Evolving the Microsoft

Partner Network programs

Solutions partner for Business Applications
Walking deck

Updated: May 16, 2022

Contents Partnering with Microsoft
Evolving the Microsoft Partner Network programs
• Partnering with Microsoft
• Focusing on customer needs and your growth
• Solutions partner designations
• Partner capability score
• Partner profitability
• Solutions partner designations
• Specializations
Solutions partner designations, requirements and benefits
• Solutions partner for Business Applications
Key dates
Next steps
Additional resources
Evolving the Microsoft Partner Network programs

The world and how we work is rapidly In this walking deck, we’ve outlined changes to
changing. The opportunities for Microsoft the Microsoft Partner Network programs—
partners—whether you build and sell services, focused on simplifying our programs,
software solutions, or devices—are significant. delivering greater customer value, investing in
As the capabilities required by our customers your growth in new ways, and recognizing how
have evolved, our partner programs must also you deliver customer value.
evolve to meet that demand.
Partnering with Microsoft
Our partners have access to a variety of opportunities with the Microsoft Cloud to innovate, scale, and
differentiate the types of solutions they provide—empowering people across their work and digital lives.

Cloud Innovation Differentiation Scale

Through the Microsoft Cloud, Partners can build differentiated Partners can quickly scale with our
partners drive innovation that is solutions based on the unique unique go-to-market approach
relevant to people and technical extensibility, secure and the Microsoft commercial
organizations around the world, foundation, and the broadest marketplace that connects millions
leaving lasting impact. business model. of customers around the globe.
Focusing on customer needs and your growth
We want to help you grow a profitable business and to continue to deliver successful customer outcomes.

Simplifying Delivering greater Investing in your You have time

our programs customer value growth in new ways to prepare
A new single tier solutions Introducing a new partner We are making investments to We are providing you with six
partner designation, aligned to capability score that holistically help encourage business months’ notice before these
six solution areas and the measures your organization’s development, increase changes begin. Start now and
Microsoft Cloud. technical capabilities to drive customer reach, and expansion review what these changes
customer success. through technical skilling and mean for your organization and
Demonstrate your enablement. assess how they align to your
organization’s capabilities in strategic business plans.
delivering customer success
aligned to how Microsoft goes
to market and where there is
customer demand.
 We are introducing the solutions partner designation,
anchored on the Microsoft Cloud in six solution areas
We are aligned to how Microsoft goes to market.

simplifying our
Microsoft
These changes will act as a catalyst boost in the future for
partner capability to sell through and sell with Microsoft.

Network
programs Admins can sign in to Partner Center to see how your
organization is progressing towards a solutions partner
designation.
Solutions partner designations
The solutions partner designation becomes the first opportunity for you to set yourself apart from the
competition by demonstrating your organization’s breadth of capabilities aligned to solution areas. That’s
valuable for you, because it’s where we see customer demand, and where the opportunity is for partners to
scale to meet customer needs.

Easily identifiable Choose one or more Opportunity

Customers want to work with Partners can choose to earn one There are significant opportunities
partners who have a deep solutions partner designation, or for partners in this new world of
knowledge and expertise. more, if applicable to your work—whether you build and sell
A solutions partner designation organization. services, software, or devices.
identifies partners with specific Once you attain a solutions partner
capabilities and experiences in high designation, subsequent
customer demand solution areas. designations can be attained, after
requirements are met, with no
additional fee.
 70 Partners need a minimum of 70 points out of a possible 100
points to attain a solutions partner designation.

We are Holistic qualifications will measure your organization’s

introducing a technical capabilities, allowing you to showcase solutions

you have delivered to help customers succeed and grow.

new, holistic
partner New telemetry-based partner capability score model
provides you with flexibility to demonstrate your

capability score knowledge, skills, and experience.

New customer-facing badges to help you stand out and

market your capabilities.
How to attain a solutions partner designation
Each area will have a specific number of possible points. You have the flexibility to focus more on one
category versus another depending on what is right for your business.

A minimum of 70
points must be
earned, with points
in each category. Performance Skilling Customer success

There are 100 This category is

measured by net
This category verifies
and demonstrates your
This category is
measured by usage
points possible in customer adds. dedication to skilling growth and the number
total. and training by of solution deployments.
intermediate and
advanced certifications.

