Online customers on Cloud9 through excellent service

Cloud Applications are the hot market – successful firms like Cloud9 Insight are extremely fast growing and need to be agile in resourcing projects anywhere in the world. As customers generally buy online, they can spring up from around the globe, but still demand high quality support in their time zone. How does this UK firm, one of Microsoft’s most successful partners in this space, do such a great job in this area? We asked Carlene Jackson, CEO at Cloud9 Insight, how she achieves this.

What is Cloud9 Insight?

Cloud9 Insight is a global top tier managed Microsoft Cloud Accelerate Partner. Based in the UK, it uses Microsoft Cloud applications to reduce IT cost and complexity and provides specialized solutions based on Microsoft CRM Online and Microsoft Office 365.  Success has been rapid – Cloud9 Insight was awarded Presidents Club status in 2015.

Carlene Jackson, CEO, and the Microsoft award

Why did you partner with 365 Talent Portal instead of a traditional agency?

“We need associates as we often get projects at very short notice. However, there is a problem finding available great quality associates who can perform to the high standards we require. The agencies we used to work with were not only very expensive but were interested only in scale. 365 Talent Portal allows us to solve both these problems.  

In addition, 365 Talent Portal’s subscription structure is perfect for our presales model. They don’t charge a day rate uplift – the model is a quarterly subscription for which we can work with as many people for as long or as little as we need- and this means we can be very flexible on presales as well, working with as many as we need.”

What else was useful for you in terms of finding resources through 365 Talent Portal?

“I think the model is also great for our associates as the ones we work with don’t want to be stuck on a single project for 6 months or more- but prefer variety- and importantly a work life balance to be able to say yes or no to each engagement. You can’t do that through an agency model.”

Would you recommend 365 Talent Portal?

“365 Talent Portal will be our first point of reference for all future consultants needed as our business grows, and also without hesitation our recommendation to any other partners seeking to scale their team.”  

About us: 365 Talent Portal is the online platform that gives Microsoft Dynamics partners and end-users instant access to thousands of skilled, certified independent consultants. With a network spanning 114 countries, it allows companies to search for consultants based on their skills, rates and available dates, enabling them to find the best person for their projects without incurring the hefty fees typical of recruitment agencies. To find and hire excellent Dynamics resource, please register at 365talentportal.com.