EMW ADDS TO AVAYA SKILLS

SI Becomes Region's First Service Expert

Systems Integrator EMW claims to have taken a lead over some of its rivals in the Avaya space by becoming the first certified Avaya Service Expert in the Middle East. In a move that caps a busy month in the Avaya channel - the communications vendor also announced a new regional channel chief and rolled out a revised training curriculum - EMW insists both customers and Avaya itself will benefit from its investment.

"The team spent about two days going through all the processes and support - from certification to helpdesk support - so it was pretty involved, " EMW's CEO for Middle East, Serjios EL-Hage, told Channel Middle East. "If I was a customer and I had a proposal from a certified service expert versus non-certified service expert, I would go with the Service Expert because I know they will deliver and mainly because Avaya has certified them," said EL-Hage. "It works both ways though because if Avaya has an opportunity that requires services then we are the only ones qualified to do the work on behalf of Avaya."

EMW's services contract covers the UAE and requires it to have a minimum of eight certified Avaya staff. The certification builds on the Joint Service Delivery (JSD) partner status that EMW held prior to the launch of Avaya's Connect Programme earlier this year.

"The Service Expert certification is a step up from JSD certification," said EL-Hage. "It is like the platinum, if you will, of services for any vendor. Service for us is very important because at the end of the day customers pay our salaries and they pay Avaya's salaries."