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AWARDS2018
THE EDITORS AWARDS CATEGORIES
FOR 2019 BY RAY SMYTH
NEW CATEGORY 1 - The Editor's
Innovation Award: The advancement of
technology, over a relatively short period
of time has been outstanding, but this is
not the end of the story: in fact it is just
the beginning.
One of the biggest changes I have
observed during my career in IT and
Networking, is the movement away from a
solution - a point solution - that is
designed to perform a specific task, to a
more flexible integrated approach, one
where the problem being addressed is
tackled with a new pair of eyes and using
a different, innovative perspective around
an unbelievably powerful selection of
technology building blocks, including
software, hardware, people, research and
especially necessity. Spectacular
outcomes can be achieved using
hardware, software, or a combination of
the two, organised around a huge range
of other critically important variables.
It has been my exposure to unresolved
problems and the attempts to innovate
that has inspired me to create this new
Network Computing Award. Innovation
can be found in many forms, for example
in the design and implementation of a
product, the application of a product to
resolve a problem or to create an ability
that translates to unique business or
operational advantage. In other words the
work, training or endeavours of people
working vendor side or on the IT and
Networking frontline, or a combination of
these, and many other components of
what can genuinely be described as
unique, powerful, game-changing
innovation.
Nomination: an organisation can
nominate itself by emailing their
submission to ray.smyth@btc.co.uk. The
person nominating must be a Director or
C-level executive of the organisation and
be authorised to do so.
Submission: to nominate, submit a
summary of no more than 600 words by
email describing the Innovation in as
much detail as possible, using a Word
compatible document format.
Judging: will be carried out, based on
initial submission and follow-up
questions, if required. The winning
submission will be published in a future
edition of the magazine and the
nominating organisation agrees to
provide an accompanying image and
logo for this purpose.
NEW CATEGORY 2 - Customer Choice
Award: However innovative a Networkbased
IT solution is, it is pointless unless
it meets the requirements of an
organisation, private, public or charity.
Those of us from the industry can easily
forget this important fact, so this award is
the chance to hear the customer's voice.
Nominations can be based upon a
product, a solution, a professional
services engagement, or any combination
of these, provided by a vendor in the
Networking and IT sector who is trading
at the time of nomination.
While a vendor can make the
nomination, the customer must provide
their permission to be referenced in the
nomination and at the time of
nomination, an active user of the
nominated product, solution or service.
Nominations can be made by emailing
600 words that outlines the solution that
the customer uses, the benefits they derive
and a clear reason for nomination.
NEW CATEGORY 3 - Artificial
Intelligence: best deployment or solution
Award: This burgeoning area is
advancing fast, and yet it is still very
much in its infancy. Unlike many
technologies, AI and Machine Learning
(ML) are rarely implemented as a
standalone technology, rather, they form
part of a well-engineered and tailored
solution to provided organisations
assistance around their data processing,
understanding and operational goals.
Nominations can be made by emailing
600 words that outlines the solution and
provides the reason for its nomination.
BENCH TESTED PRODUCT OF THE YEAR
This category is for all solutions that have
been independently reviewed for Network
Computing in the past year. There is still
time - although you will need to act
quickly - for your solutions to join the
shortlist of contenders for this award.
Contact Dave Bonner on 01689 616000
to book them in for review.
NETWORK PROJECT OF THE YEAR
This category is to recognise impressive
work that a supplier or combination of
suppliers has carried out for a customer.
We invite you to submit a case study. This
should contain:
a). A sentence or two which describes the
customer and its main activities
b). The challenges the customer was
facing
c). Who the customer called on for help
d). What the supplier or suppliers did to
help the customer
e). What benefits the customer has seen
as a result.
Ideally the project will have been
completed in the last twelve months. I am
not looking to re-evaluate projects that
were entered for the Awards of 2018. If
work is still ongoing the project can be
still be entered provided the case study
can reference some benefits that the
customer has seen already. Please send
the case study to my colleague David
Bonner at the email address below:
dave.bonner@btc.co.uk
I am very much looking forward to your
entries and to playing my part by getting
some truly amazing innovation recognised
through the Network Computing Awards.
Ray Smyth
WWW.NETWORKCOMPUTING.CO.UK @NCMagAndAwards
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