'Vendor Spotlight Of The Month' Interview With Judith Phillips At Honeywell

Welcome to the sixth of our ‘Vendor Spotlight of the Month’ interviews!

In the past we have brought you both customer interviews and staff interviews, so we thought it would be interesting to see what our vendors have to say about us!

This month we spoke with Judith Phillips, Channel Business Manager at Honeywell Safety & Productivity Solutions, to find out her thoughts on all things Dakota!

1. How long have you been in your current role at Honeywell?

I have been in my current role at Honeywell for just over 5 years.

2. What does your role within Honeywell involve?

Since I started in 2017, my role has evolved. I started looking after our small and medium-sized business partner community, driving run-rate business within these accounts, before moving to look after our distributors within the UK on behalf of Honeywell, then transitioning to my current role which involves looking after Honeywell UK’s Platinum Accounts. This involves driving Honeywell growth across all lines of business, being responsive to all queries and increasing Honeywell knowledge and mindshare within these partners.

3. How long have you known the team at Dakota?

Dakota is a new account for me which I inherited on the 1st of April this year. Dakota’s focus is primarily on our Voice Solution, the business pipeline and won opportunities for which, during the relatively short period of time that Dakota has been a registered Honeywell Partner, has developed rapidly.

4. What is Dakota like to interact with on a business basis?

Dakota is a fabulous organisation! The team is so friendly, knowledgeable and self-sufficient. Everyone has been so welcoming to me as their new Account Manager.

5. What attributes do you require in a Honeywell Partner?

The attributes differ and vary, depending on partner status. Dakota is a Platinum Partner with Honeywell, which is our top tier level of partner. Platinum Partners are technical experts within our industry, with resources available for both pre- and post-sales technical support. They also need to attend regular Honeywell training sessions and work collaboratively with us. In return, Honeywell provides a dedicated Account Manager (yours truly!) and a dedicated technical resource for voice, which is my colleague, Tom Porter. Honeywell also provides preferential pricing and contributes towards any joint marketing initiatives.

6. How do you think Dakota contributes to the Honeywell Partner Community?

Dakota offers a reliable and trustworthy service to our End User Community, while pioneering exciting new and previously untapped directions for voice, such as chasing and developing Maintenance & Inspection opportunities within a variety of industries. Dakota also produces case studies which help develop the voice brand within the UK.

7. What are Dakota’s specific USPs?

Dakota has a very strong healthcare presence as well as strong industry and product knowledge within a variety of sectors, spanning the healthcare and supply chain industries. They also have dedicated teams to focus on sectors and, combined with a 20-year history, is an innovative and growing company with every member of the team having a great work ethic.

8. And finally, what do you hope the future holds for Honeywell’s relationship with Dakota?

I hope to see Dakota become one of the biggest certified Honeywell Voice Partners in the UK and with Phil Jarrett at the helm of this drive to increase voice-based business and projects, I’m more than sure that this will materialise sooner rather than later.