Best Information Management Solution Winner: Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) www.csc.com
Solution Name: Wireless Product Identification (WPI)
Contact Name: George Ware
CSC Australia’s innovative wireless product identification solution extends the supply chain system into the field in a heavy industrial setting to improve the management of bulky products across very large industrial sites. The solution provides seamless mobile offline and online access and information exchange to manage product inventory.
CSC Australia’s wireless product identification solution incorporates WepSphere Everyplace Access, WebSphere Studio Application Developer, WebSphere Studio Device Developers, DB2 Everyplace and MQSeries Everyplace. In this solution, DB2 Everyplace provides the unique capability to enable local data storage on mobile devices with background synchronization when re-connected to the enterprise application. CSC’s solution helped one client improve cash flow and lower product handling costs with faster delivery, lower error-rates and fewer returns.
Finalists:
Cognos Incorporated www.cognos.com
Solution Name: Cognos 8 Business Intelligence
Contact Name: Laura Nicol
FRITZ & MACZIOL Software und Computervertrieb GmbH
www.fum.de
Solution Name: "Just enough resources anytime and anywhere": FRITZ & MACZIOL is the virtualization partner
Contact Name: Mr. Heribert Fritz
Best Lotus® Software Solution
Winner:
PSC Group, LLC www.psclistens.com
Solution Name: enTouch.portal
Contact Name: David Hough
When Universal Underwriters Group (UUG) needed a more proactive, 360-degree view of their customers and relevant sales data, they turned to PSC Group for a Sales Scoreboard Portal. With customer information spread across 10 disparate policy systems, PSC applied the IBM SOA model and leveraged IBM WebSphere Portal software to aggregate all information into a single accessible view. PSC utilized SOA development techniques, web services and portlets to surface data and workflow from IBM WebSphere Application Servers, legacy systems, and DB2 data repositories.
The Sales Scoreboard Portal significantly reduced the turnaround time and manual tasks in data collection, compilation, and analysis, yielding a $3 million revenue increase for UUG within the first six months of operation.
Best Service Management Technology Tivoli Solution
Winner:
Encode, Inc. www.Encodeinc.com
Solution Name: Tivoli Identity Manager Express
Contact Name: Steve Shumansky
When UNNICO, a best-in-class facilities maintenance service organization, needed to streamline the management of user identities to optimize efficiency and strengthen security, they turned to Encode and its Tivoli Identity Manager Express solution. Encode’s solution reduced the time required to provision new users and strengthened governance processes.
The identity management solution leverages IBM Tivoli Directory Integrator and IBM Tivoli Identity Manager Express 4.6 while the portal solution is powered by Tivoli Access Manager for e-business, IBM Tivoli Directory Server, DB2, Websphere Portal, Lotus Notes and Domino, QuickPlace and Sametime.
Judges remarked that Encode “developed a solution that truly shows how automated IT services can directly improve operating efficiency and contribute to business success.”
Finalists:
Solutions-II, Inc. www.Solutions-II.com
Solution Name: Storage Consolidation Solution for Vail Valley Medical Center
Contact Name: William T. Bowling
Best WebSphere® Services Oriented Architecture (SOA) Solution
Winner:
Ultramatics www.ultramatics.com
Solution Name: UltraStart Business Solutions
Contact Name: Saru Seshadri
As an “All Blue” shop, Ultramatics collaborates with IBM in significant ways which clearly demonstrate wise execution and a structured philosophy leading to stellar customer references and case studies in both the Integrated and SMB marketplace. Ultramatics has codified several reusable assets that continue to expedite our SOA deliveries.
Ultramatics is not an academic research firm, but as a proven IBM implementation partner with vertical solutions, “Best Practices” is not a theory or marketing campaign, it is the very foundation of Ultramatics business.
With an internal focus of helping customers implement “mission-critical” and sustainable solutions, Ultramatics demonstrates operational excellence by way of real life implementations including a recent win in late 2006 of one of the largest SOA deals in IBM SMB America’s history.
Prolifics www.prolifics.com
Solution Name: Southside Electric Cooperatives’ SOA initiative integrating the mobile workforce, call center and office real time.
Contact Name: Devi Gupta
IBM Software Best Open Computing Solution
Winner:
Open Demand Systems, Inc. www.opendemand.com
Solution Name: OpenLoad
Contact Name: Donald Doane
OpenLoad On Demand leverages only open standard and open source based technologies. It is integrated with Eclipse and deployed on WebSphere Application Server Community Edition and Cloudscape on Linux. With OpenLoad On Demand, SMB companies now have access to a viable solution for ensuring the quality of Web applications and ultimately mitigating their technology while minimizing business risk.
As a result of deploying on open source technology, OpenDemand was able to dramatically reduce the time and resources required by its clients to ensure the quality of their business critical Web applications. For example, one banking client leveraged OpenDemand’s solution to reduce its testing cycles from 3 months to 3 weeks and its overall testing staff from 15 to 5 engineers.
Finalists: Gillani, Inc. www.gillani.com
Contact Name: Atif Ahmed
Novell www.novell.com
Solution Name: Integrated Stack for SUSE® Linux Enterprise
Contact Name: Emily Gibson
Rational – Most Valuable Partner (MVP) Award
Winner:
BSD Group, Inc. www.bsdgroupinc.com
Solution Name: Oracle® Applications Extension for Rational Performance Tester
Contact Name: Matt Thomas
BSD Group’s Oracle Applications Extension for Rational Performance Tester solution allows for the recording, playback, and performance testing of Oracle Applications 11i. The solution enables clients to validate the readiness of their application for production and avoid costly delays and downtime that result from deploying an application that performs poorly or crashes during production load level.
The solution expands the performance testing protocols that Rational Performance Tester supports and allows greater penetration of Rational Performance Tester into new accounts. BSD Group has worked closely with IBM to produce a very strong offering around migrating companies from the Mercury Interactive solution to IBM Rational testing solutions.
Finalists: Praxis Engineering Technologies, Inc. www.praxiseng.com
Solution Name: Praxis IBM Rational Business Partner Unification
Contact Name: Jerry Schepers
Sogeti Group www.sogeti.com
Contact Name: Jean-Marc Gaultier
The Best Common Platform Technology Ecosystem Solution
Winner:
Synopsys www.synopsys.com
Contact Name: Lonn Fiancee
Synopsys develops, validates, distributes and supports complete reference design flows for the Common Platform 65nm and 90nm process technologies. These flows provide all of the necessary capabilities to transform RTL into production-ready GDSII that can be manufactured at any Common Platform foundry. The Synopsys 65nm reference flow is currently the only reference flow available for the Common Platform 65nm process.
