RSM is buying Explore Consulting, scheduled for a July 1 close, and Eide is picking up Tempe, Ariz.-based TrueCloud, effective this week. Otherwise, more attention went to the newer Alliance program, which is designed for systems integrators. Deloitte Digital was named Global Alliance Partner of the Year. There were five VAR awards—the worldwide one and four regional awards. But NetSuite handed out 16 alliance awards: one global, three regional, one for SuiteSuccess, four newcomers, and seven for verticals. Deloitte picked up the software hi-tech and advertising, media and publishing. The North American regional alliance award went to 9Gauge Consulting, which also won the general business vertical award and split the honor for wholesale/distribution with NetScore Technologies. Capgemini was the top SuiteSuccess alliance partner and won the vertical awards for both retail and manufacturing. If NetSuite hands out other awards for the United States VARs, I have not seen any information, but the VAR awards seem a bit stingy in numbers.