ANNOUNCEMENT • Check out our new AI & DATA SolutionsJune 2023 marked an exceptional achievement as De Cronos Groep won the Microsoft Belgium Partner of the Year Award for the second time in a row. A tremendous success, even more so by winning it back-to-back. The award deservedly created a lot of attention, for instance by IT Daily, who dove deeper into the milestone in an interview with Dirk Deroost (Co-founder De Cronos Group), Marijke Schroos (General Manager Microsoft Belux) and Michiel Gedopt (Alliance Manager at MiCRONOS). You can read the full interview here, but let’s have a look at the key takeaways, as well as the crucial part the MiCRONOS community plays in the partnership and why Microsoft and De Cronos Groep are the perfect harmony.
Why we became Partner of the Year. Again.
The interview with Dirk Deroost and Marijke Schroos names a number of reasons why Microsoft and De Cronos Groep have such a strong and fruitful partnership. Let’s zoom in on a few important aspects of this relationship.
- Early adopters
- Two-way Traffic
- MiCRONOS as facilitator
1. Early adopters
The reason for this is of course the Cronos DNA and our interest in new technologies. Which we have in common with Microsoft, as evidenced by the significant investments Microsoft has made in the field of AI. In return, De Cronos Groep is also embracing this innovative technology. We have several Competence Centers that already provide a wide range of services for our clients. Leveraging the Microsoft Azure Cloud and showing interest in Microsoft Copilot.
“We were one of the first Microsoft partners in Belgium.”
Dirk Deroost, Co-founder of De Cronos Groep
2. Two-way Traffic
This shared and mutual understanding of crucial technologies for the future exemplifies the two-way relationship between Microsoft and De Cronos Groep. Marijke Schroos also emphasizes this: “The exchange of ideas and collaboration between both organizations is a significant advantage of our partnership. Our goal is not only to launch a product in the market but also to support organizations in creating a comprehensive business strategy around it. Local partners like De Cronos Groep offer valuable insights on how we should introduce new products and services to the market.”
3. MiCRONOS as facilitator
MiCRONOS was founded to efficiently and effectively reach those purposes, creating a community of competence centers within De Cronos Groep that specialize in Microsoft technology. Michiel Gedopt states “The strength of MiCRONOS lies in the collective input from the community, fostering connections between our organizations and the Microsoft teams. This united focus has proven to be a critical element in the comprehensive approach that De Cronos Groep offers its customers regarding Microsoft technology, presenting themselves as a true Partner of Everything.”
Why MiCRONOS
So let’s highlight again what MiCRONOS is all about and how we united the Microsoft competence centers within De Cronos Groep in a unique journey that has been rewarded by claiming the Partner Of The Year Award title two years in a row.
- Infinite expertise. One community
- MiCA: skilling, reskilling and upskilling Microsoft professionals
- Diversity and inclusion
1. Infinite expertise. One community
With more than 60 competence centers, combining more than 1400 Microsoft experts we built a strong Microsoft Community, supporting more than 1000 active customers on a daily basis. Our strong expertise is officially acknowledged by Microsoft as a Cloud Solutions Partner with 6 Designations, 14 Specializations and Azure Expert Managed Service Provider (MSP). By means of regular events and updates for the community or contributions by our 10 Microsoft MVP’s we bring the community together, both online and offline.
You can follow us on LinkedIn for the latest news, in case you haven’t already.
2. MiCA: skilling, reskilling and upskilling Microsoft professionals
We clearly consider our Microsoft expertise in various domains as an essential part of our partnership with Microsoft and Cronos DNA. That’s why we created our own MiCRONOS Cloud Academy, or MiCA. It’s our mission to help companies embrace or get started with Microsoft Cloud Technology. Since launching MiCA in 2022, we have enrolled more than 300 new learners. MiCA will help us to meet the rapidly increasing demand for cloud expertise. Finally, we’re still investing in adding new courses, learning journeys, sales tracks, and Certification Exam Prep sessions to the platform.
Interested in boosting your Microsoft Cloud knowledge? Check out MiCA here.
3. Diversity and inclusion
Although, there are more than enough reasons why MiCRONOS is a cornerstone of the successful and mutual partnership between Microsoft and De Cronos Groep, we would like to highlight our efforts to live up to the Microsoft Partner Pledge. The Partner Pledge is an official vow to undertake actions on a number of domains:
- Ambassador for Microsoft BeLUX Skills Initiatives
- Ethical AI development and application
- Focus on a diverse and inclusive workplace
- Attention for sustainability and reducing our ecological footprint
Follow our initiatives taking place throughout the year on our blogpage or LinkedIn.
Conclusion
Being named Microsoft BeLux Partner of the Year twice in a row is an incredible symbol of the exceptional journey our Microsoft Community has embarked on. It’s a path of high standards and constant improvement, but moreover it is the innovative road we choose to take with MiCRONOS.
