
- Foad Farrokhnia - Zscaler
Technical Excellence (Partner):
- Luke Higgins - Accenture
- Tim O'Neill - Arinco
- Lisa Crosbie - Barhead Solutions
- Sireesh Varma Dantuluri - Cognizant
- Michael Schirshove - Dynamic Aspect
- Etienne Oosthuysen - Exposé
- Stephen Seckar - Forward IT
- James Peterson - NetStrategy
- Karuppasamy Murugesan - Sourced Group
- Arun Kannan - Tata Consultancy Services
- Ruchit Deshpande - The Missing Link
Technical Excellence (Vendor / Distributor):
- John Reisinger - Aussie Broadband
- Alex Burmeister - Barracuda Networks
- Lorenzo Coppa - Datto
- Stephen Gillies - Fastly
- Perrie Suhr - HP
- Joachim Seilo - Lenovo
- Rebecca Hopping - NEXTDC
- Ben Sullivan - Nextgen Group
- Chris Ellis - Nintex
- Alex Soncini - Procore Technologies
- Kenan Fernandes - Schneider Electric
- Geoff Morrison - Sophos
Marketing Excellence (Partner):
- Alexandra West - ASI Solutions
- Alvin Paronda - Barhead Solutions
- Carla Kaine - Kaine Mathrick Tech
- Santana Pham - Outcomex
- Bec Ney - The Missing Link
Marketing Excellence (Vendor / Distributor):
- Shalini Karthikeyan - Cisco Meraki
- Kajri Saxena - Cisco
- Ashleigh Cameron - Dicker Data
- Danielle Peate - Lenovo
- Nick Love - Nextgen Group
- Kathleen Grahame - Sophos
- James Bright - Tech Data
- Nikki Saunders - Vocus
- Seamus Pearson - Westcon-Comstor
Sales Excellence (Partner):
- Briant Kareroa - AC3
- Carl Lowenborg - Arinco
- Jason Eaton - ASI Solutions
- Mike Medves - Barhead Solutions
- Resh Perera - Cevo
- Nick Denison - CMD Solutions
- Jules Calvert - Data#3
- Holly Garbutt - Outcomex
- Guyon Collins - Slalom Australia
- Danny Thien - Somerville
- David Bingham - The Missing Link
Sales Excellence (Vendor / Distributor):
- Lauren Escalona - Datto
- Glen Maloney - ExtraHop
- Asbed Boymoushakian - Lenovo
- Winston Zhuo - N-able
- Sarah Mainprize - Nintex
- Mel Lucas - Sophos
Management Excellence (Partner):
- Frank Cuiuli - 8Squad
- Jason King - ASI Solutions
- James Lewis - Cevo
- Adam Durbin - CMD Solutions
- Emma Lo Russo - Digivizer
- Harshu Deshpande - Slalom
- Tim Baguley - Sourced Group
- Ali Kaabi - The Missing Link
- Dean Robinson - Versent
Management Excellence (Vendor / Distributor):
- James Bergl - Datto
- Shant Soghomonian - Dell Technologies
- Derek Rast - Fastly
- Chelsea Rossney - HP
- Matt Telfer - Lenovo
- Gavin Lawless - Nextgen Group
- Philip Dimitriu - Sophos
- Gary Jackson - Tenable
- Larissa Crabb - Westcon-Comstor
HALL OF FAME
Hall of Fame recognises long-standing leaders who have been instrumental in the development and enhancement of the Australian channel. One individual will be inducted into the ARN Hall of Fame in 2021 and will be determined by the executive panel of industry judges plus previous Hall of Fame inductees.
For more information regarding sponsorship opportunity or event details -- click here.