Celebrating Channel Recognition | Unpack Windows 10 End of Support | P&C Share Tips for Work-Life Balance

Our Dicker Data team was honoured to receive three awards at the recent 2024 ARN Innovation Awards. Vladimir Mitnovetski , Dicker Data COO, took a moment to reflect on this significant achievement.???

“Our recent recognition at the ARN Awards is a reflection of the incredible work our teams continue to do. Our people have demonstrated such strong resiliency this year as they faced a challenging market, and they've gone above and beyond in supporting our partners. Ultimately, our success is built on our partners and our vendors, and we are extremely grateful to those who place their trust in us as their distributor. This recognition fuels our passion to keep delivering for all of you, and we're?excited to be playing a role in the continued success of our industry and accelerating the positive impact of technology on people, businesses and communities across ANZ.”?

??Hardware Distributor of the Year – Dicker Data?

For the 12th consecutive year, our Dicker Data team was crowned Hardware Distributor of the Year! As a locally owned and operated distributor, which began with hardware, this award is extremely close to our hearts.

Luke Trinh – General Manager – Hardware Group?

“This achievement is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment of our team in supporting our customers. A heartfelt thank you to our loyal customers for their unwavering support throughout this year. Your partnership means the world to us, and we truly appreciate the trust you place in our team. Our success would not be possible without the collaboration and partnership of our valued vendors. We are grateful for the exceptional teams we work with - thank you for your continuous support and for being an integral part of our journey. ?Here's to many more achievements and continued success together!”?

??Creativity Distributor of the Year – Dicker Data?

We are proud to be recognised for our creative initiatives, being crowned the Creativity Distributor of the Year. This achievement reflects our successful collaboration with Cisco in developing and hosting the ‘Pursuit of Cyber Resilience’ event, featuring cyber expert Ben Owen .?

Vickie Madeleine – General Manager, Cisco Group, Dicker Data.?

“To say I was proud that the Cisco Pursuit of Cyber Resilience program was officially recognised at the ARN Innovation Awards would be an understatement. I was ecstatic! Over 500 partners attended this series to learn how Cisco’s expansive portfolio is addressing real life security concerns in an AI era. Thank you to all those involved for living and breathing our core values in delivering value through innovative initiatives and with purpose.”??

??Marketing Excellence Award - Chantelle Stapleton, Dicker Data?

We were thrilled to see the Personal Innovation Marketing Excellence award go to our very own Chantelle Stapleton. Chantelle leads our Hardware Marketing Team and always strives for the best. This is truly-well deserved, we can’t wait to see what you can do in 2025!?

Chantelle Stapleton – Hardware Marketing Manager?

“What an honour and a privilege to be nominated alongside such incredible individuals in our industry. I love working with the Dicker Data team and our amazing vendors and partners on their marketing campaigns and initiatives and very proud of what we achieve together. I am absolutely thrilled to have received this award and to have celebrated this achievement with the team.”?

Here’s to more success, innovation and growth in 2025! Congratulations?to all this year’s finalists and winners! View the full list here.

UNLOCKING THE WINDOWS 10 REFRESH OPPORTUNITY??

Now is the time to shepherd your customers to Windows 11. As a channel, our collective clock is ticking. Gary Lawrence, Microsoft Business Development Manager at Dicker Data,?says now is the time to act on refreshing your devices to avoid potential risks.

"Of those devices that are out in the market still running on Windows 10, about half are ineligible to upgrade. So, we need to start talking to the customers now. If we start now, if we start forecasting and working with OEM partners and working with Dicker Data for stockholding, we should be able to alleviate this challenge, this problem that we're facing."

CRN Australia, in collaboration with our Dicker Data team and Microsoft, has produced a comprehensive report designed to guide Channel Partners in the refresh to Windows 11.?

?? Access the full guide here!

OUR PEOPLE & CULTURE TEAM SHARE ADVICE ON HOW TO ACHIEVE WORK-LIFE BALANCE AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON?

Do you think about work on the weekends? Or in the evenings while you’re having dinner? If so, you may have fallen into the trap of an unhealthy work-life balance. Achieving a healthy work-life balance can be more challenging than it appears. Many people find it difficult to separate their professional and personal life. At Dicker Data, we’ve turned to our People & Culture team for their valuable tips and tricks to help maintain this balance, especially with the holiday season approaching.?

Firstly, it’s essential to pinpoint the challenges employees face when trying to maintain this balance. Bebiana Liau , People & Culture Business Partner, has identified the key problem.?

?“One of the biggest challenges is the struggle to separate our professional and personal life, despite our best intentions. It’s important to establish clear boundaries and even more important we stick to them. Commit 100% to work during business hours but know when and how to disconnect at the end of the working day. Remember, maintaining a good work/life balance is an ongoing cycle so get into a good rhythm to make it sustainable.”?

