Enter the CME awards

We might just have encountered the most turbulent year in the history of the Middle East IT channel, but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been any success stories worth celebrating.

In fact, when you consider the challenges that the market has faced in the past 12 months, the eventual winners of this year’s Channel Awards will have the right to feel their accolades are more deserved than ever before.

For many organisations, the name of the game has been survival and that has required them to adapt their businesses to changing market conditions. Vendors have had to modify their partner programmes and review their support mechanisms, distributors have had to ensure the highest customer satisfaction and efficiency, and resellers have had to amend their sales tactics to reflect the new priorities of end-customers in the region.

Such highlights will no doubt prove to be a factor in the outcome of this year’s Channel Awards, which will take place in a little over two months’ time. As any company that has entered the awards for the last two years will testify — the nomination process couldn’t be easier! Companies are free to nominate themselves and can enter as many categories as they like, as long as a separate nomination form is completed for each entry. You can download a nomination form from the official awards website listed above. Just make sure you get it in before Thursday 18th February!...

What is the purpose of the Channel Middle East Awards?

The Channel Middle East Awards seek to recognise the channel development and market success stories that have taken place in the region throughout the last year. The work that the channel carries out to meet the demands of customers, coupled with the efforts of vendors dedicated to local channel development, rarely receives the acknowledgement it deserves given the pace of day-to-day business. However, the Channel Middle East Awards aim to alter that by providing recognition where it is due — and in front of an audience comprising the leading channel executives from the region.

How do I submit a nomination?

You need to visit the official awards website: www.itp.net/events/channelmeawards Simply download the nomination form, fill in all the details and then e-mail your entry to: cmeawards@itp.com

How long does my nomination need to be?

Nominations should be no fewer than 500words. Entries should relate to initiatives, achievements and successes that took place in 2009. Information that relates to activities before that date will not be considered.

I work for a vendor. What sort of details do I need to include in my nomination?

You need to explain why you deserve the award in your chosen category(s) and give details of specific channel achievements during 2009. It is important to reference examples of investments you made in the Middle East channel or details of products, programmes or initiatives that you introduced to support your channel partners.

Additionally, you may want to outline any successful channel expansion activities or actions that you took to improve the technical, marketing or sales capabilities of your partners. Channel achievements could even include details of any channel problems or challenges that you solved during the past year.