Data#3 scoops global Microsoft award

Solution provider Data#3 has won a global award from Microsoft for its work in driving adoption of Windows 8.

The gong, officially titled Microsoft Devices and Deployment Partner of the Year Award, was described by Laurence Baynham, Data#3 group general manager, as a significant win, not only for the company, but for Australian business as a whole. “It’s not often an Australian company is recognised by an award at this level,” he told CRN.

Along the way to winning the award, Data#3, has learned some valuable insights into deploying and running Windows 8. The new OS, which has had a rocky start in the market in part because of its new user interface, recently hit the 100 million license mark.

Baynham said the transition for staff onto the new UI was eased by the consumer adoption of Windows 8; in essence, home users were bringing their experience with the OS into the office, making training a relatively minor part of the shift.

He also said the touch component was becoming important for staff using Windows 8. The majority of staff were choosing devices equipped for touch. Many of those devices, he added, were hybrid laptop / tablets. These hybrids convert from a standard desktop to a tablet device, usually be detaching the screen.

Data#3 took a gradual approach to refreshing its PC fleet, he said, emphasising all new machines purchased by the company are Windows 8 compatible.

Existing corporate applications, he added, had generally worked well under the new OS, with few adaptations required. “Existing systems generally haven’t been a stumbling block,” he said.