Microsoft Partners Program IMPACT Awards honor Microsoft’s top resellers and solution providers

EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA— Upside Software announced today that it has been selected as the winner for the ISV Innovation Award at the 2005 Microsoft Partner Program IMPACT Awards. The third annual IMPACT awards recognize excellence across the large and diverse community of Canadian resellers and solution providers. Hundreds of entries were submitted by technology partners from across Canada. 

“We are proud to be a part of the Microsoft Partner Program and honored to be recognized at the 2005 IMPACT awards for our achievements, “ said Ashif Mawji, President and CEO. “This award reflects our dedication to strong customer relationships and reinforces our position as leaders in contract lifecycle management software and as an Independent Software Vendor.”

As an Independent Software Vendor (ISV), Upside Software was recognized for the outstanding and innovative software solution of the year based on leading-edge use of Microsoft technologies with their client, JCPenney. With over 1,000 retail department store locations across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Brazil, JCPenney’s Procurement Operations received executive support to standardize and streamline their procurement contracts, thereby giving them a better view into their supplier relationships, ultimately reducing procurement costs and maintaining their position as the nation’s largest catalog merchant of general merchandise.

“We are thrilled that Upside Software has won a 2005 Microsoft Partner Program IMPACT award. As true leaders in their fields, technology partners continue to deliver to customers the solutions they need to help perform at an optimal level,” said Lora Gernon, Director of Partner Sales, Microsoft Canada Co. “Our annual IMPACT Awards is an opportunity to celebrate top technology partners who have demonstrated innovation and shown true dedication through their tremendous support and service to customers.”

Upside Software is the only award recipient whose headquarters are in Edmonton, Alberta.

About Upside Software Inc.

Upside Software is the worldwide leader in Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) solutions. Customers around the globe use UpsideContract and other integrated business solutions to confidently perform Contract Management, Sourcing & Procurement, and Invoice & Billing Management activities throughout their organizations. Upside Software’s products address the needs of Enterprise (e.g. Fortune 500, Global 2000), Public sector (Federal, State/Provincial, Municipal and Health Care), and Small & Medium Enterprise (SME) customers. Customers realize significant cost savings while improving customer and supplier relationships. Upside Software’s solutions are deployed in as little as 3 days and typically provide a full return-on-investment (ROI) in under a year. Founded in 2000, Upside Software is a profitable, growing company with an advanced, yet mature, and comprehensive product suite. The company has extensive experience delivering real value to customers of every size and in most industry verticals. Upside Software is headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – for more information visit the company’s website at http://www.upsidesoft.com/ or one of its product sites: http://www.upsidecontract.com/, http://www.upsidecontractlite.com/, http://www.contractbuddy.com/, http://www.upsiderfx.com/, http://www.upsidebilling.com/.

About the Microsoft Partner Program IMPACT Awards

In 2003, Microsoft Canada replaced all of its previous technology partner awards with a unified program that also recognizes customer service, marketing, and contribution to the community. Microsoft Canada has outlined 32 categories to highlight the Partner Program competencies to honour the achievements of top technology partners. 

Microsoft Partner Program IMPACT Awards were open to Systems Integrators, Large Account Resellers, Direct Market Resellers, Value Added Resellers, Distributors, Systems Builders, Certified Partners for Learning Solutions, Microsoft Certified Partners, Independent Software Vendors, Channel Suppliers, Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) Partners and Original Equipment Manufacturers. 

For a list of all 2005 winners, and more information on the Microsoft for Partner IMPACT Awards, please visit http://www.microsoft.ca/awards  

For more information, contact: