Microsoft’s AI & Cloud Program: Boosting Partner Opportunities

Microsoft is constantly evolving to meet the needs of customers, and its latest investments are geared toward empowering partners and helping them grow their businesses. By launching the Cloud Partner Program, Microsoft created a place where partners can thrive with a robust set of dedicated partner offerings, including new Solutions Partner designations that align to their six commercial solution areas across Azure, Modern Work, Security, and Business Applications.

Empowering Partners with AI

Microsoft is committed to bringing the latest tools and resources, all guided by their AI principles, Responsible AI Standard, and decades of research, to their partners so that they can deliver innovative solutions for their clients. As AI and machine learning continue to evolve, partners can offer unique innovation, differentiated value, and AI expertise to customers.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Copilot provides interactive, AI-powered assistance across business functions, relieving the burden of mundane tasks. Bing offers better search results with more complete answers, and the ability to generate content. Microsoft 365 Copilot combines the power of large language models (LLMs) with your data in the Microsoft Graph and the Microsoft 365 apps to turn your words into a powerful productivity tool.

The AI and Machine Learning in Microsoft Azure Specialization empowers partners to showcase their expertise in this quickly evolving area of the Microsoft business. Microsoft believes that AI will fundamentally change every software category, unlocking a new wave of productivity growth. They are committed to empowering partners to harness the power of this innovation for their customers around the world.

Introducing Designations for ISV Solutions

Microsoft created Solutions Partner designations within the Microsoft Cloud Partner Program to help customers identify which partner organizations are best suited to their needs. Now, they are expanding Solutions Partner designations to include options that differentiate their partners that develop software: independent software vendor (ISV) partners. These designations distinguish an application’s specific capabilities and help customers identify proven solutions for their business needs.

Announcing New Business Applications Specializations

Microsoft introduced four Business Application specializations aligned to the Business Applications solution area for Microsoft Dynamics 365, making it easier for customers to find partners with the expertise they need. The new specializations include Finance, Sales, Service, and Supply Chain.

Introducing Multiparty Private Offers

Microsoft is offering multiparty private offers to help partners unlock the power of the commercial marketplace. Multiparty private offers empower partners to come together, create personalized offers with custom payouts, and sell directly to Microsoft customers with simplified selling through the marketplace. In addition, they’re expanding the ways that partners can package and sell their solutions.

Coming Soon: Designations for Training and Support Services

Solutions Partner designations for training services and support services will enable customers to quickly identify partners that have met the requirements, including demonstrating their customer success. The Solutions Partner designation for training services will recognize a partner’s capabilities aligned to performance, quality of training, and a minimum of one solution area. The Solutions Partner designation for support services will build on the solution area designations and highlight a partner’s breadth of and excellence in support capabilities.

Highlighting Diverse-Led and Social Impact Businesses in the Marketplace

Inclusion fosters innovation, and many customers are looking to find partners that align with their business values. This is why Microsoft is enabling partners to submit relevant diversity and social impact business classifications in Partner Center, which will appear in their business profile in the marketplace.

On April 19, Microsoft will hold a virtual Commercial Marketplace Impact Event for diverse and minority-owned partner businesses, as well as partners with social impact solutions focused on educating those partners on opportunities to accelerate their growth through the Microsoft commercial marketplace.

Conclusion

Microsoft’s investments in empowering its partners and expanding its Cloud Partner Program offer new opportunities for partners to grow their businesses and deliver innovative solutions to customers. With a focus on AI, ISV solutions, business applications specializations, and multiparty private offers, Microsoft is committed to providing partners with the skills, tools, and resources they need to compete and win in the market. Moreover, by highlighting diverse-led and social impact businesses in the marketplace, Microsoft fosters innovation and creates new opportunities for partners to accelerate their growth. Overall, Microsoft’s unwavering commitment to its partners’ success will continue to drive digital transformation and business growth in the years to come.