CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
5 May 2008
Product News
Aras Attains Gold Certified Partner Status in Microsoft Partner Program
Aras® announced it has attained Gold Certified status in the Microsoft Partner Program with an ISV / Software Solutions competency. As a Gold Certified partner, Aras has demonstrated expertise with Microsoft technologies and proven ability to meet customers’ needs. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners receive a rich set of benefits, including access, training and support, giving them a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Aras provides the Aras Innovator suite of open solutions for enterprise Product Lifecycle Management [PLM] enabling companies to collaborate and innovate more effectively during new product development & introduction to deliver results. Aras Innovator is the most advanced model-based service-oriented architecture [SOA] for PLM and is available exclusively on the Microsoft platform delivering flexibility to enable companies to deploy quickly and adapt easily while maintaining upgradeability.
Aras solutions provide complete access for unlimited users at no cost. Because there is no charge for the enterprise production-ready software, Aras removes the need for up-front capital and eliminates expensive software licensing requirements for users, modules, and servers. With Aras companies have the control and flexibility of an enterprise open source solution format that empowers IT personnel with Microsoft skill sets.
“We are proud to have attained Gold Certified status in the Microsoft Partner Program, and we recognize the corporate confidence our strategic relationship provides to enterprise customers,” said Peter Schroer, President of Aras. “The benefits provided through our Microsoft Gold Certified status combined with our growing community participation will enable Aras to continue to extend our clear technology leadership over the conventional proprietary systems in our market by delivering greater innovation advancement and better software solutions.”
“Customers are looking for partner companies that can bridge the gap between their business demands and technology capabilities. They need to trust in someone 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,” said Allison Watson, vice president of the Worldwide Partner Sales and Marketing Group at Microsoft Corp. “Today, Microsoft recognizes Aras as a new Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for demonstrating its expertise in providing customer satisfaction with Microsoft products and technology.”
As one of the requirements for attaining Gold Certified Status, Aras 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. The Microsoft ISV/Software Solutions Competency recognizes the skill and focus partners bring to a particular solution set. Microsoft Gold Certified Partners that have obtained this competency have a successful record of developing and marketing packed software based on Microsoft technologies.
“Solutions Competencies are an important way for Microsoft to better enable ISVs to meet customer needs,” said Sanjay Parthasarathy, corporate vice president of the Platform Strategy & Partner Group at Microsoft. “They allow ISVs to keep and win customers with their deep knowledge of solutions-based Microsoft platform technologies. Microsoft has a long history of working closely with ISV partners to help deliver compelling solutions and applications to our mutual customers, and the Solutions Competencies are an important step in continuing to enhance vital relationships with ISVs worldwide.”
The Microsoft Partner Program was launched in December 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.
On May 5, 2008 Aras released Aras Innovator Version 9, the most advanced model-based SOA for PLM on Microsoft, with the freely available download at http://www.aras.com
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