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Convergence » Atlanta 2011 » About » Customer Excellence Awards

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CUSTOMER EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Customer Excellence Awards recognize, honor and celebrate customers who are achieving outstanding success with their Microsoft solutions. There are seventeen (17) categories this year, as well as two Overall Outstanding Achievement Awards – one for an ERP customer and one for a CRM customer.

We’re pleased to announce the 2011 Customer Excellence Award finalists. Award winners will be announced in mid-March.

American Orthodontics
Amway
Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina
Cable Shopping Network
CALIBRE
Colliers International
CSX
CyraCom
Delta Controls
Direct Wines
Distant Lands Trading Co.
ECRI
Feeding America
Flow International
FMC Corporation
Great Kitchens, Inc.
Greenfield Industries
GulfFarabi Petrochemical Company
Gumdrop Books
Harrison Walker Harper
HDS Retail North America
Healthfirst
Internet Securities Inc. (ISI Emerging Markets)
Jones Lang LaSalle
Jordan Bromine Co. PFZ
Lazydays
Magma Design Automation
Mayo Collaborative Services, Inc.
Medical Connections
Microsemi Corporation

Monterey Bay Aquarium
Nalco Company
Network Equipment Technology, Inc. (NET)
New Belgium Brewing
North American Communication Resources (NACR)
Peet's Coffee and Tea
Piaggio Aero Industries Spa
Pioneer Hi-Bred
Polaris
PREMIER GOLF MANAGEMENT (Eagle Golf)
Price Transfer, Inc.
RCN
Reed Smith LLP
RigNet, Inc
SBA Networks
ShoreTel, Inc
Software House International (SHI)
State of IL
Student Shelter In Computers
Survey Sampling International
Tampa Port Authority
Taylor Corp.
TESCO
Thorlabs, Inc.
TSYS
Viatech Publishing Solutions Inc.
ViraCor Laboratories
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Yokogawa
Zeller

Customer Excellence Awards Process

Nominating a Customer
Categories & Criteria
Judging Process
Benefits of Winning a Customer Excellence Award
Expectations of Award Recipients

Nominating a Customer

Phase I Nomination forms for each category were available January 21 - February 10, 2011.

Phase I
Phase I of the nomination process was open January 21 - February 10, 2011, and included a few questions to gather information on the customer’s award qualifications. The answers provided during Phase I are very important, providing the Microsoft judging team with the information to select the customers who meet or exceed the award category criteria. Customer nominations meeting or exceeding the criteria will be invited by Microsoft to move on to Phase II as award finalists.

After February 10, the Microsoft Judging team will select award finalists. The finalists’ nominators will then complete Phase II of the nomination process.

Phase II
After Phase I, the Microsoft judging team will choose award finalists. The nominators for these finalists will be asked to complete Phase II. Nominators will be contacted individually regarding the information they will need to provide and the timeline for completion.

Categories

Excellence in Evangelism

The Evangelism Award recognizes customers who have best promoted Microsoft Dynamics by sharing information with others and helping improve the product they use by providing feedback to Microsoft. Five award winners will be name and one will be chosen for each of the following products:
Microsoft Dynamics AX
Microsoft Dynamics CRM
Microsoft Dynamics GP
Microsoft Dynamics NAV
Microsoft Dynamics SL

Award Criteria

How many years has the customer used Microsoft Dynamics?

Is the customer a member of the Customer Reference Program? If so, for how long?

How many reference calls has the customer completed?

Is the customer profiled in any Microsoft case studies, testimonials or videos?

Is the customer a registered member of the Microsoft Dynamics Community site?

Has the customer participated in any Convergence concurrent or general sessions in the past?

Does the customer participate in a User Group locally or nationally?

In addition to Microsoft Dynamics, what other Microsoft technologies is the customer using?

Other?

Excellence in Innovation

The Innovation Award recognizes customers whose innovative use of a broad range of Microsoft technologies delivers measurable benefits to their organization. Five award winners will be named and a winning customer will be chosen for each of the following products:
Microsoft Dynamics AX
Microsoft Dynamics CRM
Microsoft Dynamics GP
Microsoft Dynamics NAV
Microsoft Dynamics SL

Award Criteria

How many years has the customer used Microsoft Dynamics?

Provide 3 bullet points as to why this implementation is innovative.

Which other Microsoft technologies does the customer use?

Which ISV applications does the customer use?

What are the measurable benefits this company has realized by using Microsoft Dynamics?

Other?

Excellence in Ongoing Achievement

The Ongoing Achievement Award recognizes a customer who has a long term and continuous commitment to Microsoft Dynamics.