Recognising the signs of an unhealthy work-life balance is crucial for maintaining overall well-being. If you’re unsure where you sit on the scale, Rachel Martin , People & Culture Business Partner, has shared 10 key indicators to watch out for.?

1. Feeling constantly exhausted and burnt out.?
2. Difficulty concentrating on tasks, lack of interest at work.?
3. Headaches, muscle tension, stomach issues or frequent illnesses.?
4. Not having clear boundaries and always working overtime.?
5. Taking work home and struggling to disconnect from work during personal time.?
6. Feeling guilty for taking a break.?
7. Declining social events due to not having the time or the energy.?
8. Dread or avoid going to work, decline in productivity.?
9. Not making time for self-care.?
10. Problems in relationships with family, friends, or partner.?

If you’ve managed to avoid the signs and symptoms mentioned above, congratulations. However, the reality is, most people will encounter one or more of these challenges at some point and that’s completely normal. As Rachel explains, the benefits of maintaining a well-balanced lifestyle are substantial!?

“It’s all about living a happy and productive life by prioritising your personal time and the time you spend at work. Once you achieve that happy medium it can lead to an improvement in overall health and wellbeing by improving both mental and physical health, higher job satisfaction, greater ability to focus and concentrate which leads to higher productivity, improves motivation and morale, opportunity to spend more time with loved ones and have a productive social life.”?

To help follow this advice Luiza Ceresa , People & Culture Coordinator, has compiled a list of the top tips to help keep you happy, healthy and productive.?

1. Set clear boundaries. Make sure you separate work and personal time. Stick to a consistent schedule and when work hours are over, fully unplug and recharge.?
2. Prioritise self-care. Don’t skip meals, exercise, or sleep! Taking care of yourself boosts energy and focus, making you more productive and happier overall.?
3. Take regular breaks. Short breaks throughout the day can keep you refreshed. Go for a quick walk or stretch to avoid burnout and keep your mind sharp.?
4. Learn to say no. Sometimes, it’s okay to decline extra tasks if your plate is full. It’s important to protect your time to avoid stress and maintain high-quality work.?
5. Make time for what matters. Spend time with your loved ones, enjoy hobbies, or simply relax. A fulfilling personal life keeps you motivated and balanced in your work life, too!?
6. Celebrate small wins. Did you finish that project you’ve been working on? Take some time to celebrate it! Recognising your own efforts keeps you motivated and reminds you that you’re achieving great things – both at work and beyond.?

A healthy work-life balance benefits both employees and the business. From a company perspective, this will increase employee retention and help reduce absenteeism. Valeria Johnson , General Manager - People & Culture, explains what measures Dicker Data has in place to support our team.?

“Dicker Data recognises that a diverse workforce requires a range of options for working optimally to suit individual differences in neurodiversity and life commitments. We offer a Flexible Work Toolkit with a wide variety of flexible work models, vacation care for working parents, onsite fitness classes, financial and education support for managing work and life circumstances, and many other initiatives to support our people in achieving the right balance for each individual.”?

As we head into the 2024 holiday season and the beginning of a new year, Bebiana Liau , People & Culture Business Partner, highlights what employees could be doing to help them recharge.??

“Acknowledge your efforts and celebrate your achievements (but do so responsibly!). Look back on the year gone by and reflect on all the positive progress you’ve made, both at work and in your personal life. Spend quality time with your loved ones, plan a well-deserved holiday, take the time to explore new places and meet new faces, or volunteer and give back to our community. Whilst there are often a lot of social work events on at this time of the year, know yourself and assert your limits. And, lastly, the holiday season can be a time of loneliness and anxiety for some people so be kind, always.”?

Thank you to our People & Culture team for sharing your advice! We hope these tips and tricks can improve your current work-life harmony. Here's to a more balanced lifestyle in 2025 and beyond.?

MORE:

• View our 2024 Christmas Trading Hours??
• Unlocking the Windows 10 Refresh Opportunity with Dicker Data
• Dicker Data expands partnership with cybersecurity vendor Trustwave??
• Melbourne Cup in pictures??
• Dicker Data hosts inaugural Microsoft Security Partner Advisory Council??
• ??Dicker Data’s very own MJ receives marketing accolade from Pure Storage?
• Discover how Check Point Software is simplifying enterprise security for SMBs?
• How Dicker Data and Microsoft are unlocking the potential of SMBs?
• Learn how EcpPro and Dicker Data can transform IT service delivery management?

We understand the challenges faced by small, medium and large businesses in Australia and through our 46 years we have helped our customers navigate technological change.

Thank you for reading! We'll be back next month with further insights from our Dicker Data community. #WEAREDDR