(Pictured above: Craig Galbraith (right) and Kevin Morris, hosts of the Channel Partners podcast, Coffee with Craig and Kevin, welcome winners, finalists and invited guests to the inaugural Excellence in Digital Services Awards, April 10, at the Channel Partners Conference & Expo in Las Vegas. Between them is the podcast’s digital services robot mascot, DigiBot, who represents all of the new digital services these fine companies are selling.)

We honored 13 partner businesses at the first-ever Channel Partners Excellence in Digital Services Awards Networking Reception at the Channel Partners Conference & Expo. Similar to our old awards program – the CP360 – we recognized some of the top companies in the business, only this time we did so in 12 categories that drilled down on specific technologies and strategies in the channel. That was followed by a party where we opened the doors to all-access and conference & expo pass holders.

We also took time to honor our Channel Influencers of the Year. The event was sponsored by Airtel Business, NTS Direct, Retarus and Unify.

Scroll through the gallery below for pictures of winners accepting their hardware. Then read about the customer deals that helped them win, as judged by the Channel Partners/Channel Futures editorial team, members of the Channel Partners Editorial Advisory Board and friends of the brand.

Not pictured is the team from Nexus Communications Technology, recognized in the Vertical Virtuoso category. Photos courtesy Steve Hall Photography.

Follow executive editor @Craig_Galbraith on Twitter.