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While Microsoft is active in the Belgian IT industry, De Cronos Groep is rarely far away and vice versa. Both organizations work hand in hand to advance digitization
While Microsoft is active in the Belgian IT industry, De Cronos Groep is rarely far away and vice versa. Both organizations work hand in hand to advance digitization in Belgium. A collaboration that has developed into a symbiosis over the years.
Cronos Group was named Microsoft Partner of the Year Tuesday night, an award for the most valuable local partners. The IT all-rounder from Kontich has won the prestigious award for the second time in a row. Co-founder Dirk Deroost sees the extension of the title as the culmination of a long and fruitful collaboration.
“We were one of Microsoft’s first partners in Belgium. A common focus on new technologies brings us together,” says Deroost. Marijke Schroos, General Manager for Microsoft in the Benelux, joins the conversation. That alone is symbolic of the relationship between the two companies. Where one is, the other is rarely far away.
Schroos emphasizes that oncoming traffic is the great strength of the cooperation. Microsoft does not position itself as an authoritarian multinational that imposes its will on local partners. “We don’t just want to launch a product, we want to help companies develop a business plan for it. Local partners like De Cronos Groep can provide valuable input on how we should enter the market with new products and services.”
This approach is paying off in the Belgian IT industry, agrees Deroost. “Companies need an open ear that thinks long-term. Positive references are worth their weight in gold in a country like Belgium. “Customers call each other to ask about their experiences with a particular product.”
“Years ago, when we were among the first in Belgium to invest in the public Azure cloud, the acceptance of the cloud here was nowhere near as great as it is today. Now we don’t have to think twice before investing in new technologies from Microsoft: the answer will almost always be yes,” adds Deroost.
In order to bring new Microsoft products to Belgian companies faster, “Micronos” saw the light of day within the De Cronos group and focused on Microsoft competencies. “The strength of Micronos is that there are multiple voices from the sub-company and we build bridges between these organizations and the Microsoft teams,” says Michiel Gedopt, who used the all-encompassing job title Microsoft Alliance Manager has on his resume.
We don’t have to think long to invest in new technologies from Microsoft: the answer will almost always be yes.
Dirk Deroost, co-founder of De Cronos Group
The partners recently renewed their vows by entering into a new cloud deal. The Azure cloud therefore remains an important part of the collaboration, but is not limited to it. Cronos Group is “a partner in everything” for Microsoft. Doped tells us what that means.
“Our mission is to provide the best possible support for customers investing in the cloud. When companies invest in infrastructure, this often automatically impacts other areas such as data and security. Modernizing in the cloud encompasses multiple IT facets.”
Schroos agrees: “The cloud has brought about a great change. That’s why we also want to build data centers in Belgium to ensure our cloud is fully compliant with European standards. Businesses that use off-the-shelf software grow with that software, but sometimes get stuck. Then local partners are important to develop tailor-made solutions. Together we have created a powerful and organic model to bring innovation to market.”
The importance of training should not be underestimated either. Cronos Group has trained more than a thousand cloud professionals, and it won’t stop there. Deroost: “In order to follow all the innovations from Microsoft, you have to keep investing in education and training. You can’t do that with ten people. Not only to be competitive ourselves, but also to be able to work together.”
Nowadays we can’t talk to Microsoft without talking about (generative) AI. The company is making one AI-related announcement after another, thanks in part to the many billions of dollars Microsoft has pumped into OpenAI. Of course, this did not go unnoticed by Deroost:
“These investments in OpenAI have proven to be very significant. Projects around AI are now much larger. Every organization, including SMEs, should invest in AI. It’s a technology with which you can achieve a lot.”
“We can fall back on an extensive network,” Gedopt supports his CEO. “We have subcontractors that are already well-established names in this area. AI is applicable to all areas in which we operate. While there is now hype that is making companies more likely to bet on it, the effects should not remain theoretical. Copilot is a good example of how the technology can be integrated into a larger ecosystem.”
In the age of AI, Microsoft and De Cronos Groep will go hand in hand even more, Schroos agrees. “The pragmatic approach brings the technology closer to the customer. For example, we are already seeing a lot of interest in Copilot. Demos help: Customers see what it can do and what it offers them. AI has become much more tangible,” she concludes.
Companies see what AI can do and what it can do for them. AI has become much more tangible.
Marijke Schroos, General Manager Microsoft BeLux
Source: IT Daily
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