Admins can sign in to Partner Center to see how your organization is progressing towards a solutions partner designation..
Partner capability score: Alignment across the Microsoft Cloud
70+ points
With >0 points for
# each metric meets Solutions partner for
requirements for Solutions partner for Solutions partner Solutions partner Infrastructure, Data & AI,
Solutions partner
Business Applications for Modern Work for Security and Digital & App Innovation
(Azure)

Performance Net customer adds 15pts Net customer adds 20pts Net customer adds 20pts Net customer adds 30pts

Intermediate Certs 20pts Intermediate Certs 10pts Intermediate Certs 40pts Intermediate Certs 20pts

Skilling

Advanced Certs 15pts Advanced Certs 15pts Advanced Certs 20pts

Usage Growth 30pts Usage Growth 30pts Usage Growth 20pts Usage Growth 20pts
Customer
Success
Deployments 20pts Deployments 25pts Deployments 20pts Deployments 10pts
We are investing in your growth in new ways

Updated benefits aligned to All the valuable categories you’re New incremental product benefits
solutions partner designations familiar with: Product benefits for specializations and expert
will continue to support you as (including IURs), go-to-market programs to further accelerate
you grow your business and are services, technical pre-sales and your business.
optimized to focus on new cloud deployment services, and
technology, and tailored placement in the commercial
quantities of cloud services marketplace to increase your
subscription. exposure to customers.
Introducing solutions partner designations

Solutions partner Solutions partner Solutions partner Solutions partner Solutions partner Solutions partner *Solutions partner
for Infrastructure for Data & AI for Digital & App for for for Business for Microsoft
(Azure) (Azure) Innovation (Azure) Modern Work Security Applications Cloud

Designations aligned to the Microsoft solution areas that recognize your broad technical capabilities and demonstrated
success delivering technology solutions.

Demonstrate your breadth of skills and knowledge and set yourself apart from the competition. Once you attain a
solutions partner designation, you can further validate deep technical expertise and experience by earning a specialization
(currently called advanced specializations).

Benefits aligned to your solutions partner designation including product benefits, go-to-market services, co-sell eligibility,
skilling and sales enablement resources, and customer-facing badges to help you market your expertise.

*Partners who attain all six solutions partner designations receive a Microsoft Cloud badge, recognizing your capabilities across the Microsoft Cloud.
Specializations

Solutions partner Solutions partner Solutions partner Solutions partner Solutions partner Solutions partner
for Data & AI for Digital & App for Infrastructure for Business for for
(Azure) Innovation (Azure) (Azure) Applications Modern Work Security
Specialist Specialist Specialist Specialist Specialist Specialist

Validate and differentiate your in-depth knowledge by earning specializations aligned to Microsoft solution areas. Partners
can showcase these specialization badges to market their expertise to customers.

For details about specializations, click here.

How competencies map to solutions partner designations
LEGACY COMPETENCIES SOLUTIONS PARTNER DESIGNATIONS

• Cloud Platform
• Data Center Solutions partner for Infrastructure (Azure)

• App Integration
• Data Analytics Solutions partner for Data & AI (Azure)
• Data Platform
• Application Development
• App Integration Solutions partner for Digital & App Innovation (Azure)
• DevOps
Specialized
• Cloud Productivity and
• Collaboration expert
• Communications
Solutions partner for Modern Work programs
• Messaging
• Small and Midmarket Cloud Solutions
• Windows and Devices

• Enterprise Mobility Management

Solutions partner for Security
• Security

• Cloud Business Applications

• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Solutions partner for Business Applications
• Project Portfolio Management
Benefits for solutions partner designations
Benefits for solutions partners have been updated to ensure they are effective, helpful, and relevant to your organization.
We’re investing more to help you with business development, increasing customer reach, and expanding technical skilling,
enablement and support.

Encouraging business Increasing Expanding technical skilling,

development customer reach enablement and support
• Product benefits (formerly IUR) • Co-selling with Microsoft to • Personalized assistance,
have been designed to align to the expand your customer footprint comprehensive courses, and
solutions partner designations, • Go-To-Market services, assets and world-class Microsoft experts
including: personalized consultation to help to build your knowledge
o Azure bulk credits for your you along your marketing journey • Technical presales and deployment
organization • Microsoft solutions provider services to help you deliver
o Access to development placement to increase exposure solutions faster
environments • Customer-facing badges to • Product (on-prem and
o New cloud product showcase your capabilities cloud), platform, and technical
subscriptions that are most support to help you troubleshoot
relevant in market specific issues

For details about benefits specific to each solutions partner designation, click here.
Solutions partner for
Business Applications
Requirements & Benefits
Solutions partner for Business Applications

As a Solutions partner for Business Applications, you demonstrate your broad capability to deliver solutions with
Dynamics 365 and Power Platform.
Becoming a Solutions partner for Business Applications gives customers a way to identify you as a partner that has both
the commitment to training, accreditation, and has delivered solutions that lead to customer success.