“Judges selected Synopsys as the winner in this category based on its ability to deliver cutting edge innovative value to customers while working closely with IBM to both create and deliver solutions and technologies to customers,” said Ravi Marwaha, General Manager, IBM Global Business Partners.“ Synopsys. is combining technology expertise with business insight to help their clients innovate on important business issues and realize real efficiencies."
Finalists: Analog Bits Inc. www.analogbits.com
Contact Name: Mahesh R. Tirupattur
Clear Shape Technologies, Inc. www.clearshape.com
Solution Name: InShape™ and OutPerform™
Contact Name: Nitin Deo
The Best IBM Embedded Power Architecture Solution
Winner:
Mercury Computer Systems, Inc. www.mc.com
Solution Name: development of coprocessor acceleration system on the Cell BE processor"
Contact Name: Joel Radford
Mercury Computer Systems’ rapid commercialization of the Cell processor has led to key early adopter design wins for the cell processor that are expected to blaze a trail for IBM’s acceleration strategy in the server market as well as for IBM’s approach with Heterogeneous Multicore Processors. Mercury Computer Systems’ technical personnel have worked closely with IBM to define requirements for the Axon processor, to secure customer meetings, to sell initial prototypes across industries, and to push the envelope on the feasibility of card level and system level design surrounding the cell processor
Judges remarked that Mercury Computer Systems “provided deep insight and delivered a cell based solution with superior technical results.”
Finalists: Mobilesoft (Aust) Pty Ltd www.mobilesoft.com.au
Solution Name: Home Media Centre
Contact Name: Tom Simms
The Best IBM Semiconductor Solution
Winner:
Avnet Electronics Marketing Group www.em.avnet.com
Contact Name: Jeff Ittell
Beginning in 2004 IBM opened up its ASIC design methodologies for execution by Avnet. The Avnet / IBM partnership in the ASIC market brought the IBM ASIC advantage to numerous new clients. Since launching the program Avnet has designed the IBM ASIC methodology for clients such as General Electric, Force 10 Networks, Extreme Networks, Redback Networks, and others.
The Avnet design team encompasses ASIC design from a standard ASIC to a full, turnkey design where they handle all aspects of ASIC development from architecture definition to manufacturing release.
Judges remarked that Avnet “represents an example of the benefits to customers, Business Partners and IBM that come from seamless collaboration and innovative collaboration.”
Finalists: Cadence Design Systems www.cadence.com
Solution Name: Development of a Highly Integrated RF Mixed Mode IC for Mobile Phone Applications
Contact Name: David A. Haeussler
RF Integration Inc www.rfintegration.com
Solution Name: High Performance UWB Radio Solutions
Contact Name: Patrick O'Sullivan
Systems & Technology
The Best IBM System p AIX solution
Winner:
Fiserv Insurance Solutions www.fiservinsurance.com
Solution Name: Policy STAR®
Contact Name: Eddie Jones
AAA Missouri selected the Fiserv Policy STAR Web-based policy administration system to replace their legacy policy administration system. Rather than enter information into a front-end system, agents enter information directly into Policy STAR, providing real-time processing and eliminating the need to pass information between the front and back-end systems. Processing time for homeowner insurance policies has decreased from 10 to 2 days. Use of the system also has improved customer service since internal staff uses the same system as customers and agents.
Judges remarked that Fiserv Insurance Solutions “has delivered a highly targeted, affordable solution providing clear benefits to insurers – improved business efficiency, faster claims processing and improved customer service – all while ensuring the scalability they will need down the road to continue to grow their business.”
Finalists: Data#3 Limited www.data3.com.au
Solution Name: Unix Infrastructure Optimisation through Virtualisation
Contact Name: John Grant
Mainline Information Systems www.mainline.com
Solution Name: System p and SAAS Raptor Fraud Detection Solution
Contact Name: Kelli Bass
The Best IBM System p Linux Solution
Winner:
Sybase, Inc. www.sybase.com
Contact Name: Joseph Santos
Sybase ASE 15 extends management of unstructured and semi-structured data with advanced XML capabilities, and improved ease of XML document generation and schema validation. ASE 15 also includes extended services for directly accessing unstructured data in operating system files, and is now bundled with the core server –in previous versions it was sold separately.
This year the IBM System p with Linux on POWER and Sybase ASE set a new transaction processing performance record for 2-core systems by delivering 81,439 transactions per minute (tpmC) on the leading TPC-C benchmark. IBM and Sybase beat the competitions performance record for Linux by 58 percent.
The Best IBM System Storage Virtualization Solution
Winner:
FRITZ & MACZIOL Software und Computervertrieb GmbH www.fum.de
Solution Name: "Just enough resources anytime and anywhere": FRITZ & MACZIOL is the virtualization partner
Contact Name: Mr. Heribert Fritz
FRITZ & MACZIOL implemented a virtualization solution leveraging IBM SAN Volumen Controller (SVC), IBM Disk Systems, Tivoli Storage Manager for SVC Copy Services, and Tivoli Productivity Center for central and integrated management of the storage infrastructure. The solution provides GaVI mbH with the highest availability and reliability, flexible data use and data management, security optimization, and reduced costs and administration expenses.
Judges remarked that “achieving 40 percent year to year growth with IBM, FRITZ & MACZIOL is a dedicated IBM Business Partner with a strong commitment to virtualization complemented by deep skills.”
Finalists: Logicalis www.us.logicalis.com
Solution Name: Delivering Smart IT Solutions – One Relationship at a Time
Contact Name: Bob Hankins
S1 IT Solutions, Inc. (formerly SourceOne, Inc.) www.chooseS1.com
Solution Name: Broadspire iVOS Claims Project
Contact Name: Chelsea Jones
The Best IBM System X Energy Management Solution
Winner:
Sirius Computer Solutions www.siriuscom.com
Contact Name: Susan Griffin
Sirius Computer Solutions architected an energy-efficient solution to meet AISO.net’s corporate power consumption goals and dedication to a clean environment. The initial steps included the consolidation of 70 white box servers to four, highly-efficient IBM System x346 servers running VMware Infrastructure 3.0 with virtualization capabilities. Sirius also incorporated storage and software solutions to enhance the hosting environment. The reconfiguration of AISO.net’s computing environment eliminated the need for a traditional energy source and enabled them to solely rely on the power generated through solar panels.
