For Microsoft and our partners across industries, AI offers a generational moment to reimagine the capabilities that software and services can provide. Our goal at Microsoft is to innovate and democratize our breakthroughs in AI — and the opportunity for partners is far greater than the sum of AI technologies themselves.
First, we’ll look at how Microsoft is empowering our partners to innovate, build and differentiate with AI through a combination of technology advancements, an industry leading partner program and true market differentiation. During this time of AI transformation, there has never been a greater time to be a Microsoft partner, and our partners are fully embracing this new opportunity.
Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program
Microsoft's AI Cloud Partner Program is driving innovation in generative AI, offering an extensive portfolio across various solution areas. Partners can leverage this through research, partnership, and new investments to empower customers across industries. Over 13,000 partners are utilizing Microsoft Azure AI, serving 53,000 customers with generative AI capabilities. The partner ecosystem has seen a significant 250% increase in generative AI-related partners in the past eight months. Microsoft remains committed to supporting this growth with ongoing program enhancements.
Enhancements to enable partners to create an AI-powered future, including:
- The expansion of AI skilling, boot camps and events
- New benefits packages with product enhancements like Microsoft 365 developer, increased Azure credits, and Visual Studio enterprise, to support AI practice growth
- New designations for partners to establish certified AI solutions or ways to differentiate themselves.
Program Updates: including new designations and certifications for partners
Microsoft offers solutions partner designations and specializations to help partners differentiate themselves in the market. These certifications verify skills and validate solution effectiveness, aiding customers in finding the right partner and technology. Partners achieve designations by meeting skilling and performance requirements and providing customer evidence. The uptake of these opportunities with Microsoft AI has been significant, with a 58% growth in partner designations for Azure Data and AI solutions since last July, and a 172% growth in partner specializations for Build and Modernize AI apps with Azure, and AI and Machine Learning designations.
To build on this momentum, Microsoft are announcing several new designations for partners across software, services and training.
A new set of designations for partners who develop software: Solutions Partner with certified software
By becoming a Solutions Partner with certified software, partners can differentiate their solution, increase their discoverability in the Microsoft Commercial Marketplace, connect with more customers, and take advantage of marketing and branding resources designed to help accelerate revenue growth in a rapidly expanding market.
There are two pathways to become a Solutions Partner with certified software: solution areas and Industry AI:
- Solution areas. To become a Solutions Partner[i] with certified[ii] software for solution areas, a partner’s software must meet readiness and technical requirements and demonstrate a track record of customer success. Solution area designations include Azure, Business Applications, Modern Work and Security.
- Industry AI. To become a Solutions Partner with certified software for Industry AI, in addition to the requirements above, a partner’s solution must also meet an industry-specific challenge aligned with the Microsoft Industry Cloud scenarios and include a Microsoft AI capability. Currently, partners can attain the following certified software designations for Industry AI: Healthcare AI, Retail AI, Financial Services AI, Manufacturing AI and Sustainability AI.
New Training Services Solutions Partner designations
Microsoft are also releasing new designations for partners who provide training services. Starting April 10, partners who qualify for Solutions Partner for Training Services designations will be able to complete enrollment.
Qualified partners will receive designation-specific badges distinguishing their services from other partner types within the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program. These badges greatly enhance customer discoverability, making it easier for them to identify partners with unique expertise and a proven track record of delivery quality training.
New Small and Medium Business (SMB) paths for Azure and Security Solutions Partner designations
Based on partner feedback, Microsoft are investing in small- and mid-sized business ecosystem and creating a pathway for partners who focus on delivering solutions for SMB customers across Azure Data & AI, Digital & App Innovation, Infrastructure and Security. Later this year, Microsoft will introduce dedicated SMB paths for Solutions Partner designations for Azure and Security, adding to our existing SMB paths for Business Applications and Modern Work.
For partners who serve smaller businesses, this creates an exciting new opportunity — a new way to qualify for existing Solutions Partner designations, giving more partners access to the products, go-to-market resources, support, and advisory benefits that come with these designations. The new SMB paths will differentiate partners who can meet customer needs and drive customer success by validating those partners’ capabilities in our Azure and Security solution areas.
An update on the Support Services Solutions Partner designation
Today Microsoft are announcing that partners with a Solutions Partner for Support Services designation will soon receive exclusive new benefits, including paid support agreement pricing and access to a knowledge-based library of curated materials designed to help partners resolve incidents quickly and efficiently, in addition to customer-facing badging. General availability and more details will come later this year.
Equipping partners through AI skilling
Rapid AI innovation has driven a surge in demand for partner skilling in both pre-sales and technical roles. In response, Microsoft has introduced numerous AI-focused skilling workshops, boot camps, and training events based on partner feedback. Since July 2023, over 350,000 partner personnel have gained skills in Microsoft AI, Copilot, and Fabric, enhancing both pre-sales and technical depth capabilities.
Copilot for Security upcoming release and partner skilling
To support partners and customers in securing their businesses, Microsoft has announced the general availability of Microsoft Copilot for Security in all commerce channels, including Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) channel, on April 1, 2024. We initiated an active Copilot for Security partner community at Inspire last year, which has since grown to more than 1,000 participants. Over the past six months, Microsoft has engaged with more than 100 Managed Security Service Providers (MSSP) and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) in a Copilot for Security Partner private preview.
Upcoming security skilling events include:
- Microsoft Copilot for Security Partner Boot Camp – Helps participants understand how Microsoft Copilot for Security enables security analysts to move at the speed and scale of AI by augmenting the human experience. Starting April 16.
- Threat Protection and Incident Response with Microsoft Sentinel Workshop – Participants will learn how to deploy and connect this SIEM and SOAR solution to different data sources and use intelligent security analytics and threat intelligence capabilities for attack detection, threat vulnerability, proactive hunting and threat response. April 22-25.
New AI skilling for sales/pre-sales and technical depth
- Azure OpenAI Workshop – Designed to help participants deepen their understanding of Azure OpenAI Services, this is tailored for developers and data scientists aiming to do more with less. Starting April 16.
- Microsoft Fabric Workshop – Participants will learn more about this comprehensive suite of services, including data lake, data engineering and data integration, all in one place. And learn how to implement this easy-to-use product that is designed to simplify analytics needs of enterprises. Starting April 8.
- Copilot for Microsoft 365 Pre-Sales, Deployment and Adoption Bootcamp – Participants will explore how Copilot for Microsoft 365 provides real-time intelligent assistance, enabling users to enhance their creativity, productivity, and skills. Starting March 26.
New Partner Benefits
On Jan. 22, Microsoft launched three new benefits packages: Partner Launch Benefits, Partner Success Core Benefits and Partner Success Expanded Benefits. Purpose-built to meet the varied needs of partners at different stages of growth and help partners scale their business through a portfolio of key Microsoft benefits, the packages are available for purchase at a significant discount for partners.