More than a buzzword: How strategic partnerships power real digital transformation

Digital transformation is often reduced to a buzzword – a shorthand for adopting the latest tools, integrating emerging technologies, and driving efficiency. However, real transformation goes deeper. It's about creating meaningful outcomes that fundamentally shift the way organisations operate and serve their customers.

At Interactive, we understand this challenge. Our long-standing collaboration with Microsoft is a testament to how strategic partnerships can overcome real-world obstacles, scale innovation, and unlock new opportunities for our customers. Together, we're helping businesses modernise their technology infrastructure while laying the foundation for long-term success.

Thinking globally, acting locally

Forging strong partnerships with companies pursuing digital transformation affords us the ability to affect change in our sector – even through the smallest acts of client service.

Our approach starts with the belief that strong partnerships generate momentum. In a recent discussion, Vanessa Sorenson, Chief Partner Officer at Microsoft ANZ, said:

"Interactive has been part of Australia for many, many years – in partnership with us for over ten. What I love is how our teams build creative offers and go to market together. You think globally but act locally."

She continued:

"It's not about bringing us in at the end – we truly go together, understanding the customer problem from the start."

This philosophy of co-creation sits at the heart of our work. A well-matched partnership brings together expertise, resources, and innovation – creating a ripple effect that benefits both teams, their customers, partners, and the wider industry. By working closely with customers, partners, and even competitors, we can bridge technological gaps, accelerate cloud adoption, and deliver transformative solutions that would be difficult to achieve in isolation.

But we're not just solving technical challenges – we're addressing business problems. It's about striking bold ambitions together, navigating complexity, and taking pride in the impact we create. And importantly, it's also about marking the moment. Celebrating success is a vital part of partnership.

Trusted digital partner

A strong example of this approach in action is our collaboration with a long-standing enterprise customer in the financial services sector. What began more than eight years ago as hardware maintenance support has evolved into a dynamic relationship aligned with their broader transformation strategy.

Maintaining a strong reputation for reliability and data security is a top priority for this organisation. As the steward of critical financial data for millions of individuals and businesses, its recent migration to the public cloud marked a significant leap forward in agility, scalability, and security.

That success didn't happen in isolation. It came from close collaboration and trust.

"When our specialists are walking the corridors and talking about Interactive like they're part of the team – that's when I know it's working," said Vanessa. "You're proving out what you say you're going to do. We've got champions internally. That's the secret sauce – solving those customer problems together."

This collaborative approach enables the organisation to scale rapidly while delivering high availability, enhanced disaster recovery, and industry-leading security to its customers – bringing them one step closer to their goal of consistently excellent service in an ever-changing landscape.

Investing in a future-ready partnership

Innovation thrives on strong relationships. It's not just about implementing technology – it's about empowering organisations to fully leverage it. By working closely with our partners and customers, we ensure that the tools and expertise needed to maximise cloud investment are shared effectively.

Interactive's 38-year legacy reflects our ability to adapt and grow with our customers. As we like to say: "We've seen it, we've solved it, and we've evolved it."

With Microsoft recently celebrating its 50th anniversary globally, and our own two decade-long partnership continuing to strengthen, we're entering a new chapter of bold thinking and co-creation. It's a partnership built not just on shared goals, but on execution, trust, and a commitment to mark the moments of transformation together.

As Vanessa summed it up: "We want to celebrate those wins, those customer stories, and keep building momentum. I know we're just getting started – and I can't wait to see where we go next."