Judges remarked that Sirius Computer Solutions “has not only instituted server consolidation and virtualization techniques to reduce energy but they have done so in a holistic fashion which uses solar panels to deliver a solution is truly '”green” from start to finish.”
Finalists: Azaleos Corporation www.azaleos.com
Solution Name: Azaleos BladeMail and OneServer
Contact Name: Keith McCall
COPAN Systems, Inc www.copansys.com
Solution Name: Revolution 220 Series
Contact Name: Mark Ward
The Best IBM System x Solution
Winner:
Datatrend Technologies, Inc. www.datatrend.com
Solution Name: BroadWorks Infrastructure Appliance
Contact Name: Charlie Cox
Datatrend Technologies partnered with BroadSoft, Inc., a VoIP (Voice over IP) software solutions provider, to develop a turnkey infrastructure appliance using Linux on IBM BladeCenter. Datatrend Technologies worked closely with IBM’s Next Generation Network (NGN) team, to help BroadSoft port their Sun Solaris based solution over to BladeCenter and Linux, to achieve successful test validation, and to roll out the solution to the marketplace, including BroadSoft’s extensive base of customers.
Judges remarked that “through excellent collaboration with IBM and Business Partners, Datatrend Technologies brings outstanding innovation to the NGN space to deliver real client value.”
The Best IBM System z9 and eServer zSeries Solution
Winner:
Cornerstone Systems, Inc. www.csihome.com
Solution Name: IBM z9 BC & DB2 Installment Loan Application Back-End Data Base Solution
Contact Name: Steve Acevedo
With reliability, availability, and scalability as the major requirements for CompuCredit VSH’s Installment Loan Application, Cornerstone recommended an initial solution design that included a System z Processor migrated to a z9 BC, a DS8300 Storage Server, 3592-E05 Enterprise Tape as the hardware infrastructure and DB2 for the database engine. This infrastructure serves as the back-end database server for a WebSphere-based Installment Loan Application, running on IBM Blade Servers, delivered over the Internet for customer use.
Judges remarked that Cornerstone Systems “delivered an innovative solution for CompuCredit for client revenue generation, reliability, availability, scalability and all with excellent speed to market.”
Finalists: GlassHouse Systems Inc. www.glasshousesystems.com
Solution Name: Education Core Systems Modernization (ECSM)
Contact Name: Eric Walker
Mainline Information Systems www.mainline.com
Solution Name: System z and Banking ISV solution
Contact Name: Kelli Bass
The Most Innovative IBM System i Solution
Winner:
3Com Corporation www.3Com.com
Solution Name: System i IP Telephony
Contact Name: Allan Scott
3Com Corporation teamed with IBM to deliver an innovative, highly differentiated IP Telephony solution for customers. Delivering tight integration of the 3Com IP Telephony for System i solution with Lotus Notes and SameTime provides Small and Medium Business (SMB) customers with an economical highly integrated solution that previously would only have been available to large corporations willing to invest significantly in custom integration.
Judges remarked that 3Com's solution “showcases the unique benefits of the System i platform and is one of the most innovative solutions on the market for System i. 3Com’s investment, leadership and cross industry solution capabilities make them an invaluable Business Partner.”
Finalists: ISF Alpiz, C.A. www.isfalpiz.com
Solution Name: Seedbed for Emerging Banks
Contact Name: José Luis Salaño
Japan Business Computer Corporation www.jbcc.co.jp
Contact Name: Mitsuru Higashiyama
IGS Teaming Award for Consultants and Integrators
Winner:
Pasporte Limited www.pasporte.com
Contact Name: Peter Gee
Pasporte integrates IBM Technical Support Services, Server Services, Desktop Services, Business Continuity and Recovery Services and other solutions (including Business Transformation Outsourcing) with its own Managed Services portfolio to present a single seamless service to its clients. The IBM services are integrated into the Pasporte Service Management framework, ensuring that the client has a single point of operational ownership for the various IBM, Pasporte and other service components within their tailored offering. Currently, IBM and Pasporte jointly deliver approximately $7M per year of IBM revenue using this model, across a number of UK clients.
Judges remarked that Passporte “represents an example of the benefits to customers, Business Partners and IBM that come from seamless collaboration.”
Finalists: Gruppo Pro Spa www.gruppopro.it
Solution Name: "Infrastructure Management Outsourcing for SMB"
Contact Name: Paolo Angelini
IGS Teaming Award for Independent Software Vendors (ISV)
Winner:
Axentis, Inc. www.axentis.com
Solution Name: Axentis Enterprise
Contact Name: Roger Bottum
With its IBM-hosted, Axentis Enterprise governance, risk and compliance solution, Axentis is helping clients manage risk and achieve successful compliance. This packaged solution helps clients stay ahead of the impending government mandates and prepare for future compliance needs.
Today, the vast majority of the 720,000-plus worldwide users of Axentis Enterprise software access the product via IBM hosting and enjoy an estimated 60 percent reduction in total cost of ownership over in-house implementation alternatives.
Judges remarked that Axentis “has a unique compliance, risk and governance application that is delivered totally as service using IBM hosting, which helps take care of the scaling requirements of their clients. This is a good way of delivering this kind of solution to the SMB space.”
Finalists: ENTER COMPUTADORAS Y SERVICIOS www.entercs.com.mx
Contact Name: LESLIE D´ARTOTE
IGS Teaming Award for Resellers
Winner:
Advanced Systems Group www.thinkasg.com
Solution Name: IBM eBusiness Hosting
Contact Name: David Browning
Through close collaboration with the IBM Global Services team, ASG has been able to assert itself firmly within the Small and Medium Business (SMB) marketplace acting as the “Virtual Bench” and providing a vast array of business and technical consulting resources for customers.
This ASG and IBM partnership allows ASG to expand their reach to solve any customer business or technical issue without having to deal with the cost and complexity of managing a huge consulting bench.
Judges remarked that ASG “represents an example of the benefits to customers, Business Partners and IBM that come from seamless collaboration and innovative collaboration.”