Award Criteria

How many years has the customer used Microsoft Dynamics?

Which Microsoft Dynamics product and version was originally installed at the customer site and with how many original users? How many current users?

What was the original scope of deployment (financials, inventory control, supply chain, etc) and what is the scope of deployment today?

How has integration with other applications (ISV apps, Microsoft Office, Legacy apps, CRM, etc) evolved over time?

How many years has the customer attended Convergence?

Is the customer a member of a Dynamics User Group locally or nationally?

In addition to Microsoft Dynamics, what other Microsoft technologies is the customer using?

Other?

Excellence in Global Implementation

The Global Implementation Award recognizes a customer who has achieved extraordinary success with the implementation of their Microsoft business management solution across multiple countries, currencies, languages and/or business processes. This customer has demonstrated innovative technology use and process execution to overcome the many challenges of doing business globally.

Award Criteria

How many years has the customer used Microsoft Dynamics and how many users do they have?

In how many countries is the solution deployed?

How many languages are supported?

What has this customer realized in return on investment from using Microsoft Dynamics?

Other?

Excellence in Subsidiary Implementation

The Subsidiary Implementation Award recognizes a company whose corporate headquarters has a legacy business management solution for group wide consolidation and reporting, yet uses Microsoft Dynamics in their subsidiary location(s) to maximize their agility and return on investment.

Award Criteria

How many years has the customer used Microsoft Dynamics?

Which legacy business management solution does the company's corporate headquarters utilize?

Why did the customer purchase Microsoft Dynamics to manage the subsidiary location?

How long did it take to implement Microsoft Dynamics in the subsidiary location?

What has this customer realized in return on investment from using Microsoft Dynamics in their subsidiary location rather than the headquarters' system?

Other?

Excellence in Financial Management

The Financial Management Award recognizes a customer who has demonstrated excellence in their organization's financial management with the implementation of a Microsoft Dynamics solution.

Award Criteria

Which industry best describes this customer?

What makes this customer's financial management success stand out above other customers?

What has this customer realized in return on investment from using Microsoft Dynamics?

Other?

Excellence in Industry Implementation

The Industry Implementation Award recognizes a customer whose Microsoft Dynamics solution extends deeply into the vertical-specific business processes of their organization. This customer has demonstrated how Microsoft Dynamics products can benefit their organization with increased efficiency and productivity, as well as improve their competitive positioning.

Award Criteria

How many years has the customer used Microsoft Dynamics?

Provide a three bullet point overview of the vertical specific functionality the customer has deployed in their organization (in which processes and departments).

What has this customer realized in return on investment from using Microsoft Dynamics?

Which, if any, ISV solutions have been used to complete this vertical solution?

Other?

Excellence in Building Customer Relationships

The Building Customer Relationships Award recognizes a customer who has demonstrated the best usage and implementation of Microsoft Dynamics CRM to drive measurable results in sales, marketing and customer service.

Award Criteria

What CRM functionality does the customer use (ex: sales, service and/or marketing)?

How many users does the company have and in which countries do they work?

In addition to Microsoft Dynamics CRM, what other Microsoft technologies is the customer using?

Is there anything uniquely innovative about the customer solution?

What has this customer realized in return on investment from using Microsoft Dynamics CRM?

Other?

Excellence in Extending Microsoft Dynamics CRM

The Extending Microsoft Dynamics CRM Award recognizes a customer who has customized and extended Microsoft Dynamics CRM beyond the core sales, marketing and service capability to fit their specific business needs, resulting in significant benefits for their organization.

Award Criteria

How many years has the customer used Microsoft Dynamics?

How many users does the company have and in which countries do they work?

Please describe how Microsoft Dynamics CRM was customized to meet their specific needs?

How long did the solution take to develop and deploy?

In addition to Microsoft Dynamics CRM, what other Microsoft technologies is the customer using?

What has this customer realized in return on investment from using Microsoft Dynamics CRM?

Other?

Overall Excellence – ERP and CRM

The Overall Excellence winners are chosen from nominations submitted in the above award categories by a team of Microsoft executives.

