Compusys achieves Gold status in MPP

Microsoft’s latest partner programme has inspired Compusys to reach new heights through its focus on value, moving the reseller from Certified to Gold status.

The Microsoft Partner Programme (MPP) was officially launched in April, with resellers required to achieve specialisations to attain Gold accreditation — Compusys is now a Networking Infrastructure Solutions partner and an Integrated E-business partner at this level.

A points system is used to certify resellers, giving them additional benefits as they move higher. There are currently only 230 Gold partners in the UK.

Kelvin Brain, director of consulting at Compusys, said the programme had spurred the firm on to achieve a higher status, which was gained through a combination of specialisations, case studies, complementary products and staff training.

"The new programme is a good balance between competencies, customer satisfaction and skills. In the past you could be a Gold partner simply because you had the right number of qualified staff, even if you didn’t provide a good service."

Natalie Johnston, group partner developing and marketing manager at Microsoft, said it had given existing partners a year of grace when it first announced the programme, "but they will need to recertify before the end of March".

She added that most resellers had achieved the revised criteria or were close to doing so, but revealed it would "put management tools in place" to help those that struggled.