Solutions-II, Inc. www.solutions-ii.com
Solution Name: SAP Integration for Nucor - Vulcraft Group
Contact Name: William T. Bowling
Technical Excellence
Overall Technical Excellence in an IBM Business Partner
Winner:
Logicalis www.us.logicalis.com
Contact Name: Bob Verheyen
A key initiative and invaluable tool for Logicalis is their Business Partner Innovation Center where the company leverages new technology in a way that helps drive sales and expand market share. By bringing customers into the Business Partner Innovation Center (BPIC) for demonstrations, Logicalis can demonstrate the value of its technical solutions and build relationships with customers. Logicalis also leverages the technology in the BPIC for Proof of Concepts to help customers further understand the value of the technology and demonstrate the value of the solution based on the customer’s environment.
Judges remarked that Logicalis “has demonstrated a commitment to customer satisfaction, leveraging the BPIC to demonstrate technologies and establish themselves as a trusted technical expert and partner with clients.”
Overall Technical Excellence in an IBM Business Partner
Winner: NIWS Co., Ltd. www.niws.co.jp
Contact Name: Kenya Tsumura
NIWS has a Grid and Autonomic Center featuring the latest IBM System z, System i, System p, System x and TotalStorage machines with Virtualization Engine capability and IBM Software including Tivoli Intelligent Orchestrator. The Grid/Autonomic Center also is home to NIWSGene/S Turbo supercomputer. NIWS has worked closely with IBM Watson Research to make NIWSGene/S Turbo available for Japanese businesses. In addition, NIWS has an assignee to IBM Silicon Valley Research working with IBM on analysis of DB2 for the mainframe.
Judges remarked that NIWS “is focused on advanced technologies such as Grid and Global Mirror and has placed significant investment in advancing technology from skills development and community involvement to close collaboration with IBM Research.”
Overall Technical Excellence in an IBM Business Partner
Winner: Prolifics www.prolifics.com
Contact: Devi Gupta
Prolifics is one of an elite group of IBM Business Partners that has successfully demonstrated cross-brand excellence in their solutions, certifications and sales. Prolifics’ technical excellence and leadership has been the cornerstone of its business success and longevity for 28 years. In an industry where the standard is only 24 percent for successfully delivering customer solutions on-time, on-budget and to specification – Prolifics boasts a 96 percent success rate due in large part to its technical excellence and innovative solutions. In addition, Prolifics’ technical expertise plays a major contributing factor in closing over $100 million in IBM software, hardware and service sales in 2006.
Judges remarked that Prolifics “is very innovative in providing solutions while fostering a strong commitment to skills development, technical excellence and customer satisfaction.”
Overall Technical Excellence in an IBM Business Partner Sogeti Group www.sogeti.com
Contact: Jean-Marc Gaultier
In 2006 Sogeti opened 3 centers of excellence featuring SOA in Spain, Sweden and the United States, training more than 500 consultants; hosted more than 25 seminars featuring Rational offerings in Europe and the United States with more than 500 clients attending; and opened testing centers in Sweden and the US using Rational technology to help clients eliminating Mercury Interactive. The company also opened two mainframe academies in France and Belgium with the full support of IBM, to expand the life of the mainframe in large accounts. This made Sogeti the only large system integrator to invest in this arena in the last few years.
To ensure customer satisfaction, Sogeti uses its own client satisfaction assessment called OTACE (On Time and Above Client Expectations) to validate the satisfaction customers. Working closely with customers, Sogeti achieves an average customer satisfaction of 92 percent or higher.
Finalists: KANA Software www.kana.com
Solution Name: KANA IQ
Contact Name: Suzanne Deppe
Sirius Computer Solutions www.siriuscom.com
Contact Name: Susan Griffin
ISV & Developer Relations
Most Innovative Industry Optimized Solution
Winner:
Ancept Media Server, LLC www.ancept.com
Contact Name: David Bogie
Ancept Media Server helps businesses in the media and entertainment industry manage the transition from analog media and processes to digital as well as the adoption of standards-based IT solutions. The solution enables content producers, owners, and vendors to move to digital processes with a robust digital content repository combined with sophisticated workflow, collaboration, and Business Process Management (BPM) capabilities.
Ancept Media Server sets itself apart by utilizing IBM’s Content Manager, as the best asset repository on the market, to maximize digital asset integration and utilization across the enterprise, with the reliability and security clients require.
Judges remarked that Ancept Media Server “demonstrated excellent foresight for content management, workflow design and architecture to design a unique solution for digital asset management.”
Finalists: Gillani, Inc. www.gillani.com
Contact Name: Atif Ahmed
iEnterprises, Inc. www.ienterprises.com
Solution Name: iExtensions CRM
Contact Name: John Carini
Software as a Service (SaaS) Innovation Award
Winner:
BIPT, Inc. www.bipt.com
Solution Name: TiVA
Contact Name: Rick Caudill
BIPT’s TiVA solution offers the Property and Casualty insurance industry a comprehensive, web-based policy administration system. As a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution delivered via IBM’s eBusiness Managed Hosting Services, TiVA integrates rating and quotation, underwriting, claims, and accounting management functions. Together, the features and functions of TiVA help carriers extend their application process to agents in the field, streamline the underwriting of policies, and increase their competitiveness in the marketplace.
Judges remarked that BIPT “has developed an excellent vertical application for the insurance industry that was developed and architected to be delivered as Software as a Service from the beginning.”
Finalists: Janeeva www.janeeva.com
Solution Name: Janeeva Assurance
Contact Name: James S. Diggs
Best Regional Consultant and System Integrator Solution - Americas
Winner:
Primitive Logic www.primitivelogic.com
Solution Name: Search, Content Management and Collaboration Solution
Contact Name: Todd Lane
Leveraging OmniFind, Lotus Workplace Forms, IBM Content Manager and DB2, Primitive Logic implemented a content management, enterprise search and collaboration tool that enabled Synaptics to index, archive, search, and retrieve critical customer and product information quickly and easily across their entire enterprise. The new solution helped them become a more efficient, more profitable and agile company, making them a stronger competitor in their market segment.
Primitive Logic was the first IBM Business Partner to integrate OmniFind, Lotus Workplace Forms, and Content Manager to formulate an end-to-end order management and enterprise data collaboration solution of this type.
