We launched the Microsoft Cloud Associate Program final October to satisfy the altering wants of shoppers and assist our companions succeed. With its strong set of devoted companion choices, together with new Options Associate designations that align to our six business resolution areas throughout Azure, Trendy Work, Safety and Enterprise Functions, we created a spot the place companions can proceed to thrive.
As we speak, I need to element among the new investments we’re making to proceed to help extra of our companions as they make investments with Microsoft, develop their companies and ship buyer success. These investments, just like the Cloud Associate Program itself, are designed to not solely assist clients navigate new methods of working but additionally allow companions to distinguish themselves and ship distinctive worth to the market.
Empowering companions with AI
Companions have lengthy tapped into the facility of machine studying and AI utilizing Microsoft’s developer instruments and cloud applied sciences. Because the AI panorama continues to evolve, we’re dedicated to bringing the newest instruments and sources — all guided by our AI rules, Accountable AI Customary and a long time of analysis — to our companions in order that they will proceed to ship modern options for his or her shoppers.
Current AI integrations throughout Microsoft’s suite of instruments current an actual alternative for companions to supply distinctive innovation, differentiated worth and AI experience to clients.
- With Bing, higher search, extra full solutions, and the power to generate content material imply that customers can higher harness the world’s data.
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 Copilot offers interactive, AI-powered help throughout enterprise features, relieving the burden of mundane duties.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot combines the facility of huge language fashions (LLMs) along with your information within the Microsoft Graph and the Microsoft 365 apps to show your phrases into essentially the most highly effective productiveness instrument on the planet.
- As we speak, ChatGPT in Azure Open AI Service allows companions to construct predictive fashions, automate processes and enhance decision-making for themselves and their clients. By making use of for preview entry to GPT-4 in Azure OpenAI Service, companions can begin constructing with OpenAI’s most superior mannequin but.
- The AI and Machine Studying in Microsoft Azure Specialization empowers companions to showcase their experience on this shortly evolving space of the Microsoft enterprise.
We consider AI will essentially change each software program class, unlocking a brand new wave of productiveness progress. We’re dedicated to empowering companions to harness the facility of this innovation on behalf of shoppers around the globe, whereas serving to them navigate this new period of expertise.
Introducing designations for ISV options
To assist clients determine which companion organizations are greatest suited to their wants, Microsoft created Options Associate designations inside the Microsoft Cloud Associate Program. The primary obtainable Options Associate designations are anchored on the Microsoft Cloud in six resolution areas aligned to how Microsoft goes to market. By attaining designations, companions display their group’s capabilities in delivering buyer success within the resolution areas.
As we speak, we’re increasing Options Associate designations to incorporate choices that differentiate our companions that develop software program: our impartial software program vendor (ISV) companions.
Designations for ISV options are aligned to how Microsoft goes to market and the way clients are shopping for: by trade (e.g., finance, retail); by use instances throughout industries (e.g., safety); and by particular imperatives of line-of-business leaders (e.g., advertising and gross sales). These designations distinguish an software’s particular capabilities and assist clients determine confirmed options for his or her enterprise wants.
To be taught extra, please go to the Microsoft Cloud Associate Program FAQ and the ISV progress web page on our companion web site.
Asserting new Enterprise Functions specializations
Specializations proceed to supply companions with methods to additional differentiate their group and display their experience and expertise in particular technical eventualities aligned to the answer areas for project-based companies.
Final week, we launched 4 Enterprise Utility specializations. These new choices are aligned to the Enterprise Functions resolution space for Microsoft Dynamics 365 and make it simpler for patrons to seek out companions that possess the experience they want. The brand new specializations embrace:
- Finance: Designed for companions with demonstrated data, substantive expertise and documented success in Dynamics 365 Finance, and that innovate options throughout the monetary spectrum.
- Gross sales: Accessible to companions with confirmed expertise in buyer expertise (CX) transformation and supporting clients’ progress.
- Service: Developed for companions with expertise delivering customized service, high-quality interactions and seamless, linked experiences at scale.
- Provide Chain: Open to companions with demonstrated data, substantive expertise and documented success in Dynamics 365 Provide Chain Administration, and that innovate options throughout the provision chain spectrum.
With these additions, we now supply a complete of 28 specializations, offering companions with flexibility and alignment on the place they select to speculate for his or her enterprise and serve their buyer wants. Study extra about these specializations on the Dynamics 365 for Companions weblog.
Introducing multiparty non-public provides
The Microsoft business market is essentially the most partner-focused enterprise platform within the trade and is devoted to serving to companions attain extra clients, simplify gross sales and unlock progress.
To assist companions unlock the facility of the business market, we’ll quickly offer multiparty non-public provides. Multiparty non-public provides empower companions to return collectively, create customized provides with customized payouts and promote on to Microsoft clients with simplified promoting by way of {the marketplace}. And for patrons with a cloud consumption dedication, each greenback of the sale will rely towards their dedication after they buy options which might be Azure IP co-sell eligible. Multiparty non-public provides will enter non-public preview this spring and be made publicly obtainable within the close to future. As well as, we’re persevering with to broaden the ways in which companions can package deal and promote their options. Within the coming months, we’ll give companions the power to transact containers and VM software program reservations by way of our business market.
Coming quickly: Designations for coaching and help companies
Set to launch later this yr, Options Associate designations for coaching companies and help companies will allow clients to shortly determine companions which have met the necessities, together with demonstrating their buyer success.
The Options Associate designation for coaching companies will acknowledge a companion’s capabilities aligned to efficiency, high quality of coaching and a minimal of 1 resolution space. The Options Associate designation for help companies will construct on the answer space designations and spotlight a companion’s breadth of and excellence in help capabilities.
Badging for each designations will assist companions differentiate their organizations with clients and within the Microsoft business market.
Highlighting diverse-led and social good companies within the market
Inclusion fosters innovation, and many shoppers need to discover companions that align to their enterprise values. That is why we’re enabling companions to submit related range and social good enterprise classifications in Associate Heart, which can seem of their enterprise profile within the market. By constructing this info into our system, it’s straightforward for patrons to find diverse-led companies and their resolution choices within the business market and thru our co-sell channels.
On April 19, Microsoft may even maintain a digital Business Market Influence Occasion for various and minority-owned companions, in addition to companions with social affect options (e.g., sustainability, accessibility, nonprofit) targeted on educating these companions on alternatives to speed up their progress by way of the Microsoft business market.
Extra on the horizon
Microsoft, companions are basic to our success. We’re dedicated to investing in our ecosystem to allow companions to additional differentiate their experience, collaborate on offers by way of the business market, and place themselves to satisfy an increasing vary of buyer and trade wants.
This dedication to our companions’ success is unwavering. With our wealthy product and platform street map, Microsoft will proceed to assist our companions do much more to allow digital transformation and drive enterprise progress and profitability.
As we glance forward, we’re targeted on guaranteeing companions have the abilities, instruments, and sources they should compete — and win — in delivering modern options that drive buyer success.