Blogs
Microsoft Ignite 2025: the ‘need-to-know’ highlights
Catch our comprehensive summary of the highlights from Microsoft Ignite 2025, combined with the resources and links you need to dig into the detail!
Partner Spotlight Series
Founded in 2004, LOLC Technologies is a fully owned subsidiary of LOLC Group, a diversified Sri Lankan conglomerate. Today, as a fully-fledged Independent Software Vendor (ISV), LOLC Technologies develops software solutions for external customers alongside its mother company’s 100+ direct and indirect subsidiaries. Its core offerings include fintech solutions covering secure data exchanges, payment and transaction gateways, and automated workflows.
LOLC Technologies’ flagship product, FusionX, was developed to fill a clear gap within the greater LOLC Group. Instead of depending on external vendors for banking solutions, LOLC Technologies saw the potential for a home-grown solution that could keep up with the group’s fast-growing needs. FusionX has expanded from core banking processes into lending, leasing, and loans over the last few years. Today, the solution is utilised in 26 countries and is one of the main drivers behind LOLC Group’s expansive presence in Asia and Africa as a micro-financier.
Despite this success, limited Azure maturity services and a lack of go-to-market (GTM) support from its previous cloud partner kept FusionX from fully realising its international growth potential. LOLC Technologies needed a cloud provider that could offer both cost efficiency and market reach so it could take FusionX to a broader market.
While Microsoft offered the right mix of technical expertise, affordability, security, and global reach, LOLC Technologies required a delivery partner that could offer the strategic support needed to take FusionX to the next level.
This was where Crayon entered the picture. Collaborating closely with Microsoft, Crayon helped secure LOLC Technologies as a Microsoft customer and became the missing piece LOLC Technologies needed to embrace Microsoft solutions. Through the ISV Innovation Hub, Crayon provided the ISV with tailored support across four pillars: Grow, Modernise, Monetise, and Scale.
The first step in the Crayon team’s cloud adoption framework was conducting evaluations to understand LOLC Technologies’ requirements on a granular level. This included an in-depth assessment of existing IT infrastructure and familiarising themselves with its internal developers, security teams, deployment teams, and architects. The Crayon team also took the time to understand the FusionX solution, which allowed them to develop a strategic migration plan and make informed suggestions, customisation options, and referral architectures.
This thorough approach fostered trust and confidence, ultimately positioning Crayon as a strong technology ally—one with the expertise and capacity to meet LOLC Technologies’ evolving needs.
With Crayon’s support, LOLC Technologies was able to facilitate FusionX’s migration to Azure. This was followed by moving the company’s remaining applications and systems to the cloud, including the recently acquired Lipton Tea brand. As of mid-2025, 70% of LOLC Technologies’ cloud migration has been completed.
To control increasing licensing costs that were limiting the app’s growth, Crayon helped LOLC Technologies optimise its IT spend. Crayon provided access to Microsoft funding, allowing LOLC Technologies to extract the best value from its Azure investment.
LOLC Technologies also reaped the advantages of being a part of Crayon’s ISV Innovation Hub. As the sole program aligned with Microsoft’s ISV Success Program, Crayon’s ISV Innovation Hub taps into a range of exclusive benefits, including Azure credits, specialised GTM resources, and access to developer tools. This, combined with Crayon’s hands-on technical support and decades of experience, helped list FusionX on the Azure marketplace swiftly. Through the Sell With programme and Crayon’s ISV network, the app gained wider visibility across multiple markets.
In Sri Lanka, the app was also promoted locally within Crayon’s partner and ISV networks. At Crayon’s 2025 Partner Summit, FusionX took centre stage, with LOLC Technologies highlighting its successful journey with Microsoft and Crayon during the event.
FusionX stands out as a core banking solution because of its unique combination of low-code/no-code capabilities and modular composable architecture – a feature that allows banks to quickly build and adapt workflows without disrupting existing core systems. Under Crayon’s guidance, FusionX’s app performance and user experience were further optimised. Financial institutions deploying FusionX for its customers no longer need to offer separate reports, since users can easily source this information for themselves.
Crayon will continue to support LOLC Technologies on its digital transformation journey. By fostering an environment of continuous innovation and providing strategic guidance, Crayon and Microsoft are empowering LOLC Technologies to further expand FusionX’s global footprint, driving financial inclusion and digital advancement across new markets.
Blogs
Catch our comprehensive summary of the highlights from Microsoft Ignite 2025, combined with the resources and links you need to dig into the detail!
Training
In our latest webinar, our in-house Modern Work experts Jye Wong and Ksenia Turner will run you through a practical refresher on Solution Partner Designations; what they are, why they matter and how to get started.
Sales and Marketing
Business leaders don't live in the tools. They live in the outcomes. The metrics they care about most are not always limited to compliance and risk. So how do you connect data protection to the big-ticket objectives, when they're less obvious? Our in-house pre-sales expert, Michael Brooke explains.
Guides and eBooks
