[Five big changes for Microsoft partners in 2022]
Microsoft has announced widespread changes to its 400,000-member partner program, hitting on everything from technical capabilities and partner incentives to business policies.
After announcing a price increase across Microsoft products in the Microsoft 365 portfolio – including popular applications such as Word, Teams, Excel and SharePoint – Microsoft stunned partner businesses of varying sizes and specialties with a premium on month-to-month commitments and a new partner scoring system that replaces the legacy Gold and Silver designations.
The backlash has included at least two Change.org petitions admonishing Microsoft for the changes, the first receiving more than 2,000 signatures and the second receiving more than 600.
Microsoft channel chief Rodney Clark has acknowledged the effect of so much change on Microsoft partners while defending the program changes as necessary to meet customer buying preferences and demands.
“While we‘ve been excited about New Commerce, we also acknowledge that this has been a pretty significant undertaking for our partners,” Clark previously told CRN US.“We get this feedback all the time.”
“While change is tough—we acknowledged that earlier with some things that we put in place—as a partner in the ecosystem, we always have to be open and look for ways to create more value for our customers and then, ultimately, how our partners can deliver on that value.”
Here are the five big changes partners can expect form Microsoft this year.
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[Microsoft partners protest upcoming Partner Network changes]
Change.org petition suggests the revamped and renamed Microsoft Cloud Partner Program does not have the best interests of partners at heart
Disgruntled Microsoft partners have set up a petition to voice their disapproval of the upcoming changes to the Microsoft Partner Network programme.
The Redmond giant recently announced a revamp of the initiative which will come into effect from October 2022, including a name change to the ‘Microsoft Cloud Partner Program’.
The firm revealed it has simplified it into six solutions partner designations anchored in the Microsoft Cloud: Data & AI, Infrastructure, Digital & App Innovation, Business Applications, Modern Work, and Security. Partner capabilities will also be categorised into two groups: the solutions partner level and specialisations and expert programmes.
“Our ongoing investments in partners are designed to help expand your capabilities to create value in the market, to connect with customers, and to win new business,” Microsoft said in its announcement.
However, a new Change.org petition set up by one unhappy member suggests the reshuffle is not actually in the best interests of partners – and it seems to have struck a chord, with the petition gathering almost 600 signatures and counting.
“The upcoming changes in October 2022 to the Microsoft Partner Network program are yet another attempt by Microsoft to eliminate their loyal 400,000 partners across the globe,” the petition states.
“When you look at the upcoming requirements being placed on Microsoft Partners in October 2022 the emphasis has shifted into ‘sell, sell, sell’ at all costs.”
In a blog post by Microsoft corporate vice president and channel chief Rodney Clarke, the company revealed that all partners will need to earn a ‘Partner Capability Score’ of at least 70 out of a possible 100, based on certifications, added customers, successful deployments and overall growth.
“A partner must achieve at least 70 out of 100 which for the vast majority of partners out there will be impossible to achieve as it's heavily biased toward ‘new sales’. It seems there is no reward for loyalty...” the petition opposed. “Once a Partners Capability Score falls below 70 they will be stripped of all their partner benefits.”
It continued: “This unwelcome change to the Microsoft Partner Network is being touted as a good one for Partners and their customers however the only person to really benefit from this change is Microsoft. A program which heavily emphasizes ‘new sales’ can only benefit Microsoft.”
Microsoft has not responded to the petition but said in its initial announcement that it would be offering “considerable support” in the build up to the new program, with no immediate changes for partners.
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