Finalists: Sapient Corporation www.sapient.com
Solution Name: Barnes and Noble College Booksellers Next Generation e-commerce website
Contact Name: Teri Green
Silverblaze Solutions Inc. www.silverblaze.com
Solution Name: Nulogx Executive & Transportation Planner Dashboards
Contact Name: David Harty
Best Regional Consultant and System Integrator Solution - Asia Pacific
Winner:
Worxcode www.worxcode.com
Solution Name: Workbench – Digital Workdesk, Work2.0 System For Business Of All Kind
Contact Name: Arvino Mudjiarto
Worxcode’s Work 2.0 connects 30,000 employees online and provides them with a Web 2.0 integrated work desk that allows them to track, organize and manage their work, processes, forms, working documents and evidence of transactions seamlessly and easily from one integrated place.
Leveraging IBM Websphere, DB2, Lotus Domino NSF, OmniFind, and Lotus Domino-Connector, Work 2.0 combines a knowledge discovery engine, document warehouse-management, SAP/ERP integration, tag/link-analytics, Google-like search capabilities and mobility to make work-interaction productive and business-interaction seamless and easy. With Work 2.0 all systems work together seamlessly, hiding the confusing differences between systems.
Synergy Plus www.synergy.com.au
Solution Name: Retail Portal Solution
Contact Name: Mo Gillett
Best Regional Consultant and System Integrator Solution - Europe, Middle East, and Africa
Winner:
Informatikk www.informatikk.no
Solution Name: IBM System I5 & Lawson M3 Enterprise Management System
Contact Name: Tor Arnstorp
Informatikk’s, Lawson M3 Enterprise Management system provides integrated business applications deployed on the IBM System i5 with DB2. The solution is designed for medium-sized, product-centric businesses with complex, industry specific processes and international supply chains.
The solution features IBM WebSphere Application Server for rich e-business application deployment and powerful web services for interoperability and a rich set of open standards. The Lawson M3 solution also includes a complete package of application services including transaction management, security, clustering, performance, availability, connectivity and scalability.
The Lawson M3 solution is differentiated by its focus on integrated industry-specific functionality and a commitment to open standards, which enables greater flexibility and lower cost of ownership than any alternative.
Finalists: IRIDIS www.iridis.net
Contact Name: Eric Leprince-Ringuet
Retarus GmbH www.retarus.de
Contact Name: Dr. Hans Herling
Best of IBM SMB Business Partner Teaming
Winner:
Mainline Information Systems with Soft-Pack www.mainline.com
Solution Name: IBM Express Advantage Solution
Contact Name: Kelli Bass
Working closely with IBM with the Express Advantage portfolio of solutions allows Mainline and Soft-Pak to offer the very best technology to mid-market customers at a price they can afford. These solutions present a competitive edge by providing innovative products and services designed and priced specifically for mid-market customers.
Mainline has utilized the resources available through the IBM PartnerWorld website. The presentations, focus guides, quick reference guides and cookbook gave Mainline a solid foundation and background on IBM Express Advantage solutions and how they address the challenges of the small to mid-sized marketplace
Finalists: SRMI www.xi-lite.com
Solution Name: Xi-lite, hosted unified and collaboration messaging solution
Contact Name: Michael VOLLERIN
Most Innovative ‘Built on IBM Express’ Portfolio Solution
Winner:
Rumbo Sistemas S.L wwww.rumbosistemas.es
Contact Name: Pablo Boix
Rumbo Sistemas’ warehouse management solution, Rumbo Logistica, is a Java application designed for warehouse management with RFID technology. Rumbo Logistica leverages DB2 Express and System x Express to deliver significantly improved stock management.
Rumbo Logistica increases productivity in stock movement operations to improve efficiency for logistics personnel. Pick to Light and Pick via Voice systems are easy to use, requiring less training for warehouse staff to accomplish their tasks without errors. The EDI module and the stock status Web publication enable traditional warehouses to provide customers with the ability to check the status and the movement of their products.
Global Solutions - Best Industry Solution
Winner:
MSC.Software www.mscsoftware.com
Solution Name: MSC SimEnterprise
Contact Name: Jennifer Brannon
SimManager Enterprise is an entirely new approach allowing customers to use and reuse simulation data that was once limited to design. Customers are able to integrate their simulation data with the rest of their enterprise solving business problems that were previously limited in resolution options. By harnessing this sea of data, businesses save time and costs with easy management and integration of engineering data and process. MSC projects a 364 percent return on investment and a 12.9 month payback.
Judges remarked that MSC “represents an example of the benefits to customers, Business Partners and IBM that come from seamless collaboration and innovative collaboration.”
Finalists: Agilysys, Inc. www.agilysys.com
Solution Name: Oracle Retail (360 Commerce) POS and Back Office Deployed by IRES V2 with DB2
Contact Name: Paul Civils
Microlise www.microlise.com
Solution Name: Microlise Usage & Asset Management System
Contact Name: Gordon Wilkinson
Global Solutions - Success
Winner:
Core IT www.core-it.be
Solution Name: Datacenter Infrastructure Optimization Services (DIOS)
Contact Name: Frank Huyge
Pentair Water Europe's new IT strategy based on IBM hardware and software is designed to support company expansion – an estimated 300 percent growth by the end of 2007. Pentair Corporate is a fast growing company which mainly grows through acquisitions. With the migration to the IBM System x, BladeCenter and VMware solution, Pentair Water Europe will see improved management capabilities through standardization of the platform, easier and more methodical integration of new acquisitions, space and resource savings through consolidation of servers, increased utilization rates through virtualization and expanded capabilities for remote server management.
Judges remarked that Core IT “delivered a powerful infrastructure solution combining their strengths with IBM expertise in Cisco and Citrix to meet and exceed client expectations.”
Finalists: Citrix Systems, Inc. www.citrix.com
Solution Name: On Demand Access with Tivoli Orchestrator and Citrix Presentation Server Workflows
Contact Name: Rob Harper
Driving Innovation that Matters in Education and Learning
Winner:
SmartWeb Technology, Inc. www.smartwebtk.com
Solution Name: SmartWeb Classroom Management System (SwCMS)
Contact Name: David Scott
SmartWeb designed and developed district wide web products including, GradeBook, School Management and Employee Management to web enable and support teachers, parents, students and employees with real time access to K-12 student and employee information. These solutions access course, class, teacher, student demographics and all records directly from a centralized database residing at the district central server.
Judges remarked that SmartWeb Technology “has addressed a key need in the K-12 environment – to provide on-demand access to data for parents, students, teachers and administrators. Not only does this improve business efficiency but also has the potential for increasing and improving parental involvement in schools.”