If these activities describe the work that you do, consider Solutions partner for Business Applications:
⚫ Cloud Business Applications
⚫ Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
⚫ Project and Portfolio

For more information about measurements specific to Solutions partner for Business Applications, click here.
Benefits for Business Applications
Benefits will include all common Solutions partner benefits, like go-to-market services, TP&D advisory hours, technical support incidents, as
well as unique product benefits designed specifically for Solutions partner for Business Applications.

Product Group Solutions partner for Business Applications Business Applications specialization*

Azure Production Credits - $4,500 per year (bulk)

Azure Dev/Test Credits $6,000 per year (bulk) $12,000 per year (bulk)

Visual Studio Subscriptions 25 Visual Studio Enterprise subscriptions (no monthly Azure credit) 10 Visual Studio Enterprise subscriptions (no monthly Azure credit)

Dynamics 365 (D365) 100 users D365 Finance, HR, Project Ops, Sales, and more 25 users D365 Finance, HR, Project Ops, Sales, and more
1 tenant D365 Marketing and Customer Insights 1 D365 Marketing Attach
D365 Partner Sandbox products (all)

Power BI 100 Power BI Premium users -

Microsoft 365 (M365) 100 M365 E3 users 50 M365 E3 users

Microsoft Project Online 20 users (Plan 5) -

Visio Online 5 users (Plan 2) -

Software Licenses 2 Windows IoT -

100 Windows Server Standard 2022, 32 Windows Server 2022
Data Center, 16 SQL Server, 100 System Center Standard, select
CALs, and more
*Max stacking of 1 specialization across all Business Applications specializations.
This asset is intended only for reference purposes as a high-level overview. Benefits are subject to change. Full details and terms and conditions are subject to applicable program guide.
Requirements for Business Applications
Threshold enterprise Threshold enterprise
Eligible attributions Max points
(Larger markets) (Other markets)
Performance 15
CSP
D365: CPOR, CPOR RevRec, CSP Tier 1/2,
Net Customer Adds 15 Customer Adds 5 Customer Adds 15
DPOR
Power Platform: CPOR, CSP Tier 1/2, DPOR
Skilling 35
All certs used for SMMCS PARTNER
Intermediate Certs 20 Functional consultants + Devs 10 Functional consultants + Devs 20
CAPABILITY SCORE (see above table)
Solution Architect certifications
Advanced Certs 7 Architects 3 Architects 15
(MB-600, PL-600, MB-700)
Customer Success 50
D365: CPOR, CPOR RevRec, CSP Tier 1/2,
10 Production deployments, MIN 10,000 5 Production deployments, MIN 5,000
Deployments DPOR 20
monthly consumption value monthly consumption value
Power Platform & Customer Insights: PAL
D365: CPOR, CPOR RevRec, CSP Tier 1/2,
Monthly consumption value growth of 30%+ Monthly consumption value growth of 30%+
Usage Growth DPOR 30
across all customers (vs baseline>= 100,000) across all customers (vs baseline>= 50,000)
Power Platform & Customer Insights: PAL
TOTAL 100
Minimum total points required for solutions partner designation 70
Product eligibility AI BUILDER, BUSINESS CENTRAL, CE BUNDLE, COMMERCE, CUSTOMER INSIGHTS, CUSTOMER SERVICE, CUSTOMER VOICE, F&O BUNDLE, FIELD SERVICE,
FINANCE, FRAUD PROTECTION, MARKETING, MIXED REALITY, POWER APPS, POWER AUTOMATE, POWER BI PREMIUM/PRO, POWER VIRTUAL AGENT, PROJECT
OPERATIONS, SALES, SUPPLY CHAIN, TALENT/HR

*All dates and requirements subject to change.

 Requirements for Business Application: Performance
Net Customer Adds The number of net new customers claimed by or associated with a partner for the purpose of driving
deployment and/or adoption of Dynamics 365 and Power Platform services in a trailing 12-month period.

