Photo gallery: Panasonic's top Australian channel partners crowned

Total Communications has taken out the Panasonic Australia PBX Dealer of the Year award at the Panasonic and CommsPlus Distribution partner awards, with Nexgen and Commander Centre Brisbane East also among the winners.

The awards were presented at the annual partner conference, held this year in Bali, and hosted by Panasonic's exclusive Australian business phone systems distributor, CommsPlus in partnership with Panasonic.

Total Communications scooped up the top award after achieving both record sales and 'exceptional' customer service and support, Panasonic says.

"It also excelled through the team's continual training efforts and technical expertise across the Panasonic unified communications range," Panasonic says.

The Melbourne-based provider faced stiff competition from 150 Panasonic unified communications dealers nationwide to take out the award.

The company also took home the Panasonic Partner Sales Award in the Gold partner category, with Nexgen Australia winning the award for the Platinum division and Commander Centre Brisbane East claiming the award for the Silver Division.

The Partner Sales Award was one of two for Commander Centre Brisbane East, which also picked up the Panasonic Commander Centre Partner Sales Award for Platinum partners, while Commander Centre Brisbane West took out the Gold category and Commander Centre Darwin won the silver division.

Commander Centre Darwin also took home the Panasonic Regional Partner Sales Award for the Gold division. The Platinum division was won by Sedcom Business Phone Centre, with TBC Gippsland winning the sliver section.

The final category of awards, the Panasonic TBS Partner Sales awards, were won by Aim Communications, TBC Gippsland – in its second award of the night – and Key Communications, across Platinum, Gold and Silver, respectively.

The annual partner conference, meanwhile, saw 85 Australian channel partners hearing about the vendors business strategy, product innovations and roadmap for the year ahead, which will see Panasonic focusing on key verticals including hospitality, aged care and education.

Paul Bailye, CommsPlus group general manager, says the conference is a key element to its channel program, providing a platform for partners to come together and review the previous year and showcase what the next 12 months have in store.

"Our relationship with Panasonic goes from strength to strength and this year's partner conference was no exception," Bailye says.

"It's great to see such a solid turnout from our channel and we value the opportunity to share knowledge and best practice.