BALTIMORE – Social Solutions, the leading provider of nonprofit performance management software for the human services sector, today announced it has attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program with a competency in Data Management Solutions, Mobility Solutions and SOA and Business Process, recognizing Social Solutions’ expertise and impact in the technology marketplace. As a Gold Certified Partner, Social Solutions has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and a proven ability to meet customers’ needs. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support.
“The attainment of Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner Program is a recognition that Social Solutions offers the latest and highest quality technology solutions to our customers,” said Matt Schubert, CEO of Social Solutions. “As our customers’ needs evolve, requiring more sophisticated and flexible data management and mobile applications, we will be able to keep pace and continue providing market-leading technology solutions.”
“Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities,” said Allison Watson, corporate vice president of the Worldwide Partner Group at Microsoft Corp. “They need to trust in a company that can act as an expert adviser for their long-term strategic technology plans. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners, which have certified expertise and direct training and support from Microsoft, can build a positive customer experience with our technologies. Today, Microsoft recognizes Social Solutions as a new Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise in providing customer satisfaction using Microsoft products and technology.”
As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified Partner status, Social Solutions had to declare a Microsoft Competency. Microsoft Competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner’s capabilities with specific Microsoft technologies to customers looking for a particular type of solution. Each Competency has a unique set of requirements and benefits, formulated to accurately represent the specific skills and services that partners bring to the technology industry. Within select Competencies, there are Specializations that focus on specific solution areas that recognize deeper expertise within that Competency. Serving as a specialized path to earning those Competencies, Specializations give direct access to the tools and resources that support that specific area of focus.
Social Solutions has attained Gold Certified Partnership status in three competencies – Data Management Solutions, Mobility Solutions and SOA and Business Process.
The Data Management Solutions Competency is designed for partners that have proven their competency in end-to-end data-management reporting and analysis solutions based on Microsoft® technologies, including Microsoft® SQL Server, Windows® Server, and Microsoft® Office System client tools. These partners also have proven expertise in implementing solutions focused on delivering migration tools and services, database- administration tools and services, and performance tools using SQL Server technology.
“Through the Data Management Solutions Competency we can assist our industry partners’ proficiency in helping them develop enterprise solutions that range from industry specific line of business applications to next generation Software Services solutions and applications for the mobile workforce,” said Mark Jewett, director of SQL Server marketing at Microsoft Corp. “Only SQL Server 2008 provides dynamic development to accelerate time to solution, supports all data types and provides pervasive business intelligence, accessible to everyone.”
Partners that attain the Mobility Solutions Competency have proven expertise in developing and deploying Windows® Mobile-based solutions and applications using Microsoft products including Windows® Mobile software for a Pocket PC and Smartphone.
“Achieving the Gold status in the Microsoft Mobility Competency is a commendable accomplishment and represents the highest certification level in the Microsoft Partner Program,” said Stephanie Ferguson, general manager of the Mobile Communications Business at Microsoft Corp. “Partners at this level have received certified Windows Mobile training, certified their mobile application and provided customer references to demonstrate both their mobility expertise and their ability to deliver an outstanding solution to customers.”
The SOA and Business Process Competency is for systems integrators, solutions and services providers, and software developers with proven proficiency in implementing and deploying integrated, interoperable and agile solutions that connect information, systems, people and processes.
“Our SOA and Business Process partners deliver comprehensive solutions that drive the most critical parts of our customers’ businesses,” said Dan Alling, senior product manager of SOA and Business Process for Microsoft Corp. “Together with our partners, we can provide both a strong platform and end-to-end solutions that drives exceptional business value for our mutual customers.”
The Microsoft Partner Program was launched in October 2003 and represents Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to the success of partners worldwide. The program offers a single, integrated partnering framework that recognizes partner expertise, rewards the total impact that partners have in the technology marketplace, and delivers more value to help partners’ businesses be successful.
About Social Solutions and ETO™ Software
Social Solutions challenges and equips human service providers and their funders to turn good intent into measurable change by relating efforts to outcomes. The company’s ETO (Efforts to Outcomes) performance management software, tailored to the unique mission of each nonprofit, gives organizations a clear picture of which efforts are having the greatest impact on the social issues they strive to address. With this knowledge, organizations can reinforce what's working, adjust what isn't, and more easily report quantified successes to key stakeholders.
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