Eligibility path

⚫ For max points (Larger markets):

15 Customer Adds (current month adjusted revenue >$1500 and current month partner attached adjusted revenue >$0)
⚫ For max points (Other markets):
5 Customer Adds (current month adjusted revenue >$1500 and current month partner attached adjusted revenue >$0)
⚫ This indicator’s points are calculated as follows:
• A customer add is when one of our specified workloads is added, via an active subscription that exceeds $1500, to the customer during the trailing twelve-
month period
• Net customer adds simply counts the number of workloads with active subscriptions >$1500 in the current month and subtracts the number of workloads
with active subscriptions >$1500 twelve months ago
⚫ Conditions for subscriptions:
• The subscription must be active and the adjusted revenue for the workload, summed up across all the active subscriptions for that workload attached to the
partner, must exceed $1500
• The partner must have >$0 of partner attached adjusted revenue for summed up across all their associated subscriptions for that workload under that
customer
• Multiple partners can get credit for new workloads under the same customer in the same 12-month period
• Net customers are added across all sales channels

*All dates and requirements subject to change.

Requirements for Business Application: Skilling
Intermediate Certifications Advanced Certifications

• Relevant role-based certifications are listed below • Relevant role-based certifications are listed below
• For max points (Larger markets): 20 functional consultants + developers • For max points (Larger Markets): 7 architects
• For max points (Other markets): 10 functional consultants + developers • For max points (Other markets): 3 architects
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Finance Functional Consultant Associate Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365: Finance and Operations Apps Solution Architect
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Commerce Functional Consultant Associate Expert
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365: Finance and Operations Apps Developer Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 + Power Platform Solution Architect Expert
Associate Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Solution Architect Expert
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Functional Consultant
Associate
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing
Functional Consultant Associate
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Customer Service Functional Consultant Associate
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Sales Functional Consultant Associate
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Field Service Functional Consultant Associate
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Business Central Functional Consultant Associate
Microsoft Certified: Power Apps + Dynamics 365 Developer Associate
Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Marketing Functional Consultant Associate
Microsoft Certified: Power Platform App Maker Associate
Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate
Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Functional Consultant Associate
Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Developer Associate

*All dates and requirements subject to change.

Requirements for Business Applications: Customer Success
Usage Growth The amount of Dynamics 365 and Power Platform usage and consumption growth in a trailing 12-month
period from customers claimed by or associated with a partner.

Eligibility path

Initial requirements: This indicator's points are calculated for the Business Applications Solutions partner designation as follows:
• For max points (Larger markets): Monthly consumption value growth is defined as the growth of consumption (monthly active users or capacity) multiplied by the
Monthly consumption value growth consumption rate, across the entire customer base over the past 12 months.
of 30%+ across all customers • The monthly consumption value growth indicator compares the current month against a baseline from 12 months ago.
(vs consumption value baseline> • Monthly consumption value is calculated at the end of every month.
= 100,000)
• Monthly consumption value growth is defined differently for partners operating in Larger markets vs. Other markets.
• For max points (Other markets):
• For Larger markets partners to be eligible for points, they must have a baseline of at least 100,000 consumption value units
Monthly consumption value growth
across their entire customer base 12 months ago.
of 30%+ across all customers
(vs consumption value baseline> • For Other markets partners to be eligible for points, they must have a baseline of at least 50,000 consumption value units across
= 50,000) their entire customer base 12 months ago.
• This indicator will use PAL across the Power Platform and Customer Insights workloads (where partner monthly consumption
value association will occur at the resource-level not at subscription grain) and Subscription association for Dynamics workloads.
• The resource varies by workload. For Power BI it is a dataset. For Power Apps it is a production app. For Power Automate it is a
production flow. For Customer Insights it is Customer Profiles.

*All dates and requirements subject to change.

Requirements for Business Applications: Customer Success
Deployments The number of net new Dynamics 365 and Power Platform deployments services that cross the usage
threshold in a trailing 12-month period from customers claimed by or associated with a partner.

