IBM's NZ reseller heads across the Tasman

It has opened an office in Melbourne and will offer enterprise asset management, content management and underlying infrastructure technology expertise to businessness.

Its Australian customers include Downer EDI Engineering, and Santos.

Brian Allen  managing director Certus says the company has experienced strong revenue growth over the last two years, servicing an increasing demand for IBM solutions in the New Zealand enterprise space. 

"Recent changes in the IBM model for software and services delivery have seen a stronger emphasis on partners, creating new opportunities for us in the mid-tier market, both in Australia and New Zealand," he said.

"We will identify IBM customers who wish to extract the best value from their solution framework, but lack an experienced and knowledgeable services partner to guide them."

The company increased revenues by over 46 percent last year, and it forecasts growth for 2009 to increase by another 30 percent.

"This has given us a strong position from which to launch into Australia," said Allen.

"I believe few companies will be able to offer the depth of specialist IBM product expertise that we can."

Ginger Kidd mid-market and channel marketing manager for IBM A/NZ, says Certus' expansion into the Australian market will provide IBM customers with more choice when it comes to selecting expert services partners.

"Each new IBM partner brings a different set of skills to the market," said Kidd.

"Certus provides implementation services for complex enterprise software projects, with a strong track record in IBM Maximo asset management solutions."

Allen said as the only IBM-certified Maximo sales and support organisation in New Zealand, Certus has the expertise to attack the Australian market, delivering full service enterprise asset management.

Last year, Certus merged its operations with UtilityAP creating New Zealand's largest specialist IBM software and service partner, with over 50 staff located in key centres throughout the country.

Certus is New Zealand-owned and managed and has been an IBM Premier Business Partner since 2002.

The company offers IBM software service and support, being certified to supply and support all five IBM software brands: WebSphere, Information Management, Tivoli, Rational and Lotus.