VMWare names biggest thinkers

Entry for VMware’s Thinking Big for Your Business competition has closed with a total of 250 SMEs from across EMEA submitting ideas outlining how they would transform their business with $20,000 worth of VMware software and services.

There were a wide range of entrants, from companies specialising in toys and TV production to consultancy firms, to IT schools and solicitors. With suggestions including Bring Your Own Device access, creating new energy efficient data centres and launching a SMB productivity AppStore, the innovation from SMBs was clear to see.

The judging panel of Alastair Edwards, Principal Analyst at Canalys, and VMware’s John Churchhouse, SMB director in EMEA, and Benjamin Caller, senior director, Partner and SMB Marketing, has now released the following shortlist of ten outstanding entries. From this list, one winner will be selected and announced at VMworld 2012 Europe in Barcelona next month:

1. Visitatie School Mariakerke, Belgium

2. TC’System IT, France

3. Across Systems GmbH, Germany

4. Fresh Media GmbH, Germany

5. nobeo GmbH, Germany

6. Adicom Group, Italy

7. Edistar Srl, Italy

8. SPAL, Italy

9. Avanzit Tecnología, Spain

10. Clarion Solicitors Limited, United Kingdom

John Churchhouse explains, ‚”Three months ago we issued a call-to-arms for SMBs across Europe, the Middle East and Africa to show us their ambition and explain how they could use the latest technologies to transform their business. Theresponse has been hugely encouraging, with over 250 submissions featuring innovative, creative and inspiring ideas to change business practices for the better. It was no easy task to decide the final shortlist, but we feel the ten selected SMBs showcase the strongest plans we’ve seen for true business transformation.‚”

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