We are listening to partner feedback and considering the diversity of the partner community as we continue to enhance the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program to help you and your customers realize the greatest results from our latest technology. In this blog, you’ll find links to expert insights, the latest learning materials, and upgraded benefits from the past four months to boost your growth this year.
Announcements
- MCAPS Start for Partners: We recently celebrated the kickoff of our new fiscal year at Microsoft with MCAPS Start for Partners. Our inaugural digital event is designed to include partners in the Microsoft go-to-market strategy early in the fiscal year and foster collaboration to drive collective success. View the on-demand keynote and breakouts in this Partner blog.
- Partner Launch, Partner Success Core, and Partner Success Expanded Benefits: We launched three new benefit packages earlier this year that are designed to suit the diverse needs of our partners at different growth stages and help them achieve greater success. The packages are all now generally available to every partner. At MCAPS Start for Partners, we announced that we will be adding and updating more than 20 new product licenses into many of those benefit packages in the coming months, including Microsoft Copilot, Defender for Endpoint, and GitHub. Learn more by tuning in to the on-demand sessions from the event.
- 2024 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards: We recently announced the winners and finalists of the 2024 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards, recognizing exceptional contributions and innovations from our global partners. The partners recognized with these awards demonstrate the monumental impact that Microsoft partners are delivering to customers. They also showcase outstanding successes and innovations across technologies and industries through business transformation and social impact. Check out this year’s winners and finalists.
- New Copilot+ PCs bring partner opportunity: Together with our device partners, we have introduced Copilot+ PCs, a new category of Windows PCs designed for AI. These devices create new opportunities for all partners to support customers into the future.
- Expanding the Secure Future Initiative (SFI): After launching SFI last November, Microsoft is now expanding this initiative to better protect our partners and customers. Read on the Partner blog about the important role partners play in securing our ecosystem.
- Advancing accessibility impact: In recognition of Global Accessibility Awareness Day in May, Chief Partner Officer Nicole Dezen wrote on the Partner blog about accessibility advancements, the Accessibility Horizon Methodology, and resources for increasing inclusion.
- 2024 Work Trend Index: Microsoft and LinkedIn released our report into the state of AI at work, sharing insights into how AI is reshaping the labor market and what AI tools employees are looking for.
Partner Program updates
- Partner Center Technical Corner: June 2024 edition: This round of Partner Center updates contains a review of Solutions Partner designations and information on securing the channel, alongside other newly released offerings.
- Add your Compliance admin role in Partner Center: Did you know that you can implement security hygiene by designating a point of contact for compliance-related matters in Partner Center? The Compliance admin role is intended to help Partners authorize a point of contact that they want Microsoft to engage with for compliance related matters. Assign a Compliance admin today!
- Dynamics 365 Business Central products available in Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) channel: The Microsoft commercial marketplace now allows the sale of Dynamics 365 Business Central apps to the CSP channel, letting independent software vendor (ISV) partners leverage the Microsoft network of CSPs. It also helps CSP partners expand their solution portfolio to include value-add D365 Business Central apps.
Events
- Join us for Microsoft Ignite in November: We are inviting partners to join us in person this November when Microsoft Ignite arrives in Chicago! Click here to get added to the mailing list, and we will notify you when registration begins. Featured Partner packages are also available to reach each audience (or multiple audiences) and at a range of price points including entry-level.
- FY25 GTM launch event for Microsoft Modern Work and Business Applications: Register to accelerate your Copilot practice at our Partner-led GTM Launch Event on July 22, 8 AM PT. Discover the go-to-market priorities and initiatives Microsoft Modern Work & Business Applications have planned for FY25 to support your customers' lifecycle.
- Microsoft Build 2024: At Microsoft Build, we continued the evolution and expansion of AI tools for developers, announcing more than 60 new products and solutions. Go deeper with the following blogs and resources:
- Hannover Messe 2024: April’s event exhibited the potential of AI to build a more connected and sustainable industrial ecosystem. Revisit some of the solutions shown at the event on the Partner blog.
Offers
- Azure pricing offers and resources: Help your customers make informed decisions at every stage of their cloud journey! Optimize your cloud investments by choosing the pricing offers that best meet your needs.
