SoftChoice Corp. with its North American strategy helped itself again to the top spot in this year’s CDN Top 100 Solution Provider rankings.
More than 200 solution providers from across the country gathered at The Paramount Theatre in North Toronto to applaud themselves and the channel.
SoftChoice with revenues between $750 million to $800 million out paced NexInnovations who rebounded with a $500 to $550 million figure. Rounding out the top five were first comer Insight Canada, Xwave Solutions and Compugen Inc.
In 2006, SoftChoice continued to grow its hardware business significantly, while taking more market share away from its U.S. competitors in the software licensing business. The publicly-traded Toronto based firm has become a North American player with more than 600 employees and 29 branch offices. But they claim to still be a Canadian force with more than 40 per cent of its business in Canada.
Meanwhile, Nexinnovations had an up and down year, but through the tough times they still remain one of the cornerstones of the Canadian channel. The company was the only solution provider chosen to provide Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency to test and implement the 2007 Microsoft Office system and Office SharePoint Server. The company also managed to save Saskatchewan tax-payers millions with an innovative computer leasing deal with that provinces’ government.
Insight last year placed No. 6. And, two year’s ago it cracked the top 10 for the first time. Insight understood it had to be local and not just about fulfillment. Insight has account services teams spread across the country and they also have resources and the knowledge base to be technical experts in any IT area.
FlexITy Solutions took a simple strategy of aligning business with technology to move up 13 spots from last year and take the fastest riser award.
CMS Software is arguably one of the leading providers of ERP software to the manufacturing sector in this country. This company became part of an industry merger with U.K.-based XKO Software to become an international force.
The event was sponsored by Tech Data Canada, NEC Display Solutions, Cisco Systems Canada, Symantec Canada and Hewlett-Packard Canada Ltd.
TSN’s Michael Lansberg made a guest appearance and hosted an IT version of Off The Record with Ron Stewart of FlexITy, David MacDonald of SoftChoice, Carmela Orlando of Insight Canada and Hubert Kelly of Nexinnovations.