Opus Neo Aps www.opusneo.dk
Solution Name: Neo.Learning for IBM Lotus QuickPlace
Contact Name: Jan F. Zeuthen
Driving Patient-Centric Healthcare
Winner:
Cerner Corporation www.cerner.com
Solution Name: Choose and Book
Contact Name: Jennifer Bosshardt
Cerner Choose and Book is an online referral system that provides healthcare professionals and patients in the United Kingdom the ability to book appointments in a web-based application. The solution ensures that patients are given a choice to fast and convenient appointments and guarantees that the services offered by the National Health Service (NHS) meet the patients’ needs and that patients receive treatment in the most appropriate place and time.
As of January 1, 2007 over 2.15 million bookings have been made by National Health Service (NHS) patients and healthcare providers in the United Kingdom. The daily volume of Choose and Book has surpassed the 15,000 bookings mark and is still increasing as the system is embraced by more users throughout the country.
BlueWare, Inc. www.blueware.net
Solution Name: Wellness Connection EHR
Contact Name: Cassie Olmstead
Innovation that matters in Government
Winner:
Cognos Incorporated www.cognos.com
Solution Name: The Cognos IBM Crime Information Warehouse
Contact Name: Laura Nicol
Together, Cognos and IBM are delivering a state-of-the-art crime analysis solution that can help police agencies reduce crime. To improve crime prevention, police agencies must understand the data they collect, but the volume of information from multiple systems is difficult to coordinate effectively. In response, Cognos and IBM developed Crime Information Warehouse. This solution provides integrated mapping of departmental data across different systems into a single source of actionable information that better addresses policing needs.
Leveraging DB2, WebSphere, Tivoli Storage Manager, System p and IBM Global Services integration and customization services, Crime Information Warehouse allows police departments to report, analyze, and understand crime statistics in near-real time. Crime Information Warehouse delivers fast results, uniform information across departments, user-friendly and easy adoption, and higher-quality responses to crime trends and deployment requirements.
Finalists: IBS Belgium www.ibsbe.be
Solution Name: Aida Solutions : Client for CrossRoads Bank for Social Security (Belgian e-Government)
Contact Name: Wim Dekimpe
Specialized Technical Services aida.ibsbe.be
Solution Name: IBM Portal for the e-Government of Jordan
Contact Name: Wim Dekimpe
Most Innovative Financing Program in Asia Pacific
Winner:
Japan Business Computer Corporation www.jbcc.co.jp
Contact Name: Takashi Kondo
JBCC management recognizes the value that IBM Global Financing (IGF) provides to them and their customers and has committed their sales resources to learn and use Rapid Online Financing (ROF). By training 160 sales representatives from 26 branches of JBCC, the company can easily incorporate financing quotes into the solutions proposed for customers. Working closely with IGF, JBCC closed a total $36M of financing deals for 2006.
JBCC recognizes the benefits of ROF to provide quick credit assessment and financing proposals for small transactions and contracts. This tool has increased the opportunity for offering financing for small deals that previously would have been proposed by business partners without financing.
Finalists: Ingram Micro India Pvt Limited www.ingrammicro.co.in
Contact Name: Bimal Das
Vanda Computer Service (HK) Ltd. www.vandagroup.com
Contact Name: Norman Cheung
Most Innovative Financing Program in Europe, MiddleEast and Africa
Winner:
Computer Gross Italia spa www.computergross.it
Contact Name: Paolo Castellacci
Two years ago CGI established an internal business unit fully dedicated to promoting IBM Global Financing (IGF) offerings among their reseller network. CGI has provided training and dedicated staff to support the IGF offerings. In addition, last year CGI launched several specific marketing campaigns and events with their reseller network to drive awareness and usage, highlighting the available IGF offerings. CGI also developed a financing website to support its reseller network.
CGI has a specific focus on the SMB market and its financing unit is dedicated to improving the awareness and usage of the IGF offerings for the SMB market. As a result of their investment, CGI saw a year to year increase of approximately 30 percent in financing volumes.
Finalists: Avnet Technology Solutions, Srl www.avnet.com
Contact Name: Lisa Friesenhahn
Most Innovative Financing Program in the Americas Group
Winner:
Strategic Computer Solutions, Inc. www.scsinet.com
Solution Name: Delivering Innovation that Matters to Customers
Contact Name: Anne Gormley
SCS has dedicated significant resources to initiate, promote and support IBM Global Financing (IGF) programs with its clients. This includes special training courses for each of its 42 customer sales representatives and their support staff as well as the development of special tools to support their staff. SCS holds web or phone access seminars concerning financing offerings available for their customers and how they can position the offerings and use various tools to provide their customers with accurate and timely quotes.
Judges remarked that Strategic Computer Solutions “has established a significant focus on tailoring and executing financing solution for clients. With this dedicated approach, SCS realized excellent growth in financing volumes linked directly to business benefits.”
The description of the solutions and the results achieved by the referenced end user(s) is based on information provided by the Business Partner in their Beacon Award nomination. No effort has been made to independently verify the accuracy of the information, including any information relating to the functions, quality, and performance of the provider's products or services.
The description of the solutions of the Beacon Award finalists and winners does not constitute an expressed or implied recommendation or endorsement by the industry or IBM of any particular product, service, company, or technology, but is intended simply as information regarding the winning nomination(s).
IBM takes no responsibility whatsoever with regard to the selection, performance, or use of the products listed in these nominations.
All understandings, agreements, or warranties must take place directly between the providers and prospective users.
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CSC Australia’s innovative wireless product identification solution extends the supply chain system into the field in a heavy industrial setting to improve the management of bulky products across very large industrial sites. The solution provides seamless mobile offline and online access and information exchange to manage product inventory.
When Universal Underwriters Group (UUG) needed a more proactive, 360-degree view of their customers and relevant sales data, they turned to PSC Group for a Sales Scoreboard Portal. With customer information spread across 10 disparate policy systems, PSC applied the IBM SOA model and leveraged IBM WebSphere Portal software to aggregate all information into a single accessible view. PSC utilized SOA development techniques, web services and portlets to surface data and workflow from IBM WebSphere Application Servers, legacy systems, and DB2 data repositories.
When UNNICO, a best-in-class facilities maintenance service organization, needed to streamline the management of user identities to optimize efficiency and strengthen security, they turned to Encode and its Tivoli Identity Manager Express solution. Encode’s solution reduced the time required to provision new users and strengthened governance processes.
