As transformation moves beyond executive aspiration to a boardroom necessity, CIOs are charting a new path forward in Asia Pacific with the partner ecosystem in fast pursuit. Motivated by a desire to overhaul technology portfolios and business models in equal measure, CIOs now hold increased responsibility for digital agendas – an agenda redefining outsourcing requirements in the process. According to State of the CIO research in 2022 – commissioned and produced by IDG – 60% of CIOs across the region are prioritising the upgrading of outdated IT infrastructure, supported by increased focus on customer experience (59%) and product innovation (42%). In response, partners must move beyond traditional box selling to embrace new solutions such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and high performance computing (HPC). Yet challenges remain as the channel skills up to meet the new demands of the CIO.

Introducing Innovation Awards in 2021, the market-leading awards program for celebrating ecosystem innovation and excellence across the technology sector in Southeast Asia. Innovation Awards houses a modernised category line-up, revamped submission criteria and standout market awareness as Channel Asia raises the bar for industry transformation. In a step away from predictable awards programs, entire local ecosystem expertise will not only be acknowledged and celebrated, but transformative examples of partner best practice amplified to all markets across ASEAN. Notable enhancements centre around the increased prioritisation of customer case studies to showcase the innovative capabilities of expert partners, a commitment to expand reach further into all countries and a heightened focus on both established and emerging providers. Mirroring the market, Innovation Awards will recognise the standout work of managed service providers, system integrators and value-added resellers, complemented by bleeding edge start-ups, cloud specialists, independent software vendors, consultancy giants, boutique agencies and application developers -- all collaborating, all contributing. Likewise, innovation at vendor and distributor levels will also be magnified, recognising leading champions of the channel, creative thinkers, consistent performers and market leaders. To achieve this, Innovation Awards will honour the channel across eight categories, spanning Partner Innovation, Tech Innovation, ASEAN-wide Innovation, Start-up Innovation, Personal Innovation, Vendor Innovation, Distributor Innovation and Hall of Fame.

As work from home accelerates, customer priorities are evolving at pace. Channel Asia in association with Citrix dives into the key challenges and priorities to enhance customer success in South East Asia. In the webinar, we look at independent ASEAN research, document customer priorities specific to remote working in ASEAN, detail new future of work technologies to enhance customer success, explain how to create competitive differentiation and light the partner value proposition ahead.

Introducing Channel Asia Women in ICT Awards (WIICTA) in 2021, housing a record-breaking number of submissions in what was the largest celebration of female excellence within the technology channel across Southeast Asia. Representing the entire ASEAN ecosystem, 160 finalists (150 individuals and 10 companies) made the shortlist from a pool of more than 65 organisations and over 220 nominations, spanning partner, vendor and distributor businesses. This marked a significant expansion in reach, support and market appeal to position WIICTA as the leading technology awards program for gender diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the Southeast Asian channel. Reflective of a diverse technology network – and a thriving channel community – over 25 partner companies were in the spotlight, in addition to more than 30 vendors and four distributors. Specific to partners, candidates ranged from large-scale consultancy giants and global system integrators (GSIs) to emerging and established start-ups in Jakarta, Bangkok, Manila and Singapore, alongside leading managed service providers, born-in-the-cloud players, specialist solution consultants and boutique digital agencies. Aligned to the Channel Asia approach of representing established and emerging partners in equal measure, 2021 was the year that WIICTA went mainstream in the local channel. Within this standout group of finalists, female leaders were located across the entire region, spanning Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. All career stages were in the spotlight from graduate-level entrants to well-established CEOs, in addition to inspiring entrepreneurs, creative thinkers and technical experts, as well as talent rising through the ranks and consistent high-performing individuals. This was also supported by both individual and company champions of D&I initiatives. Collectively, WIICTA in 2021 stands tall as the leading forum for setting the industry benchmark for female achievement across Southeast Asia.

In the B2B world, evolving customer requirements and challenging market conditions are combining to place a new emphasis on the importance of experience, placing channel partners at the centre of this change. This shift is driven by the need for more personalized, predictive, and digitized outcomes that help drive customer success. Join Channel Asia for an exclusive webinar, in association with Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Technology Services Industry Association (TSIA) and learn about the latest industry insights and how technology services continue to evolve to deliver differentiated value, and how partners can be successful in 2021 and beyond. There will also be a lucky draw for all partner attendees with exciting prizes to be won.

New market forces are coming together to transform the workforce, with a diverse employee base placing new demands on businesses. In housing multiple generations - spanning full-time, part-time and freelance workers - customers today are struggling to balance employee productivity and engagement, with innovation and security. Technology now plays a pivotal role in the workplace, creating opportunity for the channel to capitalise. Customers realise workforce transformation is required, but are struggling to initiate change. This IDG webinar, in association with Dell Technologies, will outline how channel partners can help customers transform the workforce, documenting the key areas of focus for profitability in 2019 and beyond. Key areas of discussion: • Assessing the changing workforce in the market • Outlining the key challenges facing CIOs today • Drawing up a blueprint for transformation through technology • Detailing how partners can help customers create a workforce of the future • Documenting the market opportunities ahead for the channel