Eligibility path

Initial proposed business rules: This indicator's points are calculated as follows:
• For max points (Larger markets): • A deployment is when one of the specified workloads crosses the MIN monthly consumption value at the customer during the
10 production deployments, MIN trailing twelve-month period.
10,000 monthly consumption value • New deployments counts the number of deployments that have the MIN monthly consumption value in the current month and
• For max points (Other markets): subtracts the number of workloads that have the MIN monthly consumption value twelve months ago.
5 production deployments, MIN • For Larger markets, each new deployment must cross 10,000 monthly consumption value. For Other markets, each new
5,000 monthly consumption value deployment must cross 5,000 monthly consumption value.
• This indicator will use PAL across the Power Platform and Customer Insights workloads (where partner monthly consumption
value association will occur at the resource-level not at subscription grain) and Subscription association for Dynamics workloads.
• The resource varies by workload. For Power BI it is a dataset. For Power Apps it is a production app.
For Power Automate it is a production flow. For Customer Insights it is Customer Profiles.

*All dates and requirements subject to change.

Key dates
We understand that these updates may require you to adjust your business plans. We’re providing time for
you to learn about the new opportunities and requirements and identify a plan for your organization.

March 16, 2022 September 30, 2022* October 3, 2022*

• Microsoft announces plan for new • Last day partners can renew • Solutions partner designations are
solutions partner designations. legacy competencies. Associated available to attain.
• Partners will be able to check their badging will no longer be valid • Partners will need to meet the
progress towards attaining a from October, but partners can required partner capability score
designation through retain their benefits. to attain solutions partner
Partner Center. designations.
• Partners will have six months' • No further competency renewals
notice before designations are will be processed.
available and existing
• Benefits associated with legacy
competencies are no longer
competencies continue through the
available.
partners’ next anniversary date.

*All dates and requirements subject to change.

Next steps
How should I prepare?

Admins can sign in to Partner Center to see how your

organization is progressing towards a solutions partner
designation and see the associated benefits.

Go to Microsoft docs to learn about the requirements needed

to attain a solutions partner designation.

For more information visit the Microsoft partner website and

Microsoft partner blog.
Additional resources
Training asset gallery Microsoft partner blog Partner capability score dashboard

Solutions partner Solutions partner Solutions partner

for Infrastructure (Azure) for Data & AI (Azure) for Digital & App Innovation (Azure)

Solutions partner for Solutions partner for Solutions partner for Digital & App
Infrastructure overview page Data & AI overview page Innovation overview page

Solutions partner
Solutions partner for Modern Work Solutions partner for Security
for Business Applications

Solutions partner for Solutions partner for Solutions partner for

Modern Work overview page Security overview page Business Applications overview page
New solutions partner designations Options for existing Microsoft partners to transition to the new solutions partner designations.

We’re evolving our partner program to meeting Eligible to attain the new solutions partner designation(s)? Looking to continue with the new
customer needs and grow your business, and
our partnership, for the future.
If your organization meets the criteria for solutions partner designation solutions partner designation(s)?
after general availability (GA), earning 70 points or more: After meeting all requirements for your solutions
• New solutions partner designation and
updated benefits. • Between GA and first anniversary date, partners will receive the new partner designations, select one of the benefits
designation if they meet the requirements. package options:
• No change to your existing anniversary dates.
• No change to your benefits until your first anniversary date after GA. • Solutions partner benefits; OR
• Options to retain your legacy benefits.
• Go to Logo Builder in Partner Center and • Legacy benefits; OR
• Time to learn more and assess for your
download your new customer-facing badge. • And pay the associated annual
organization.
membership fee.

Announcement General availability (GA) First anniversary date after GA

March 16, 2022 October 3, 2022

Learn more about the new designations

Still not eligible?
and check your progress towards attaining For partners who don’t meet the requirements
a solutions partner designation and for a solutions partner designation and have
Not eligible, need more time?
benefits in Partner Center. renewed a legacy competency by September 30,
If your organization doesn’t meet the criteria for solutions partner 2022, you’ll have the option to continue to pay a
Visit the Microsoft partner website to learn designation at general availability (GA), 70 points or more: fee (aligned to your legacy competency fee) and
more: aka.ms/Solutionspartner.Overview • No change to your benefits until your first anniversary date after GA. retain your legacy benefits.
• Legacy competencies and associated badging are no longer in market, If you choose not to purchase your legacy
but partners can choose to retain their legacy competency benefits. benefits, you also have the option to purchase
Microsoft Action Pack.
• At any time after October 3, 2022, meet the requirements and earn the
solutions partner designation.

*Available between anniversary dates with benefits change only available at anniversary date.
**Available only on your anniversary date.
© Copyright Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
***Dates subject to change.
© Copyright Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.