The AWS Alexa Partner program will enable third-party developers and solution providers to leverage the underlying capabilities of Alexa's artificial intelligence platform in creating unique enterprise solutions.

Tolga Tarhan, founder and CTO of Sturdy Networks, an AWS partner based in Irvine, Calif., told CRN the leading cloud provider continues to help partners with proven experience in key technologies and verticals to differentiate their practices.

"That enables customers to select the best partner, and gives partners a way to stand out," Tarhan told CRN. "We find great value in the competencies, and are excited that AWS continues to invest in these programs."

Sturdy has been working on IoT applications since before the buzzword existed, Tarhan said, and the company offers an IoT portfolio that spans the stack, from hardware and software engineering to cloud and managed services.

Being recognized by AWS, through the new IoT competency, as a consulting partner and systems integrator in that space is exciting for the company, he said.

But what's even more interesting, Tarhan told CRN, is the overlap between this new IoT competency and the existing health care competency.

"These two, taken together, means that we can design, build, and manage health care focused IoT applications," he said. "A huge area of growth." 

Mike Clayville, AWS vice president of worldwide commercial sales, told solution providers the best way to partner with AWS is to focus on solving customer problems.

"We're able to solve customer problems much better with the competency partners in the room here and around the world," Clayville said. "We're able to deliver much better business outcomes because of your solutions and your services."