Forging a powerful business alliance with global giant Microsoft has been the key to success for a Sydney-based IT company that develops innovative mobile data solutions.
Managing Director of Spectra Interface, Anthony Julien, said the relationship had opened up a wealth of business opportunities and had the potential to turn a small domestic company into a major international player.
The relationship has been such a success that Spectra Interface now holds the coveted and exclusive title of Microsoft Global ISV Gold Partner.
"There are 293,000 Microsoft Partners in the world, 15,500 certified partners and 7,500 Gold certified partners - and we are one of those," said Mr Julien.
"We're already at the top of the pile, and that is when you can enter serious discussions for licensing."
Many multinational companies like Microsoft have an Australian presence. Austrade is a Corporate Partner of Microsoft, and actively encourages the company to work with Australian companies looking to forge export connections.
Austrade works with the Microsoft Development Community to encourage more companies like Spectra Interface to take their IT solutions offshore. Mr Julien said Austrade’s involvement in his company had been invaluable. Spectra Interface has been a participant in Austrade’s New Exporter Development Program (NEDP) and also a recipient of the Export Market Development Grant (EMDG). Both programs are designed to help new exporters become market ready and establish international contacts.
Spectra Interface was established in 1995 by a group of database experts looking to develop software that would provide a competitive advantage to businesses that worked through a mobile sales force.
The result was the innovative Spectrax software solution, which integrates sales, customer service, fulfillment, enterprise resource planning (ERP) and accounting functions into one system that can be accessed by a mobile sales team.
In addition to its blossoming relationship with Microsoft, Spectra Interface has also formed a partnership with US-based company Symbol Technologies. This global provider of mobility hardware and services has offices all over the world, including Melbourne and Seattle. A London office is due to open in September.
Mr Julien said this partnership with Symbol would further strengthen Spectra Interface’s international reputation and would help the company demonstrate its ability to provide for a global market – an important step in moving forward with Microsoft.
He said Symbol Technologies would also help Spectra Interface promote its solutions through the Asia Pacific Region and Europe.
"This is the glue to bring it all together," he said. "We have now been able to sit down and negotiate with multi-national companies."
Spectra Interface plans to open an office in the UK in the near future.
Company Information
Anthony Julien
Managing Director
Head Office
Suite 505, 815 Pacific Highway
Chatswood NSW 2067
Tel: 61 2 9419 2123
Email: sales@spectrainterface.com
Website: www.spectrainterface.com.au