Unisys has announced it has joined Google’s Cloud Partner Advantage programme.

By providing Google’s complete suite of Cloud and Infrastructure services and Digital Workplace Services, Unisys says it can offer clients more options for optimising their digital workplace environments through its’ end-to-end cloud management services.

In addition to joining the programme, Unisys will sell Google Cloud and Google Workspace solutions as part of its offering.

“This partnership announcement with Google is significant because it allows Unisys to expand our existing cloud-agnostic approach in Asia Pacific,” says Brad Bowden, director cloud & infrastructure, Unisys Asia Pacific,

“Strong vendor relationships are key to Unisys being able offer the best solutions to the client business transformation challenge,” he says.

“The success of our go-to-market strategy is directly related to the investment to partner with market leaders like Google.”

According to the company, joining the Google Cloud Partner Advantage Program expands Unisys’ ability to deliver outcome-based, end-to-end cloud services to its clients via a complete array of cloud advisory, digital transformation, application modernisation, migration, security, compliance automation, orchestration and comprehensive managed services capabilities.

Further, as a Google Workspace reseller, Unisys will assist its clients using Google Cloud to optimise their workplace environment through its extensive field services, service desk, endpoint management, productivity and collaboration offerings.

In February, Unisys was named as a Microsoft Azure Expert Managed Service Provider (MSP) for the third year in a row.

To pass the certification, Unisys had to demonstrate that it had worked successfully with its Azure clients on its Cloud Management Platform (CMP), which is powered by its CloudForte technologies.

Unisys vice president cloud and infrastructure, Mike Morrison, said at the time, “By again passing the Azure Expert MSP criteria, Unisys has proven that it can consistently and securely design, implement and manage Azure services.

“Our success with the clients for whom we are currently using AI-led automation, migrations, optimisation and security to realise the benefits of their cloud transformation is even more concrete proof.”

That same month Unisys joined the Lenovo partner ecosystem.

Unisys says its support of Lenovo’s solutions will be backed by its Digital Workplace Services, including pre-deployment, deployment, maintenance and lifecycle management supply chain services.

Lenovo president of commerical IoT group John Gordon said at the time: “Our ThinkIoT Solutions are helping to accelerate business transformation for the long-term.

VMware has announced it’ll continue allowing employees to work from home to promote inclusion and help the environment.

As part of its Future of Work initiative, VMware staff will continue to choose to work from home or in the office. Rich Lang, senior vice president of human resources, said staff members would be able to choose permanent remote work, “flexible” working, working near a VMware office, or working full-time from a VMware office.

Employees can work from any location that accelerates their productivity and advances their personal and professional goals during and after the pandemic,” he added.

Lang said planning for the initiative was well underway before COVID-19 and the pandemic accelerated efforts.

“As our employees demonstrated throughout the pandemic, work location does not dictate success. The choice and flexibility that form the cornerstones of this new distributed workforce model mirror the choice and flexibility we provide to our customers,” he said.

He said the company has discovered that most people prefer to do focused work at home or outside of the office. In contrast, campus offices are better suited for collaboration and community. This has led the company to base its Future of Work program around three things.

The first is to build up a diverse team with access to the resources and support they need to be productive in whichever work environment they choose. These resources and support will include expanded benefits and well-being programs, and reimbursements for home office equipment.

The second will see workplaces become collaboration hubs to tackle climate issues by decreasing the need to come into an office every day.

“Removing the need to commute to an office and reducing carbon emissions in our day-to-day operations has significant impact on our sustainability commitments. This means moving from spaces that prioritize individual work to environments that foster teamwork, innovation, and experiences,” said Lang.

The third idea is to increase diversity and inclusion by decreasing the need for staff to relocate or travel.

“We are leveling the playing field and ensuring equity and inclusion of all employees by providing every employee equal access to support systems, regardless of where they may choose to work,” said Lang.

Lang added that emerging technologies, like augmented reality and virtual reality, will play a key role in bridging distances and shaping a more dynamic and creative workforce.

“Accessibility to a broader talent pool and flexible work will shape a more diverse VMware and help achieve net-zero carbon emissions for operations,” said Lang.