As SMBs mature in the Data Protection lifecycle, they need help to optimise spend, reduce the compliance burden and ensure results align to business objectives. The third installment of our Data Protection Playbook series provides practical guidance for partners on how to address emerging pressure and connect ongoing investment to measurable business value.
Training
Copilot Agents: what are they and how do they differ from AI assistants and chatbots? Our in-house Copilot expert Ksenia Turner explains the use cases and service opportunities for partners.
Blogs
Fragmented data protection systems and processes create compliance proof-gaps for SMB customers. Scott Hagenus, Director, Cybersecurity here at Crayon explains.
Guides and eBooks
How can partners help their SMB customers to move from silos of security and continuity to a more cohesive, measurable and insurable data protection framework? The second edition in our Data Protection Playbook series maps out their journey, and yours.
Sales and Marketing
Ever wonder why a pitch has some IT Managers leaning forward, while others glaze over? Michael Brooke, Cybersecurity Pre-Sales Lead offers some insight on how to tune your approach to chime with different technical mindsets.
Vendor Announcements
Copilot for Business has landed at Microsoft Ignite 2025, levelling the GenAI playing field for SMB customers. Learn all about it from our man on the ground, Andreas Bergman.
Press Release
Press Release
Blogs
As cybersecurity and continuity converge in platforms and in practice, partners need new playbooks to address modern Data Protection standards. Our in-house cybersecurity pre-sales lead, Michael Brooke explains why.
Guides and eBooks
What triggers an SMB customer to begin exploring their need for better Data Protection? The first of our four Data Protection Playbooks for partners breaks down how to position and win in the Pre-Adoption and Exploration stage.
Insights
Data Protection priorities are shifting for SMBs. Ramp up your ability to respond with curated insights, articles and resources to help you guide every customer conversation with confidence.
Partner Spotlight
In this Partner Spotlight, Acceltech Managing Director Ivy Tarrobago shares how Crayon’s responsive support enhances client outcomes and business growth.
Whitepapers
Data Protection is a must for all SMBs but how can partners align solution investment with critical business objectives? Our latest paper shows you how.
Press Release
Crayon has been recognised with a huge double win at the CRN Channel Asia awards ceremony.
Insights
All the latest insights, articles and resources on M365 Copilot, curated into one place.
Insights
SMB customers are storing greater volumes of sensitive data in more places than ever. Secure backup and recovery practices are essential to how they protect it.
Partner Spotlight
Bigfish Technology saved AU$20,000 on its annual Microsoft licensing after one call with Crayon and has since built a strong partnership that enabled Bigfish to get access to Crayon’s expertise and vendor ecosystem.
Insights
Insider risk is a subtle and continuous challenge for SMB customers. Turn it into a manageable and quantifiable aspect of their Data Protection strategy.
Blogs
From rethinking backup to governance frameworks and behavioural analytics, what's involved in building a complete Data Protection strategy for SMB customers?
Insights
We explore the evolution of Microsoft's channel strategy over the past ten years, and what can be learned by viewing it through a Value Cycle lens.
Guides and eBooks
The Microsoft Fabric Partner Guide curates our recent articles, videos and resources to accelerate Crayon partner learning.
Insights
Explore how SMBs in APAC are leveraging cybersecurity solutions and AI technologies toward achieving critical business objectives.
Blogs
Explore how Cytrack.io solutions meet emerging SMB demand for AI-enabled, unified communications platforms.
Insights
Explore data trends from the Future of Operations and learn how to turn insights into action in the Productivity domain.
Insights
SMB operations in the Asia Pacific region are shifting from traditional backup and disaster recovery toward something more transformative.
Training
Explore how Azure can help partners respond to dominant trends within SMB customer cloud strategies.
Insights
The latest in our Future of Operations insights series looks at why SMBs are pursuing hybrid cloud and multi-cloud strategies to achieve their business objectives.
Blogs
Warren Nolan believes Microsoft has invited partners to join them on a new journey to value, and the role of Cloud Distribution providers has never been more critical.
Blogs
After decades of experience navigating seismic shifts in vendor strategy, Warren Nolan knows the importance of being pragmatic and proactive in the face of disruption to the Microsoft CSP Program.
Insights
SMBs across the APAC are not just increasing their technology investments—they are making strategic, forward-thinking moves to position themselves for long-term growth.
Insights
Small to medium-sized businesses in the APAC region are gearing up tech investments to drive outcomes for customer experience, revenue, business adaptability and innovation. How will SMBs leverage emerging technologies to achieve their strategic objectives?
Insights
What are the most critical business objectives and solution adoption priorities for SMBs in our region? Download the latest Forrester study to find out!
Insights
Our award-winning partner program - Tech for Good - delivers amazing outcomes for social enterprises.
Case Studies
Cytrack Intelligence Systems founder, Nick Milan talks through why the Crayon ISV Innovation Hub program is the right fit for his business objectives.

Connect Data Protection to strategic objectives via this Whitepaper

What are the most critical business objectives and solution adoption priorities for SMBs in our region? Download the latest Forrester study to find out!

Our APAC channel business is now part of a global organisation. That means there is a whole new world of value on offer for our partners. We can help you to tap into all of it.