Channel Awards 2020 - Vendor Criteria

Below are the criteria for all the Vendor categories in the 2020 Channel Awards

Award Name Datacentre Vendor of the Year

Eligibility Is this the Award for you?

Vendor Awards

The vendor awards will recognise the overall contribution that the vendor is making to business development in the UK channel, in terms of its product range and development, channel and marketing programmes, and service and support.

Datacentre Vendor of the Year

The award is open to all vendors operating within the UK datacentre market. This includes manufacturers of servers, networking equipment, software, components or peripherals that are relevant to the datacentre market. The manufacturers must be able to show that they have helped their channel partners to build and grow a profitable business in 2019/2020

Entry Criteria: Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry. Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone -try to add some colour/personality and just incorporate them into your entry as you see fit. Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Outline why you are entering this category, explain a bit about your company, your relevance to the category, what the channel means to your business - back up with numbers and stats to show channel growth and the actual percentage of your business that is through partners - and ensure the entry is relevant to the UK market.
What changes/enhancements have been made to your channel programme (can be in the form of products, new services and support) in the last 12 months, with evidence of the impact those changes have had on your partners (stats, figures) and describe why your programme stands out from the competition.
Describe how you have assisted your channel partners to actively increase their business over the past year - this can be through additional investment, headcount and training - please use facts and figures relevant to the UK market.
Pick a particularly successful partner (reseller/VAR/MSP/Integrator) case study from the past year (ie a partner that has seen their business grow as a result of your partnership) and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how you helped that partner succeed and ensure partner testimonials back up the case study.
Company ethos - how important is the channel throughout your company, how do you encourage staff to ‘think channel' and get the best out of your indirect strategy?

Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only. All programmes and initiatives must have been new or further developed in 2020 to qualify. Vendors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

NOTE: The Coronavirus Pandemic has had an impact globally on companies' performances - please do feel free to mention how the crisis has affected your strategy/goals in the UK and how you have innovated around that, but bear in mind we also have special Covid-19 related categories this year ONLY.

Maximum word count: 1,000.
Please read the criteria before submitting your entry. Relevant partner testimonials and supporting materials are welcome but must not exceed the 1,000 maximum word count.

Award Name Software Defined Vendor of the Year

Eligibility Is this the Award for you?

Vendor Awards

Software Defined Vendor of the Year

The award is open to all vendors that manufacture and sell a software-defined product whether this is Software defined networking, WAN, Storage or simply Software defined everything (SDX). The manufacturers must be able to show that they have helped their channel partners to build and grow a profitable business in 2019/2020

Outline why you are entering this category, explain a bit about your company, your relevance to the category, what the channel means to your business - back up with numbers and stats to show channel growth and the actual percentage of your business that is through partners - and ensure the entry is relevant to the UK market.
What changes/enhancements have been made to your channel programme (can be in the form of products, new services and support) in the last 12 months, with evidence of the impact those changes have had on your partners (stats, figures) and describe why your programme stands out from the competition.
Describe how you have assisted your channel partners to actively increase their business over the past year - this can be through additional investment, headcount and training - please use facts and figures relevant to the UK market.
Pick a particularly successful partner (reseller/VAR/MSP/Integrator) case study from the past year (ie a partner that has seen their business grow as a result of your partnership) and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how you helped that partner succeed and ensure partner testimonials back up the case study.
Company ethos - how important is the channel throughout your company, how do you encourage staff to ‘think channel' and get the best out of your indirect strategy?

Award Name Security Vendor of the Year

Eligibility Is this the Award for you?

Vendor Awards

The vendor awards will recognise the overall contribution that the vendor is making to business development in the channel, in terms of its product range and development, channel and marketing programmes, and service and support.

Security Vendor of the Year

This category is for all vendors that manufacture/develop software, hardware, systems or peripherals for the security market. The manufacturers must be able to show that they have helped their channel partners to build and grow a profitable business in 2019/2020.

Outline why you are entering this category, explain what your company is, your relevancy to the category, what the channel means to your business - back up with numbers and stats to show channel growth and the actual percentage of your business that is through partners - and ensure the entry is relevant to the UK market.
What changes/enhancements have been made to your channel programme (can be in the form of products, new services and support) in the last 12 months, with evidence of the impact those changes have had on your partners (stats, figures) and describe why your programme stands out from the competition.
Describe how you have assisted your channel partners to actively increase their business over the past year - this can be through additional investment, headcount and training - please use facts and figures relevant to the UK market.
Pick a particularly successful partner (reseller/VAR/MSP/Integrator) case study from the past year (ie a partner that has seen their business grow as a result of your partnership) and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how you helped that partner succeed and ensure partner testimonials back up the case study.
Company ethos - how important is the channel throughout your company, how do you encourage staff to ‘think channel' and get the best out of your indirect strategy?

Award Name Specialist Vendor of the Year

Eligibility Is this the Award for you?