- Azure OpenAI Service Provisioned Throughput Units (PTU): Microsoft is expanding customer purchasing flexibility of Azure OpenAI to include a Provisioned Throughput Unit (PTU) offering that will be available through customer self-service & CSP partner-supported models. PTUs provide throughput with consistent latency for uniform workloads, making them ideal for scaling AI solutions. We have also added a shorter 30-day reservation commitment option for added flexibility. Learn more at MCAPS Start for Partners.
Benefits
- Build and Modernize AI Apps Campaign in a Box: Spark interest and funnel prospective leads for your Azure solutions with our customizable marketing campaign that helps you encourage business leaders to build and modernize business-critical apps with AI. Drive demand for your AI solutions with our customizable digital marketing campaign. Launch your campaign today in the Partner Marketing Center.
- Solutions Partner with certified software designations resources: Access materials including Microsoft Learn documentation, a playbook, and an FAQ to help partners who develop software attain these new designations.
Training & resources
As a Microsoft partner, you can access various training and certification resources to enhance your skills and expertise in AI, Copilot, security, and cloud solutions. Learn how to sell and position Microsoft solutions, prepare for AI Cloud Partner Program skilling requirements, and hone your technical skills with partner Project Ready Workshops.
- Microsoft Sales & Pre-sales Bootcamps Partner Skilling Hub: Find various training options for partners who want to improve their sales knowledge and skills on different Microsoft solutions. Partner Project Ready workshops help partners develop their technical skills on Microsoft AI and Cloud technologies, especially Azure.
- Microsoft Partner Project Ready Workshops: Hone your architecting, deployment, and implementation skills for Microsoft Azure with Partner Project Ready workshops. Whether you are in a pre-sales or technical role, you will build advanced technical skills across Microsoft AI and Cloud technologies.
- Azure: Learn how to use GitHub and GitHub Copilot, build and modernize AI apps on Azure, leverage Microsoft Fabric for data engineering and insights, implement real-time intelligence, migrate and secure Windows and SQL Server workloads, and explore Azure OpenAI and contact center modernization.
- Business Applications: Available trainings include Contact Center Modernization Deep Dives, Low Code App Modernization for Developers Workshop, Build and extend AI-powered copilots with Copilot Studio, and Business Performance Planning and Analytics.
- Modern Work: Available trainings include Better Sell Copilot with M365 Business Case Builder and More, Copilot for Microsoft 365 Deployment & User Enablement Bootcamp, Power your AI Transformation with Copilot and the Copilot Stack, and Build a Foundation of Secure Productivity to Get AI-Ready.
- Security: Available trainings include Fortify your Data Security with Microsoft Purview, Migrating your SIEM Solution to Microsoft Sentinel, Deploy and Optimize Sentinel, and Copilot for Security.
Additional resources
Celebrating partner success
From manufacturing and retail to healthcare and professional services, Microsoft partners are helping customers across industries achieve more. Below are some of the recent stories of Microsoft partners who are innovating and driving meaningful outcomes for customers with Microsoft technology.
- Witivio improves employee experiences with Microsoft Copilot: Witivio builds solutions on the Microsoft 365 tech stack so people can more easily complete daily tasks, such as onboarding, scheduling, and managing facilities.
- Linker Vision harnesses the power of AI to secure worker safety: Linker Vision's Observ platform transforms how manufacturers monitor the factory floor.
- SymphonyAI is solving real problems across industries with Azure AI: SymphonyAI is making AI work for businesses and revolutionizing fraud detection with groundbreaking solutions
- Legal Interact democratizes access to legal services: Legal Interact is working to bridge justice gaps in South Africa with their unique Azure-built solution, My AI Lawyer.
- Microsoft Copilot and ServiceNow Now Assist enhance employee and IT admin choice and flexibility: ServiceNow’s generative AI experience delivers direct, conversational responses to requests, and connects exchanges to AI-powered workflows.
- Esri delivers advanced location intelligence with Microsoft Azure: With Esri's cloud-forward geospatial platform, organizations can view, edit, manage, and analyze data to make more informed decisions.
Explore the Microsoft partner success stories site and nominate your customer win.
As the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program keeps growing and improving our offerings, we are excited to bring you regular updates.