VARBusiness wanted to honor companies that focuses themselves on specific industries. This award is dedicated to the origins of the VAR industry and the original VARBusiness 100 that listed the industry's leading vertically-oriented VARs. In an era of specialization they demonstrated unparalleled excellence, technical capability and market knowledge. These companies know their customers and their customers' business better than anyone.
IBM Global Services
With more than $33 billion in revenue in 2000, IBM Global Services is far an away the biggest solution provider in the industry. The company retained the No. 1 ranking from last year's VAR 500 with expertise in e-business strategy and technology integration. As the top solution provider in 2000, it's only natural that Big Blue dominates its primary vertical market of financial services. With blue chip clients like Charles Schwab, Deutsche Bank, Merrill Lynch and Bank One, IGS's solutions and services for financial institutions set the standard by which all other solution providers are measured.
Plural
In the 12 years since its founding as Micro Modeling Associates, e-business solution provider Plural, No. 295 on the VARBusiness 500, has built strong ties to the financial services industry, creating more than 1,500 solutions for clients in a variety of areas like investment banking, securities, commercial banking, asset management and insurance. Plural, leveraging a number of key long-term partnerships with clients like Merrill Lynch, Chase Manhattan Bank and Charles Schwab, managed to revenue from $53 million in 1999 to $88 million last year.
Neil Isford, CEO (left) and managing editor/special reports Karen Franse
Siemens Health Services
With 31 years of experience in the healthcare IT sector, this company's solutions include clinical, financial and administrative applications as well as ebusiness, outsourcing, consulting and networking services. This company has become one of the top ASPs in the healthcare field and currently hosts applications for more than 1,000 healthcare organizations, with connections to more than 400,000 customer workstations, processing 90 million transactions per day. Formerly known as Shared Medical Systems, we would like to honor Siemens Medical Solutions Health Services, No. 12 in our VARBusiness 500 ranking.
Daniel Emig, director of technology marketing (right)
PTC
As one of the only solution providers in the top 100 that specializes in manufacturing, this company works with a long list of blue chip clients and partners. It was successful in 2000, not a small feat given the year's economic turmoil. It didn't get sued by investors or de-listed on the stock market. It did not have any significant layoffs or office closings, and is still doing well today. While it did see a slight drop in revenue in FY 2000 from the previous year, it has experienced significant increases in the last two quarters of this year, which in itself is a remarkable accomplishment. The company, PTC, No. 56 on the VARBusiness 500 this year.
Larry McMenamy, vice president of worldwide channel sales (left)
More VARBusiness 500 Awards
The Upper Echelon Club
Executives of the Year
Technology Leader Awards
Corporate Climbers
Lifetime Achievement Awards
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