Vendor Awards

Specialist Vendor of the Year

This category is open to vendors that manufacture (and/or market) particular ‘specialist' offerings. This includes both specialist products which a vendor may develop and/or a service that the vendor may offer. It must be a finished product and/or service, not component i.e. a product or service that a distributor or reseller can stock and/or sell. This will include audio-visual vendors, printer vendors, internet services, hosting or broadband services, WAN infrastructure and managed services or hosted applications. Please note that because there are cloud services, software defined, PSA/RMM, datacentre and security categories as well, preference will be given to entries outside those three areas. Vendors must show that they have helped their channel partners grow and build a profitable business in 2019/20

Outline why you are entering this category, describe your company briefly, your relevancy to the category, what the channel means to your business - back up with numbers and stats to show channel growth and the actual percentage of your business that is through partners - and ensure the entry is relevant to the UK market.
What changes/enhancements have been made to your channel programme (can be in the form of products, new services and support) in the last 12 months, with evidence of the impact those changes have had on your partners (stats, figures) and describe why your programme stands out from the competition.
Describe how you have assisted your channel partners to actively increase their business over the past year - this can be through additional investment, headcount and training - please use facts and figures relevant to the UK market.
Pick a particularly successful partner (reseller/VAR/MSP/Integrator) case study from the past year (ie a partner that has seen their business grow as a result of your partnership) and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how you helped that partner succeed and ensure partner testimonials back up the case study.
Company ethos - how important is the channel throughout your company, how do you encourage staff to ‘think channel' and get the best out of your indirect strategy?

Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only. All programmes and initiatives must have been new or further developed in 2019 to qualify. Vendors are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

Award Name Cloud Services Vendor of the Year

Eligibility Is this the Award for you?

Vendor Awards

Cloud Services Vendor of the Year

This category is open to all cloud services vendors, whether they sell a physical product or a virtual one. This includes cloud-based software manufacturers/developers and providers of any type of cloud service/product TO the channel. The vendors entering must be able to show that they have helped their channel partners to build and grow a profitable business in 2019/2020.

Outline why you are entering this category, briefly describe your company, your relevancy to the category, what the channel means to your business - back up with numbers and stats to show channel growth and the actual percentage of your business that is through partners - and ensure the entry is relevant to the UK market.
What changes/enhancements have been made to your channel programme (can be in the form of products, new services and support) in the last 12 months, with evidence of the impact those changes have had on your partners (stats, figures) and describe why your programme stands out from the competition.
Describe how you have assisted your channel partners to actively increase their business over the past year - this can be through additional investment, headcount and training - please use facts and figures relevant to the UK market.
Pick a particularly successful partner (reseller/VAR/MSP/Integrator) case study from the past year (ie a partner that has seen their business grow as a result of your partnership) and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how you helped that partner succeed and ensure partner testimonials back up the case study.
Company ethos - how important is the channel throughout your company, how do you encourage staff to ‘think channel' and get the best out of your indirect strategy?

Award Name Emerging Vendor of the Year

Eligibility Is this the Award for you?

Vendor Awards

Emerging Vendor of the Year

This category is open to all manufacturers that would class themselves as a relative newcomer to the channel, having worked with channel partners IN THE UK for a minimum of one and MAXIMUM of five years to qualify. The manufacturers must be able to show that they have helped their UK channel partners to build and grow a profitable business in 2019/2020, and also demonstrate what they think makes them eligible to be classed as an emerging vendor.

Outline why you are entering this category, briefly describe your company, your relevancy to the category, what the channel means to your business. Explain why you consider yourself an emerging vendor and what makes you stand out from the competition - back these claims up with numbers and stats to show both company and channel growth and the actual percentage of your business that is through partners. Please ensure the entry is relevant to the UK market.
Why have you picked the channel as your preferred route to market, and what benefits do you think you can bring your channel partners - can you provide any proof in the form of stats/figures (from the last 12 months?). Why should they go with you rather than the more established vendors in the market? What do you bring to channel that is fresh, exciting and new?
Describe how you have assisted your channel partners to actively increase their business over the past year - this can be through additional investment, headcount and training, or indeed have you seen rapid channel growth this year that has made a difference to your business? - please use facts and figures relevant to the UK market.
Pick a particularly successful partner (reseller/VAR/MSP/Integrator) case study from the past year (ie a partner that has seen their business grow as a result of your partnership) and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how you helped that partner succeed and ensure partner testimonials back up the case study.
Company ethos - how important is the channel throughout your company, how do you encourage staff to ‘think channel' and get the best out of your indirect strategy?

Award Name PSA/RMM Vendor of the Year

Eligibility Is this the Award for you?

Vendor Awards

PSA/RMM Vendor of the Year

This category is open to all vendors that operate in the Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) or Professional Services Automation (PSA) spaces. This is a fast-growing space and CRN believes it deserves a category to itself. The vendors entering must be able to show that they have helped their channel partners to build and grow a profitable business in 2019/2020 and how their technology is helping both partners and their customers better their businesses.