As an “All Blue” shop, Ultramatics collaborates with IBM in significant ways which clearly demonstrate wise execution and a structured philosophy leading to stellar customer references and case studies in both the Integrated and SMB marketplace. Ultramatics has codified several reusable assets that continue to expedite our SOA deliveries. 
OpenLoad On Demand leverages only open standard and open source based technologies. It is integrated with Eclipse and deployed on WebSphere Application Server Community Edition and Cloudscape on Linux. With OpenLoad On Demand, SMB companies now have access to a viable solution for ensuring the quality of Web applications and ultimately mitigating their technology while minimizing business risk.
BSD Group’s Oracle Applications Extension for Rational Performance Tester solution allows for the recording, playback, and performance testing of Oracle Applications 11i. The solution enables clients to validate the readiness of their application for production and avoid costly delays and downtime that result from deploying an application that performs poorly or crashes during production load level.
Synopsys develops, validates, distributes and supports complete reference design flows for the Common Platform 65nm and 90nm process technologies. These flows provide all of the necessary capabilities to transform RTL into production-ready GDSII that can be manufactured at any Common Platform foundry. The Synopsys 65nm reference flow is currently the only reference flow available for the Common Platform 65nm process.
Mercury Computer Systems’ rapid commercialization of the Cell processor has led to key early adopter design wins for the cell processor that are expected to blaze a trail for IBM’s acceleration strategy in the server market as well as for IBM’s approach with Heterogeneous Multicore Processors. Mercury Computer Systems’ technical personnel have worked closely with IBM to define requirements for the Axon processor, to secure customer meetings, to sell initial prototypes across industries, and to push the envelope on the feasibility of card level and system level design surrounding the cell processor
Beginning in 2004 IBM opened up its ASIC design methodologies for execution by Avnet. The Avnet / IBM partnership in the ASIC market brought the IBM ASIC advantage to numerous new clients. Since launching the program Avnet has designed the IBM ASIC methodology for clients such as General Electric, Force 10 Networks, Extreme Networks, Redback Networks, and others.
The Avnet design team encompasses ASIC design from a standard ASIC to a full, turnkey design where they handle all aspects of ASIC development from architecture definition to manufacturing release.
AAA Missouri selected the Fiserv Policy STAR Web-based policy administration system to replace their legacy policy administration system. Rather than enter information into a front-end system, agents enter information directly into Policy STAR, providing real-time processing and eliminating the need to pass information between the front and back-end systems. Processing time for homeowner insurance policies has decreased from 10 to 2 days. Use of the system also has improved customer service since internal staff uses the same system as customers and agents.
Sybase ASE 15 extends management of unstructured and semi-structured data with advanced XML capabilities, and improved ease of XML document generation and schema validation. ASE 15 also includes extended services for directly accessing unstructured data in operating system files, and is now bundled with the core server –in previous versions it was sold separately.
FRITZ & MACZIOL implemented a virtualization solution leveraging IBM SAN Volumen Controller (SVC), IBM Disk Systems, Tivoli Storage Manager for SVC Copy Services, and Tivoli Productivity Center for central and integrated management of the storage infrastructure. The solution provides GaVI mbH with the highest availability and reliability, flexible data use and data management, security optimization, and reduced costs and administration expenses.
Sirius Computer Solutions architected an energy-efficient solution to meet AISO.net’s corporate power consumption goals and dedication to a clean environment. The initial steps included the consolidation of 70 white box servers to four, highly-efficient IBM System x346 servers running VMware Infrastructure 3.0 with virtualization capabilities. Sirius also incorporated storage and software solutions to enhance the hosting environment. The reconfiguration of AISO.net’s computing environment eliminated the need for a traditional energy source and enabled them to solely rely on the power generated through solar panels.
Datatrend Technologies partnered with BroadSoft, Inc., a VoIP (Voice over IP) software solutions provider, to develop a turnkey infrastructure appliance using Linux on IBM BladeCenter. Datatrend Technologies worked closely with IBM’s Next Generation Network (NGN) team, to help BroadSoft port their Sun Solaris based solution over to BladeCenter and Linux, to achieve successful test validation, and to roll out the solution to the marketplace, including BroadSoft’s extensive base of customers.
With reliability, availability, and scalability as the major requirements for CompuCredit VSH’s Installment Loan Application, Cornerstone recommended an initial solution design that included a System z Processor migrated to a z9 BC, a DS8300 Storage Server, 3592-E05 Enterprise Tape as the hardware infrastructure and DB2 for the database engine. This infrastructure serves as the back-end database server for a WebSphere-based Installment Loan Application, running on IBM Blade Servers, delivered over the Internet for customer use.
3Com Corporation teamed with IBM to deliver an innovative, highly differentiated IP Telephony solution for customers. Delivering tight integration of the 3Com IP Telephony for System i solution with Lotus Notes and SameTime provides Small and Medium Business (SMB) customers with an economical highly integrated solution that previously would only have been available to large corporations willing to invest significantly in custom integration.
Pasporte integrates IBM Technical Support Services, Server Services, Desktop Services, Business Continuity and Recovery Services and other solutions (including Business Transformation Outsourcing) with its own Managed Services portfolio to present a single seamless service to its clients. The IBM services are integrated into the Pasporte Service Management framework, ensuring that the client has a single point of operational ownership for the various IBM, Pasporte and other service components within their tailored offering. Currently, IBM and Pasporte jointly deliver approximately $7M per year of IBM revenue using this model, across a number of UK clients.
With its IBM-hosted, Axentis Enterprise governance, risk and compliance solution, Axentis is helping clients manage risk and achieve successful compliance. This packaged solution helps clients stay ahead of the impending government mandates and prepare for future compliance needs.
Through close collaboration with the IBM Global Services team, ASG has been able to assert itself firmly within the Small and Medium Business (SMB) marketplace acting as the “Virtual Bench” and providing a vast array of business and technical consulting resources for customers.
A key initiative and invaluable tool for Logicalis is their Business Partner Innovation Center where the company leverages new technology in a way that helps drive sales and expand market share. By bringing customers into the Business Partner Innovation Center (BPIC) for demonstrations, Logicalis can demonstrate the value of its technical solutions and build relationships with customers. Logicalis also leverages the technology in the BPIC for Proof of Concepts to help customers further understand the value of the technology and demonstrate the value of the solution based on the customer’s environment.
