Microsoft Partner Network – What’s New for 2010

Posted on July 26, 2010 by Info-Tech

2010 brings a complete redesign to the Microsoft Partner Network. Everything you think you knew is being changed. In some cases it is easier to get involved, but for those businesses striving for the top spot, there is more work and a revenue commitment required.

Launched in May and fully effective in October 2010,Microsoft will launch the redesigned partner network with the following changes:

• Current “Partner Points” system will be fully retired.
  • Registered, Certified, and Gold status will be fully retired and will no longer exist
• Current partners will need to meet new requirements when their membership period renews.
• Implementation of additional competencies and advanced competencies will replace certified and gold status.
• New competencies and rules to achieving competencies. (tougher to get to that coveted top spot – of advanced competency)
• New action pack subscriptions and Spark programs launched.
  • Action Pack – Solution Provider, Action Pack – Design & Development, Bizspark, WebSpark, Dreamspark

Getting involved is easier now, but achieving the top spot with advanced competency status, requires a commitment.

For more information on the Microsoft Partner Network, watch this video featuring senior research analyst Randy Hearn: Reduce Costs and Strengthen my Business with the Microsoft Partner Network. (The video was too long for YouTube but you can watch it with free registration to our site).

There are four steps to achieving the top spot:

1. Register – sign up: Enter a short profile about your company. Join business/industry communities.
2. Purchase a subscription: Enter a short profile including your business URL. Pay a small subscription fee. One resource must pass a very simple Microsoft assessment (once every two years)
3. Earn a competency: Enter a full company profile. Requires two Microsoft certified resources or standard application tests (applicable to competency). Obtain three customer references for each competency and pay the annual competency fee.
4. Achieve an Advanced Competency: Enter a full company profile. Requires four Microsoft certified resources with unique advanced credentials or two certified resources with advanced credentials and qualifying standard test or advanced application tests. You need five unique customer references for each competency, and you must participate in a customer satisfaction survey (CSAT). Pay the annual advanced competency fee. There is also a revenue commitment based on geography.

Now let’s look at each step in detail.

Step One: Register and Join a Community

• Get access to partner newsletter, partner opportunities, upcoming training opportunities, news feeds and more.
• Get immediate access to online training.
• Get your business placed on the partner directory. This directory (Microsoft Pinpoint/Solution Finder) is used by potential customers to find you.
• Gain access to resources to help sell your solutions and your products.
• Gain access to the demo showcase to help you create sales presentations and marketing demos for your products and services.
• Microsoft financing options are available to you.
• Online access to Microsoft experts to help you work through technology issues.

Even without paying a cent, you can gain access to training and learning materials on a wide range of topics from a source you can trust. (ie: Writing Case Studies).

Step Two: Purchase a Subscription

You receive all the benefits from step one, plus the following (and more!):

• Get access to Microsoft’s latest software, 10 licenses each for most (1 license each for server software) … enough to save you many, many thousands of dollars, even if you only use a few of the titles.
• Get access to the Microsoft student directory to help you find qualified technical resources for entry level or internship positions.
• Get access to business-critical phone support to help resolve your customers critical issues. This service provides you immediate access to Microsoft technical engineers.
• Get three licenses of Visual Studio Professional with MSDN with the Design & Development Action pack. (This software retails for over $8,000 …each).
• Receive 10 hours of Microsoft phone access advisory  support.
• Receive TechNet with the Solution Provider Action pack.

Getting your first subscription starts your concrete savings with thousands of dollars in software. It is a subscription however, so if you leave the program, the software goes too!

Step Three: Earn a Competency

The third step is a bit bigger and requires a little bit more on your part, but the benefits to you increase greatly.

You get all previous benefits (excluding those from the action packs), plus:

• Get access to Microsoft’s latest software, 25 licenses of each product
• Obtain five break/fix support incidents directly from Microsoft engineers
• Gain benefit of using Microsoft standard logos identifying your business competency
• Get five licenses of Visual Studio Premium with MSDN (The value is over $60,000 that you won’t have to pay!)
• Get high priority listing with Microsoft Pinpoint/Solution Finder
• Receive three TechNet Plus Direct
• Get 20 hours of phone based advisory and unlimited business critical support
• Pay a nominal fee of @1300 per year (actual fees may vary by geography)

Step Four: Earn an Advanced Competency

• All previous benefits (excluding those from the action packs)
• Get access to Microsoft’s latest software, 100 licenses of each product
• Obtain five break/fix support incidents directly from Microsoft engineers
• Gain benefit of using Microsoft advanced logos identifying your business competency and identifying your business as one that is the best in class
• Get 10 licenses of Visual Studio Premium with MSDN (Over $120,000 worth of software that you can deduct from your development budget!!!)
• Get top priority listing with Microsoft Pinpoint/Solution Finder
• You are assigned a Partner Account Manager
• Get 50 hours of phone based advisory and unlimited business critical support
• Pay a nominal fee of @1800 per year (actual fees may vary by geography)

Attaining a Competency should be the First Goal

Achieving a competency provides even more benefits to run your business and identifies you as someone with the right stuff. Regardless of your core business function, there will be a matching or corresponding competency that your business can attain.

Competencies allow you to showcase to your clients where your business expertise lies. It demonstrates proof of your skills to your clients and to your potential clients.

Additional software grants, typically to 25 licenses each for your competency and 100 when you achieve an advanced competency. (Software is for internal use, but can literally save you thousands off your IT budget)

You also receive a higher ranking on the partner directories, making it even easier for potential new clients to find you.

NOTE: If you are an existing partner in the current Microsoft Partner program, and you have achieved a competency under the partner points system, you will need to re-qualify at your re-enrollment anniversary.

To view all the competencies, see our Microsoft Partner Competency Guide.

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