2006 VARs of the Year

To win in services engagements, it often takes a wide variety of experience, technology skills and a breadth of offerings that can scale to fit clients while being repeatable enough to retain profitability. But most of all, services is about knowledge; knowledge of the customer's business and goals. When it comes right down to it, all the tech skills in the world won't do much good if a service provider can't help a business turn IT vision into innovation and growth.

Standing out in an impressive group of service providers in the Services Delivery category of this year's VARBusiness VARs of the Year is Agilysys. The Agilysys Enterprise Solutions Group ran the professional services and consulting table by delivering tailored solutions that combine custom software and services.

In vertical markets, Agilysys is giving retailers, and hotel and casino owners ways to cost-effectively manage business. The service provider has responded with a practice-based professional-services model founded on knowledge specialization that ensures each area of focus is led and staffed with experienced and knowledgeable professionals.

Agilysys impressed the VARBusiness judges with several business-intelligence engagements that leveraged deep insight into vertical markets and coupled that with fine-tuned technology that quickly paid dividends for the user.

Take for example Agilysys' business-intelligence efforts in the hospitality industry. Project success for an impressive list of end users proves Agilysys has found a delivery model that brings to bear all of its vertical expertise. And while customized tools are important, the most important feature of the hospitality solutions, according to customers, remains Agilysys' expert advice, consulting and services.

"We were impressed with the support and guidance from Agilysys throughout the entire process," says Rich Hawkins, director of materials management at The Breakers Palm Beach (Fla.). "From initial consultation through implementation to ongoing support, Agilysys has proven processes and experienced personnel to ensure rapid ROI."

"This award symbolizes for Agilysys our ability as a solution provider to build and offer specific, relevant solutions that effectively align with our clients' business needs," says Bob Bailey, executive vice president at Agilysys. "In the coming years, we look forward to continuing our growth pattern, both organically and through acquisitions, enabling Agilysys to bring new solutions to the marketplace."

--Chris Gonsalves

NEXT: VAR of the Year for Value To Customer