NIWS has a Grid and Autonomic Center featuring the latest IBM System z, System i, System p, System x and TotalStorage machines with Virtualization Engine capability and IBM Software including Tivoli Intelligent Orchestrator. The Grid/Autonomic Center also is home to NIWSGene/S Turbo supercomputer. NIWS has worked closely with IBM Watson Research to make NIWSGene/S Turbo available for Japanese businesses. In addition, NIWS has an assignee to IBM Silicon Valley Research working with IBM on analysis of DB2 for the mainframe.
Prolifics is one of an elite group of IBM Business Partners that has successfully demonstrated cross-brand excellence in their solutions, certifications and sales. Prolifics’ technical excellence and leadership has been the cornerstone of its business success and longevity for 28 years. In an industry where the standard is only 24 percent for successfully delivering customer solutions on-time, on-budget and to specification – Prolifics boasts a 96 percent success rate due in large part to its technical excellence and innovative solutions. In addition, Prolifics’ technical expertise plays a major contributing factor in closing over $100 million in IBM software, hardware and service sales in 2006.
In 2006 Sogeti opened 3 centers of excellence featuring SOA in Spain, Sweden and the United States, training more than 500 consultants; hosted more than 25 seminars featuring Rational offerings in Europe and the United States with more than 500 clients attending; and opened testing centers in Sweden and the US using Rational technology to help clients eliminating Mercury Interactive. The company also opened two mainframe academies in France and Belgium with the full support of IBM, to expand the life of the mainframe in large accounts. This made Sogeti the only large system integrator to invest in this arena in the last few years.
Ancept Media Server helps businesses in the media and entertainment industry manage the transition from analog media and processes to digital as well as the adoption of standards-based IT solutions. The solution enables content producers, owners, and vendors to move to digital processes with a robust digital content repository combined with sophisticated workflow, collaboration, and Business Process Management (BPM) capabilities.
BIPT’s TiVA solution offers the Property and Casualty insurance industry a comprehensive, web-based policy administration system. As a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution delivered via IBM’s eBusiness Managed Hosting Services, TiVA integrates rating and quotation, underwriting, claims, and accounting management functions. Together, the features and functions of TiVA help carriers extend their application process to agents in the field, streamline the underwriting of policies, and increase their competitiveness in the marketplace.
Leveraging OmniFind, Lotus Workplace Forms, IBM Content Manager and DB2, Primitive Logic implemented a content management, enterprise search and collaboration tool that enabled Synaptics to index, archive, search, and retrieve critical customer and product information quickly and easily across their entire enterprise. The new solution helped them become a more efficient, more profitable and agile company, making them a stronger competitor in their market segment.
Worxcode’s Work 2.0 connects 30,000 employees online and provides them with a Web 2.0 integrated work desk that allows them to track, organize and manage their work, processes, forms, working documents and evidence of transactions seamlessly and easily from one integrated place.
Informatikk’s, Lawson M3 Enterprise Management system provides integrated business applications deployed on the IBM System i5 with DB2. The solution is designed for medium-sized, product-centric businesses with complex, industry specific processes and international supply chains.
Working closely with IBM with the Express Advantage portfolio of solutions allows Mainline and Soft-Pak to offer the very best technology to mid-market customers at a price they can afford. These solutions present a competitive edge by providing innovative products and services designed and priced specifically for mid-market customers.
Rumbo Sistemas’ warehouse management solution, Rumbo Logistica, is a Java application designed for warehouse management with RFID technology. Rumbo Logistica leverages DB2 Express and System x Express to deliver significantly improved stock management. 
SimManager Enterprise is an entirely new approach allowing customers to use and reuse simulation data that was once limited to design. Customers are able to integrate their simulation data with the rest of their enterprise solving business problems that were previously limited in resolution options. By harnessing this sea of data, businesses save time and costs with easy management and integration of engineering data and process. MSC projects a 364 percent return on investment and a 12.9 month payback.
Pentair Water Europe's new IT strategy based on IBM hardware and software is designed to support company expansion – an estimated 300 percent growth by the end of 2007. Pentair Corporate is a fast growing company which mainly grows through acquisitions. With the migration to the IBM System x, BladeCenter and VMware solution, Pentair Water Europe will see improved management capabilities through standardization of the platform, easier and more methodical integration of new acquisitions, space and resource savings through consolidation of servers, increased utilization rates through virtualization and expanded capabilities for remote server management. 
SmartWeb designed and developed district wide web products including, GradeBook, School Management and Employee Management to web enable and support teachers, parents, students and employees with real time access to K-12 student and employee information. These solutions access course, class, teacher, student demographics and all records directly from a centralized database residing at the district central server.
Cerner Choose and Book is an online referral system that provides healthcare professionals and patients in the United Kingdom the ability to book appointments in a web-based application. The solution ensures that patients are given a choice to fast and convenient appointments and guarantees that the services offered by the National Health Service (NHS) meet the patients’ needs and that patients receive treatment in the most appropriate place and time.
Together, Cognos and IBM are delivering a state-of-the-art crime analysis solution that can help police agencies reduce crime. To improve crime prevention, police agencies must understand the data they collect, but the volume of information from multiple systems is difficult to coordinate effectively. In response, Cognos and IBM developed Crime Information Warehouse. This solution provides integrated mapping of departmental data across different systems into a single source of actionable information that better addresses policing needs.
JBCC management recognizes the value that IBM Global Financing (IGF) provides to them and their customers and has committed their sales resources to learn and use Rapid Online Financing (ROF). By training 160 sales representatives from 26 branches of JBCC, the company can easily incorporate financing quotes into the solutions proposed for customers. Working closely with IGF, JBCC closed a total $36M of financing deals for 2006.
Two years ago CGI established an internal business unit fully dedicated to promoting IBM Global Financing (IGF) offerings among their reseller network. CGI has provided training and dedicated staff to support the IGF offerings. In addition, last year CGI launched several specific marketing campaigns and events with their reseller network to drive awareness and usage, highlighting the available IGF offerings. CGI also developed a financing website to support its reseller network.
SCS has dedicated significant resources to initiate, promote and support IBM Global Financing (IGF) programs with its clients. This includes special training courses for each of its 42 customer sales representatives and their support staff as well as the development of special tools to support their staff. SCS holds web or phone access seminars concerning financing offerings available for their customers and how they can position the offerings and use various tools to provide their customers with accurate and timely quotes.