Microsoft "360 degree" partner mobilises O'Brien Glass

Australasian Microsoft reseller Intergen has been appointed to replace O'Brien Glass' paper-based processes, including integrating Nokia smartphones for the mobile workforce.

"O'Brien's found out about us from the work we had done with their New Zealand brand, Smith and Smith," Intergen CEO Michael Morgan told CRN.

He said the partner was "a big part of the decision making" that resulted in the selection of the Nokia Lumia 625 as the solution for 500 on-the-road employees.

"When we got there, O'Brien was already running Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012, but only finance. The task for us was to implement a broader program, 'Project Connect', to link up the frontline sales staff – like the vans and the call centre – to the backend finance," said Morgan.

"We needed to find the best combination of Microsoft solutions to make that work."

Project Connect has ploughed ahead since those early days in August and September, said Morgan. "We're early in the build phase at the moment. The results will be rolled out progressively over the next six to twelve months."

O'Brien's director of IT, Matt McKenzie, initiated the transition from paper based processes to electronic enablement and said iPhone and Android were ruled out before the Nokia Lumia was chosen as the designated Windows Phone.

"The screen size of the Lumia 625 made a lot of sense," said McKenzie."Plus the ability to use the touchscreen with gloves on is a big win for the guys on the road."

"Choosing the right smartphone to facilitate this transition was critical as we wanted to future proof our digital strategy by ensuring we could deliver a consistent experience across any mobile device."

The O'Brien account is significant deal for Intergen, a 400-staff company with New Zealand origins. "We have 20 to 25 people involved in the project at the coal face."

"We have a lot of different technologies involved, so we've commissioned the best talent from all of Intergen's offices," said Morgan. "We have a team in Sydney, a team in Auckland, a team in Wellington, and staff in Melbourne all involved [with the O'Brien work]."

Morgan said that there are "not many partners in this part of world who can do AX CRM, .NET, mobility – and handle work across both Australia and New Zealand."

Aside from offices spread around Australia and New Zealand, Intergen also has an office in Redmond, US as its vendor Microsoft is also a customer.

"Microsoft calls us the '360 degree partner'," Morgan told CRN. "We are their customers and they are our customers."