Microsoft announced some significant modifications to the Microsoft Partner Network programmes earlier this year. According to this release, the partner program's name will change from "Microsoft Partner Network" to "Microsoft Cloud Partner Program" as of October 2022. Microsoft has made a number of other modifications to its partner programme in addition to altering the name to better facilitate the expansion of its partners, including Microsoft CSPs. The partner programme will be made simpler as a result of this extensive redesign. Silver and gold competences are no longer recognised by Microsoft under the new Microsoft Cloud Partner Program. These competencies have been replaced with designations as solutions partners. Microsoft CSPs can become solutions partners in one or more of the following six solution areas.
- Data and AI (Azure)
- Facilities (Azure)
- Innovation in Digital and Apps (Azure)
- Applications for businesses and modern work
- Protection
Microsoft provides two tiers of qualification for its partners:
1) The solutions partner: As a Microsoft CSP, you can become solutions partner by achieving at least 70 out of a possible 100 points in one or more solution categories.
2) Microsoft specialisations: You can obtain specialisations in a variety of solution areas to demonstrate your proficiency and depth of knowledge in that solution area.
Microsoft CSPs can exhibit their skills and experience in delivering effective solutions by becoming a solutions partner.
Obtaining the title of solutions partner
You must obtain a minimum of 70 points out of a possible 100 points to receive the designation of solutions partner in one or more of the solution areas. The partner capacity score evaluates each solution area's effectiveness, customer satisfaction, and skill level. You must score points under each subcategory in addition to the 70 total points.
Performance - The metric for this area is net customer additions, or the difference between the number of new customers and the number of lost customers. Customers who are new to Microsoft or who have previously used Microsoft products but are now affiliated with you can both count as new clients. You must achieve a certain threshold in each of the solution regions in order to score points.
Customer success - The measures used to gauge customer success include usage growth and deployments. You must focus on extending deployments and raise consumer usage of Microsoft products to receive credit under this subcategory.
Skilling - By obtaining certifications in various solution areas as a Microsoft CSP, you can earn credits under this category. This exhibits your technical know-how and proficiency. The two certification levels are intermediate and advanced. Only intermediate certificates are offered in some solution areas, such as security.
The data found in the Partner Center is used to determine the score for each category. You must sign into the Partner Center, choose the Membership workspace, and then choose Solution Partner to see your progress. Your current status for each part of the solution is shown below. After completing the necessary steps to become a solutions partner, you must pay an annual fee of USD 4,730 or its equivalent in order to benefit from the Solutions Partner designation. Once you've signed into the Partner Center, you may place your order.
Develop your Microsoft CSP business with credentials as a solutions partner
A recognition as a solutions partner has numerous marketing, customer service, and other advantages. The technical presales and deployment services, which include advisory hours and help with deal enablement, technical support for troubleshooting, customer-facing badges, Go-To-Market support, and product benefits like Azure credits, Internal use rights (IURs), and cloud licences, are all included in the benefits package for solutions partners. Here are some tips on how expanding your Microsoft CSP company by becoming a solutions partner.
Display skills and look at potential new sales opportunities
Microsoft CSPs must demonstrate their capabilities and gain deep technical understanding in order to earn a solution partner certification. You must complete specialties and gain certifications in order to become a solutions partner. Additionally, you must show that you can produce effective solutions that make it simpler for potential clients to recognise your solutions depending on their demands. The six solutions partner designations correspond to popular cloud solution categories. You can access newer markets as you develop knowledge in highly demanded sectors.
Make a statement with a badge that faces the public
In order to draw consumers and boost income in the Microsoft CSP industry, you must differentiate yourself from the competitors. You obtain the benefits package for the solutions partner designation, which includes a badge that can be shown in front of customers, once you meet the requirements for the designation and pay the annual cost. You can set your Microsoft CSP business apart from the competition by using a customer-facing emblem. To showcase your expertise and attract new customers, use this badge on your website and marketing materials.
With Go-To-Market advantages, expand your consumer base
It will be quite difficult to position your solutions to the relevant audience without the proper marketing plan in place. It can take time and money to create marketing materials on your own. Obtaining the title of solutions partner gives you access to a wide range of advantages, such as marketing or go-to-market advantages. These advantages come with tools like the "Go-To-Market" toolbox for partners, advice on how to market with Microsoft, profile optimization and referral management, digital marketing content on demand, ready-to-use marketing materials, a readiness assessment for geo-expansion, and co-selling with Microsoft. You can use these resources to spread the word about your Microsoft CSP company.
Accelerate your path to joining Work 365 as a solutions partner
It's not simple to run a profitable Microsoft CSP business. You must accrue points under the partner capabilities score in order to become a solutions partner. To do this, you must acquire new clients, see a growth in client usage and deployments, and finish certifications. All of this can take up a lot of your time, and as your business grows, it will get harder for you to give your customers a great experience. Using a billing automation technology for Microsoft CSPs like Work 365, you can improve your partner capability score.
With the same resources, you can serve more consumers thanks to features like automated billing. Your team members won't have to spend as much time on reconciliation and billing. This would enable them to concentrate their time and efforts on gaining certifications and acquiring new clients. You can gain points in the performance and skilling categories by doing this. Delivering a fantastic client experience will be made possible through a self-service portal and several integrations. Customers who are satisfied with your products and services are more inclined to use them more frequently and give you points for customer success.
Work 365 is subscription billing platform and product catalog management for Microsoft partners and software vendors to streamline recurring revenue.