ADVERTORIAL: Microsoft Q&A on Channel Awards success

Microsoft's Clare Barclay reflects on winning Cloud Services Vendor and Vendor of the Year at the 2015 CRN Channel Awards

Outline Microsoft and its channel strategy

We are committed to helping partners grow their business profitably to serve their customers in a mobile-first, cloud-first world. Our passion is always to be the best business decision that partners can make.

How has 2015 been for your business in general?

We - and our partners - have seen some great successes in 2015, driven by a rapid shift to cloud and hybrid business models, with customers increasingly leveraging technology solutions to help them differentiate their businesses for future success. Business customers increasingly need access to technology wherever they are - so in addition to demand for cloud services we are also seeing an increasing appetite for mobility solutions.

How pleased are you to have won?

We are thrilled to be recognised by the readers of CRN and our partners in this way. We are honoured to have received not one but two accolades, with the Cloud Services Vendor of the Year showing recognition of the cloud momentum and opportunity that we have together with our partners.

How has the award been received in the company so far? How did you celebrate?

The team that were at the Awards had a few celebrations on the evening! The wider Microsoft team here in the UK are excited and proud to have been selected and we are committed to helping partners accelerate their business in the year ahead.

What would you say is the greatest channel achievement in 2015?

The growth and momentum of our cloud business in the past year and the opportunity we see ahead. Across productivity, business applications and infrastructure we are seeing an explosion of growth in cloud services and we are excited about the opportunity for growth and profitability this represents for our partners going forward. Our cloud partner ecosystem has more than doubled in the past year, so it's great to see our partners sharing this excitement and enthusiasm.

How important is the channel to your business?

Microsoft's success is defined by the success of our partners, with 98 per cent of our business coming through the channel, and we are committed to helping partners innovate with new business models and programme offerings - as well as creating demand for our partners.

What difference will winning this award make to your business going forward?

Winning two awards inspires us to do an even better job in supporting our channel. To be nominated for - and win - two awards spurs us on to bigger and better things as we drive the opportunity with our partners in the year ahead!

Clare Barclay is general manager, small and mid-market solutions and partners at Microsoft Limited