Microsoft’s partner network is extensive, diverse, and impactful. For years, it has played a pivotal role in how Microsoft delivers technology, services, and cloud-to-edge solutions worldwide. Partners now drive over 95% of commercial revenue, alone or with Microsoft.
Over the past year, everyone has confronted challenges from COVID-19, financial changes, and global events. Our partners have truly risen to the occasion, helping customers be resilient, adapt, and overcome these impediments. Their unwavering support has provided key services and solutions that ignite digital transformation across organizations and industries. By delivering new devices, our partners have empowered people everywhere to work, learn, and connect in inspiring new ways. Partners help make more possible, and their dedication empowers people and organizations to achieve new heights. Here are some examples of how Microsoft and our partners are advancing innovation.
- Across our partner ecosystem, more than 800 independent software vendors, 17 distinct device manufacturing partners, and over 1,000 systems integrators are actively launching Teams-compatible devices, custom apps, and tailored solutions on our technology stack. These products enable customers to collaborate more effectively and enhance productivity.
- Over the last year, Microsoft and its partners expanded device offerings to address the evolving needs of consumers, students, and businesses as they work and learn remotely beyond PCs. This includes collaboration equipment, smart meeting room systems, and edge solutions for smart buildings. Conference room solutions offer partners a significant opportunity, with about 48 million meeting rooms worldwide and a 6% penetration rate, according to Warehouse Research.
- In December, Microsoft announced that Azure Stack HCI is now generally available, along with new integrated systems from Dell Technologies, HPE, Fujitsu, Lenovo, and Data On. Many partners are also using Intel Select Solutions for Azure Stack HCI to make deployments easier and help customers scale their businesses. New independent software vendors such as Altaro Software, Commvault, Datadog, Veeam, and Symantec now support Azure Stack HCI, giving customers more options.
- In October 2020, we launched Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, offering trusted, integrated tools to automate critical workflows and enable deep data analysis across all data types. This helps customers turn automated information into action. Our ISV partners, such as Allscripts, AVTEX, Innovaccer, Mazik Global, and Popcorn Apps, along with system integrators such as Accenture, Avanade, Cognizant, DXC Technology, EY, HCL, KPMG, and PwC, build industry-specific solutions on this platform to address the biggest challenges in healthcare today.
Microsoft saw impressive growth in the second quarter of FY 2021, especially in the commercial cloud, which grew by 34% year over year. We are confident this momentum will continue as our partners move forward with groundbreaking new devices, applications, and cloud-to-edge solutions. We are passionately committed to helping partners stay strong, adapt, and triumph by investing in resources, tools, and opportunities that fuel innovation and empower them to distinguish themselves in the marketplace.
Here are some exciting investments and opportunities we believe will empower partners to innovate boldly and accelerate growth in 2021 and beyond:
Partner Program Updates
- Cloud solution provider (CSP) program: the CSP program enables partners to do more than resell licenses, fostering deeper customer engagement. We are enhancing the program to help partners capitalize on digital transformation by moving open licensing into CSP, offering perpetual software licensing, and providing a comprehensive program guidebook.
- The commercial marketplace: Microsoft has simplified how partners publish solutions, services, and offers. Partners can now reach nearly 4,000,000 users in over 140 countries and find opportunities through Microsoft’s co-sell programs.
- Co-sell: We are increasing our focus on co-selling with SMBs by investing in marketing for top SMB clients, expanding our ISV partner network, and simplifying how partners develop their practices.
- New Commerce Experience: the new Microsoft Commerce Experience streamlines purchasing, making transactions simpler and more consistent. Customers gain flexibility in how and where they buy. The platform enables partners to reach broader audiences, support digital transformation, and reduce licensing complexity and costs, making their businesses more sustainable.
- Partners Center: a centralized place for partners to manage their relationships with Microsoft customers and other partners after a multi-year effort. After an effort to build a unified partner experience, Microsoft reached its final milestone this spring with nearly all channel capabilities delivered and globally available in the Partner Center.
- Unified access to the process and partner center: Partner Center is a central hub where partners can manage their relationships with Microsoft customers and other partners. After years of work, almost all channel features are now available worldwide in Partner Center. Partners can access processes and programs like CoSell, CSP, Solution Publishing reference, and Microsoft Partner Network benefits, including certifications and incentives. The Insights dashboard also provides organizations with robust reporting and a unified view of data across programs, licensing models, products, business applications, Azure (apps, infrastructure, data, and AI), and security. Advanced specializations provide partners with an opportunity to demonstrate their experience in specific technical scenarios and enable customers to identify partners that best fit their needs.
Technology is more crucial than ever. Partners who adapt fuel digital transformation globally. Together, we will continue to build innovative, cloud-to-edge solutions for a successful future.
Source: Microsoft’s partner ecosystem: Enabling innovation and business resilience
