So what!? Well actually, so a lot. Gold Partner awards can act as a real guide to companies trying to choose the best outsourcing partner for them. Only the top one per cent of partners world-wide ever achieve Gold Partner status. The Gold award is given to companies who have proven deep understanding and expertise of Microsoft solutions with regard to the particular category.  It also highlights the company’s results in developing and implementing its own ideas.

For example, Future Processing was particularly commended for its ground-breaking solutions in the field of computer vision – Adaptive Vision Studio 2, an environment that is increasingly popular in its field. For companies looking for an offshore software development partner, such an award marks out a provider not only as expert in their category but also one that has an innovative approach. In addition Microsoft has specifically designed its partner awards so the competencies they recognise are aligned with how customers actually buy.

I don’t have any figures on how many of our customers chose us for their offshore software development because of our Microsoft awards (we have two gold and four silver) but I do believe it is a contributive factor and that is also provides reassurance to those who do not come to us through a recommendation.