US Microsoft partner launches Australian operations

Synergy focuses on providing additional services around Microsoft’s SharePoint offering and the firm has an ongoing relationship on local shores with Dimension Data Learning Solutions.

Milan Gross, principal for Asia Pacific at Synergy Corporate Technologies, told CRN: “We have got some tremendous plans here in Australia and we have recently opened our office in Sydney.

“What we are doing now is setting up partnerships in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra with established companies that can help us get into new customers. We have expertise in the SharePoint space and we like to partner with firms who have expertise in related and complimentary areas.”

Gross said due to overwhelming demand there is a lack of SharePoint expertise that will not easily be remedied and Synergy has duly built up SharePoint resources. Current Australian partnerships include Melbourne-based firms Morpheum and Wave Business Performance Solutions.

“We are a reseller of Microsoft software, but there is relatively little margin in that, so we focus on services. We bring to the Australian market and partners the expertise, staff and business dynamic to drive SharePoint success,” he said.

However, the local channel may be skeptical about working with a large scale US reseller if they attempt to balance working with partners and going direct.

“We do direct business and we also work in partnership with other companies. Our customers are mid to large size companies that are deploying SharePoint internally. We like to work with customers that have existing relationships with customers and we would much rather work with a company than against them. So it is an advantage for us to become a trusted partner who provides the SharePoint expertise and let them [the reseller] handle the primary relationship,” said Gross.

Julian Warne, general manager of Synergy Corporate Technologies, said: “For partners to skill up and gain the depth of experience in SharePoint necessary to replace older CMS or collaborative products is a daunting task. Synergy can provide all the skills necessary for sustained success, working as a trusted partner.”