Ericsson-LG Enterprise’s Global Partner Conference (GPC) 2024, held in March at the Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach, was a convergence of innovation, strategic announcements, and the nurturing of partner relationships. Under the slogan ‘Shaping Our Future with iPECS,’ the event emphasized collaboration with partners on the shared journey to a Cloud and AI-driven future. The agenda, spanning from a welcome reception and comprehensive conference day to a concluding Gala with an awards ceremony, encapsulated the essence of Ericson-LG Enterprises’ vision and its commitment to its partners.
Let’s dive into all the must-know details of this event.
Agenda Highlights
GPC 2024 circled several key objectives, with a structured agenda designed to engage partners and align them with Ericson-LG Enterprise’s strategy for the coming year.
The conference day included a keynote delivered by CEO Patrick Johansson, followed by further talks delivered by the Head of Sales and Marketing, Ahed Alkhatib, Head of International Sales, Yuno Jung, Head of Products, HM Lee, and Head of Operations, Yong Lee.
“Each of us used our time on stage to outline strategic priorities aligned with our corporate vision, highlighting service and support initiatives our partners can expect over the upcoming 12 months,” Alkhatib shares.
The event also featured a team-building activity and culminated in a gala dinner and awards ceremony, where partners were recognized for their outstanding contributions.
Notable award winners included Aria Technologies Africa as Global Partner of the Year, Aria Australia as Asia Pacific Partner of the Year, Pragma as European Partner of the Year, Vertical Communications as Americas Partner of the Year, and Tawasol Technology as MEA Partner of the Year. Additionally, various partners received awards in categories such as Cloud Partner of the Year, Best Growth Partners of the Year, and many others.
“This annual award ceremony is significant for us, as it’s a way for us to show our appreciation for our partners, who are a very important part of our continued success,” Alkhatib says.
“This year’s GPC was extraordinary, and we’d like to thank Ericsson-LG Enterprise for their hard work putting it together,” says Inus Smalberger, CEO of Aria Technologies Africa, awarded Global Partner of the Year.
“From the welcome dinner and conference day to the team building activity and concluding gala dinner, the event was a demonstration of great hospitality and a genuine effort to deliver partners the very best experience.”
Cloud-First, AI, and New Gamma Partnership
Cloud-first (but not cloud-only) was one of the main themes highlighted in this year’s GPC. Ericsson-LG Enterprise reiterated its commitment to a cloud-driven approach, acknowledging the market’s shift towards cloud solutions.
“Future success will require the integration of collaboration and call center functionality delivered as a cloud service and infused with Artifical Intellignece,” Alkhatib notes.
“We are witnessing the transition of several of our key markets which are leading with the iPECS Cloud proposition.”
Alkhatib stresses that while each market is located at a different stage of the legacy-to-cloud lifecycle, “this is undoubtedly the path across the business, and we’re very committed to it.”
Infusing AI into contact centers and collaboration platforms also emerged as a pivotal theme, with a presentation showcasing AI plugins developed by third-party application developers.
Last but not least, another significant aspect of this year’s GPC was the recently announced partnership with Gamma. Daryl Pile, Managing Director of Gamma Business, provided insights into the partnership and emphasized the opportunities presented by a cloud-centric approach.
“As a UCaaS market leader in the UK, Daryl’s perspective provided valuable insights into leveraging synergies between our companies,” Alkhatib shares.
“This year’s GPC was a true success, both for us and for our partners around the globe,” concludes Patrick Johansson, CEO of Ericsson-LG Enterprise.
“We’re happy to have managed to put across our vision for the upcoming year, driven by our iPECS proposition while strengthening bonds and delivering an enjoyable experience for everyone.”
