Ready, Steady, GO!
Welcome to the fourth article!
TGIF!
On request, today, we’re diving into the exciting world of Microsoft Solutions Partner designations. Whether you’re an emerging partner or an established one, this article is for you. So, let’s get started.
Opportunities don’t happen. You create them. – Chris Grosser
If you haven’t yet attained a Solutions Partner Designation, it’s okay, let’s work on it and make it a key focus in your Partnership journey with Microsoft in the next FY.
Picture this: a race has already begun, and it looks like winners are being declared. It might be tempting to give up or think that all the prizes have been claimed. But, what if I told you that the prize remains the same and that winning is ongoing, regardless of when you start or cross the finish line?
You have probably witnessed partners celebrating their wins and proudly displaying their Solution Partner Designation badges online between October 2022, when the solutions designations were launched, and now. These celebrations don’t signify the end of the race or the depletion of prizes for all other partners in the ecosystem. It’s an ongoing winning cycle. The moment you became a Microsoft Partner, you joined the race, and it’s up to you to put in the effort to claim your prize.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. – Lao Tzu
I recently encountered two partners who, until a few weeks ago, hadn’t considered pursuing Solutions Partner designations. It wasn’t a priority for them, seemed like a lot of work, and appeared unattainable. They were content with their current way of working. I realised that;
1. They didn’t know the benefits.
2. They didn’t have the time to navigate this journey and,
3. They also didn’t know how or where to start.
I shared some of the information I will share with you to help them think about this with intent.
Metrics that Matter
There are three key areas measured across all designations for you to qualify and this is where most Partners get stuck:
1. Performance
2. Skilling
3. Customer Success
Why are these metric important?
Every metric tells a story and with the Solutions Designations, they paint a story of success and growth. Perhaps this will help you understand why it’s a big deal.
Performance Metric
It all begins with adding customers, a key performance metric that reflects your ability to attract and onboard new partners into the Microsoft ecosystem. Your performance as a partner, including sales performance, customer satisfaction, and overall business success, is considered. This is achieved by having the right customer associations on your Partner Profile.
Skilling metric
Once you have acquired the customers you know need to leverage your deep expertise and honed skills in Microsoft technologies to provide top-notch services. Your proficiency in Microsoft technologies and solutions is evaluated continuously. This includes training, certifications, and the ability to deliver exceptional solutions. Are your teams’ abilities registered with Microsoft on your partner profile?
What I like about the skilling metrics is that it recognizes a fairly large list of certificates in that area and this makes it attainable!
Customer Success Metric
The journey doesn’t end there, enter the customer success metric. The true measure of success lies in your customers’ achievements. Once your services are complete, the technology developed by your skilled team becomes the catalyst for your customers’ success. They utilize your solutions to drive their ROI, unlocking new opportunities and realizing their business goals. This customer success metric showcases the tangible value you bring to their entire Microsoft tenant.
When your customers thrive, we know that your skilling efforts and dedication to providing exceptional services have paid off. The success stories and positive outcomes you’ve achieved for your customers are what determine your suitability for a Solutions Partner designation.
This is the power of the metrics in the context of Microsoft Solutions Partner designations, remember that each metric tells a unique and vital part of your story.
The crucial thing is to start working on these metrics! Success comes in motion. You must do, to get
Let’s look at some of the high-level benefits:
Benefits
Increased visibility and credibility: Differentiate yourself from the competition. With numerous Microsoft Partners out there, it’s crucial to stand out from the crowd. Becoming a Solutions Partner is an excellent way to achieve this. It highlights your expertise in Microsoft solutions, giving you a competitive edge.
By becoming a Solutions Partner, you demonstrate your expertise in Microsoft solutions and gain a competitive edge.
Access to Microsoft resources and tools: As a Solutions Partner, you gain access to a plethora of Microsoft resources and tools, including training, certification, and marketing support. These keep you up to date with the latest Microsoft technologies, equipping you to market your business effectively to Microsoft customers. You also get access to licenses across the different stacks to help you innovate and implement at no cost.
Opportunities to market your business to Microsoft customers: As a Solutions Partner, you’ll have exclusive opportunities to promote your business to Microsoft customers. This includes being featured in Microsoft marketing materials, attending Microsoft events, and being listed on the Microsoft Partner Network website.
Grow your business: A Solutions Partner designation opens doors to new customers, markets, and opportunities. It’s a catalyst for business growth. The discerning and knowledgeable customer is seeking out partners that have a proven track record.
Increase your profits: As mentioned earlier, by becoming a Solutions Partner, you have the opportunity to price your services in accordance with your skillset and not undersell yourself because you can’t prove your worth! Additionally, you can save on marketing and promotion costs by leveraging Microsoft’s marketing resources.
Incentives, Incentives, and more INCENTIVES!
Did you know that you have an earning opportunity on Power Apps and Power Automate Usage? Maximum earning opportunity of up to USD100 000 for each tenant. To be eligible to earn, one of the requirements is that you have:
Solutions Partner Designation for Business Applications OR Specialisation for Full Microsoft Low Code Application Development.
This is one of the many reasons you should be asking yourself why your strategic objective does not include becoming a Solutions Partner!
Currently, there are six Solutions Partner Designations available:
Business Applications: This designation is for partners with expertise in Microsoft Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and other business applications.
Data and AI (Azure): This designation is for partners with expertise in Microsoft Azure, particularly in data and artificial intelligence.
Digital and App Innovation (Azure): This designation is for partners with expertise in Microsoft Azure, focusing on digital transformation and application innovation.
Infrastructure (Azure): This designation is for partners with expertise in Microsoft Azure, encompassing cloud infrastructure and hybrid cloud.
Security: This designation is for partners with expertise in Microsoft security solutions, such as Azure Security Centre and Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
Modern Work: This designation is for partners with expertise in Microsoft productivity and collaboration solutions, including Microsoft 365 and Teams.
Which one do you have or which one would you like to get.
Food For thought
Let me know if you would like me to expand on some points in this article or if you have questions.
We are currently running a Gap Analysis offer for partners, to assist you in your journey. This analysis will help you identify areas for improvement and guide you on the path to achieving the Solutions Partner designation.
Send me a message to start the conversation!
Be on the lookout for next week’s articles, where we’ll delve deeper into Customer Success for Solutions Partner designation and how you can earn incentives with the designations.
Happy partnering and have a fantastic weekend!
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/partner-center/introduction-to-pcs