Outline why you are entering this category, briefly describe your company, your relevancy to the category, what the channel means to your business - back up with numbers and stats to show channel growth and the actual percentage of your business that is through partners - and ensure the entry is relevant to the UK market.
What changes/enhancements have been made to your channel programme (can be in the form of products, new services and support) in the last 12 months, with evidence of the impact those changes have had on your partners (stats, figures) and describe why your programme stands out from the competition.
Describe how you have assisted your channel partners to actively increase their business over the past year - this can be through additional investment, headcount and training - please use facts and figures relevant to the UK market.
Pick a particularly successful partner (reseller/VAR/MSP/Integrator) case study from the past year (ie a partner that has seen their business grow as a result of your partnership) and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how you helped that partner succeed and ensure partner testimonials back up the case study.
Company ethos - how important is the channel throughout your company, how do you encourage staff to ‘think channel' and get the best out of your indirect strategy?

Award Name: Best Covid-19-related project/initiative of the Year - Vendor - For 2020 ONLY

This has been a year like no other for all of us, and while there has been far too much sadness and tragic loss, the Coronavirus Pandemic has also brought out the best in so many people and companies.

Firms have been forced to innovate like never before, and channel firms have been at the very heart of this innovation - whether it is helping customers shift almost overnight to a full remote working strategy, or being involved in many initiatives that have helped vital organisations such the NHS keep going under immense pressure.

This award is to recognise that innovation and give some much-deserved recognition to those companies that have gone out of their way to help keep this country running during the most challenging conditions we have experienced in living memory. This award is to celebrate that innovation and raise awareness of some of the fantastic initiatives and projects that the channel was involved in during the heart of the crisis.

Entry Criteria: Please use these criteria as a rough guide to shaping your entry - but feel free to make it as personal as possible, including photographs

Outline what initiative you are entering in this category and explain how it came about during the pandemic. Tell us what the initiative was in as much detail as possible.
Feel free to explain how your company was personally affected by the crisis and how this initiative has not only helped customers, but has also impacted on the company itself.
The personal touch - how did your teams pull together to get this initiative off the ground? How much work went into it and how did they implement it under difficult social distancing conditions?
Testimonial - ask the customer to provide a short explanation of how your initiative has helped them and how vital it has been to helping them serve their own customers.
Any figures/facts you can share to demonstrate the achievements of the initiative will be welcomed by the judges.

Entries can be anything between 400 and 1,000 words - please include as much relevant information as possible and make it as personal as you like.

Award Name: Hero/Heroes of the Year - Vendor - For 2020 ONLY

2020 has been a year like no other for all of us, and while there has been far too much sadness and tragic loss, the Coronavirus Pandemic has brought many stories of human compassion and joy.

The channel has always been a caring environment with people right at the very heart of it, and there are many unsung heroes that just keep giving. Now is the time to recognise them.

This award is aimed at giving some much deserved recognition to those individuals or teams that have gone out of their way to help others during this crisis - this could be in a business capacity - with a CEO/director/regional manager/team leader helping vulnerable staff put food on the table, working with partners to provide an essential service, or a team working together to provide PPE to local NHS organisations or businesses, or individuals and teams helping their local community in other ways.

While they may be embarrassed - it is crucial that these unsung heroes get the recognition they deserve for their efforts.

Entry Criteria: Please use these criteria as a rough guide to shaping your entry - but feel free to make it as personal as possible, including photographs

Outline who/what team you are entering for this award. Please name everyone involved so they get the recognition they deserve. It is perfectly acceptable to nominate a team you are part of.
Explain what they have done and how it came about in as much detail as possible.
Feel free to explain how your company was personally affected by the crisis and how what these heroes has done has not only helped the intended recipients, but how their actions have impacted on the company itself.
Testimonial - feel free to get colleagues and those actually helped by their actions to say a few words about what they have done.

Entries can be anything between 400 and 1,000 words - please include as much relevant information as possible and make it as personal as you like.

VENDOR OF THE YEAR

IMPORTANT: If you make the shortlist in the below category, you will be required to produce further material to show to the judges on or before the official judging day. Normally this is a face-to-face presentation, but depending on how the Covid-19 situation progresses, this could be a five-minute video presentation instead. We will keep you informed as this develops.

Award Name: Vendor of the Year

Vendor Awards

Vendor of the Year

This category is open to all vendors that feel they have done a particularly outstanding job in the UK channel over the past 12 months that deserves the top accolade at the CRN awards. Any vendor, regardless of size, specialisation or focus is eligible to enter this award.

Demonstrate why you feel you qualify for the Vendor of the Year award - use stats and examples to show channel business growth, partner acquisition (both reseller and distributor), support and investment made into your channel strategy over the past year.
Why do you think you have done a better job than your competitors?
What has your channel-facing business achieved in the past 12 months that makes it stand out from the competition? Use facts, stats and figures to back this up and strengthen your entry.
What has been your company's biggest achievement over the past year in relation to the channel?
What part has your channel-facing team played in this and how is their relationship generally with the channel?
Pick a particularly successful case study (can be either reseller or distributor partnership) from the past year and explain to the judges why it was such a success, and why you think it will help you win this award. A reseller/distributor testimonial can be used to back up the case study.