Judging Process

Microsoft judging 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 customers who will move into Phase II as finalists. Microsoft will contact the 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 the actual conference, award recipients can expect:

recognition as an award winner on the Convergence website

to receive a Celebration-in-a-box

to receive press release templates for use by the award winner and their partner(s)

During Convergence, award recipients can expect:

to attend, along with their partner, an awards event hosted by Microsoft executives

photographs taken with executives (which will be emailed to you and posted to the Convergence website)

recognition in all Convergence materials

recognition during a Convergence keynote Session

a half hour meeting scheduled with a Microsoft executive

one complimentary registration pass for Convergence

After the conference is complete, award recipients can expect:

recognition on the Convergence website

Expectations of Award Recipients

Award recipients are expected to:

sign a Microsoft legal release to allow use of your company name, logo, etc. in Convergence materials.

provide your company logo (.eps or other high resolution file) for use in Convergence materials.

RSVP for the onsite awards recognition event hosted by Microsoft executives.

Questions regarding registration? Contact the Convergence Registration Team.
Questions regarding the event? Contact the Convergence Event Team.

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Hi ,
I’m attending Microsoft® Convergence® 2011 in Atlanta, April 10-13. Convergence is the premier Microsoft Dynamics event where you can experience first-hand how you can optimize your business and improve your bottom line. This event serves as the meeting point for the Microsoft Dynamics Customer and Partner business community. Here are four great reasons why you should join me:

Learn how you can get the most out of your Microsoft Dynamics solution

Concurrent sessions. Attend breakout sessions presented by Microsoft product experts. Participate in workshops led by customers and their partners who have worked together to implement a successful solution for their business.

Community and Learning Center. A one-stop shop for networking and learning, offering free technical support, research activities and opportunities to meet fellow users and product experts. Participate in hands-on lab exercises and evaluate products with Microsoft experts and industry partners.

Interactive discussion groups. A great opportunity to dialogue peer to peer. Get insights directly from users like you, ask questions, and exchange ideas.

Network with your peers and Microsoft product experts.
Convergence is the only opportunity to network with your peers, Microsoft experts, and industry leaders all in one place—and make lasting connections within the Microsoft community.

Experience the latest Microsoft products and technologies.
Take advantage of close to 400 sessions covering Microsoft Dynamics and the latest Microsoft products. With new product releases across all of our product lines, there are a lot of strategies, demonstrations and information to share at each of our general sessions. These presentations lay the foundation for the breakout sessions that take place the remainder of the week. Make a point to participate in your particular product sessions, and learn more about some of the other Microsoft products. Either way, you’re sure to gain a clearer picture of the road up ahead.

Get insights into Microsoft’s corporate direction, and understand future plans for your Microsoft Dynamics solution.

Hear directly from key Microsoft Dynamics executive leaders, including Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, about the broader Microsoft vision and company direction—and how Microsoft Dynamics strategy aligns.

Align your business to take best advantage of the insights you gain regarding Microsoft’s direction and solution investments.

Let’s go together! Visit the Convergence website to Register Now!

Best regards,

Hi ,
I would like to attend Microsoft® Convergence® 2011 in Atlanta, April 10-13. Convergence is the premier Microsoft Dynamics® event for customers! Here are four great business reasons you should send me.

While at Convergence, I will:

Learn how we can get the most out of our Microsoft Dynamics solution.

Learn how to use the features and functionality of the Microsoft Dynamics solution we currently license to improve operational efficiencies and increase employee productivity.

Discover how Microsoft Dynamics can help us meet our fiscal responsibilities and compliance obligations.

Network and collaborate with my peers and the product experts from Microsoft.

Tap into the strength of the Microsoft Dynamics community and get expert tips and see firsthand how users like us are optimizing their Microsoft Dynamics solutions to solve business problems.

Consult with our solution provider and the Microsoft personnel who are directly responsible for developing and supporting our product.

Take advantage of networking and learning opportunities outside of conference sessions. For example, in the Community and Learning Center, we can get free technical support, participate in hands-on lab exercises, and meet fellow users and product experts.

Experience the latest solution innovations, new products, and technologies.

Get up-to-date on the latest Microsoft products and business technologies such as Office 2010, SharePoint 2010, and SQL Server and learn how these products can enhance our Microsoft Dynamics solution.

Get insights into Microsoft’s corporate direction, and understand future plans for our Microsoft Dynamics solution.

Hear directly from key Microsoft Dynamics executive leaders about the broader Microsoft vision and company direction—and how Microsoft Dynamics strategy aligns.

Align our business to take best advantage of the insights I gain regarding Microsoft’s direction and solution investments.

Plus, Convergence 2011 Atlanta is cost-effective and easy to attend. Atlanta offers many affordable hotel options, and the event starts on a Sunday so it will take less time from my work week.

Sounds like a great opportunity, doesn’t it? To learn more about Convergence 2011 Atlanta, visit the Convergence Web site.

Thanks and best regards,

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