Bus Apps Monthly ANZ Digest

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As your ANZ Partner Marketing team for Business Applications, each month we curate this update on the key programs, offers and updates you need to know.

PARTNER INCENTIVES & OFFERS

FY22 Partner Offers – make sure to complete your Catalyst training by 3 December

We’re seeing great uptake of the Pre-sales partner offers and feedback that you’re finding them valuable to progress customer opportunities. We’ve also had record numbers enroll in Catalyst training to meet the 3 trained individuals per partner requirement for Type 1 offers for those partner with a Cloud Bus Apps competency. However, 47% of individuals registered have yet to start the training! You have until December 3 to complete and receive accreditation – less than 3 weeks away - so don’t delay. It only takes around 6 hours. Top tip: once registered, check your Microsoft Live ID address for the details.

OSA revenue based incentive back to FY21 rates

Earlier this FY we announced a reduction in our pre-sales revenue-based incentive Online Service Advisor (OSA) to fund an increase in the FY22 pre and post sales offers. We received feedback from several partners that this change was made without sufficient time to adjust their business models. We heard your feedback and are happy to announce we are increasing the OSA CE and F&O base rates from the announced 10% and 20%, back to 15% and 30% respectively, effective October 2021 through September 2022. For more information on this and other Business Applications incentives, refer to the Partner Incentive page.

Get your new hires up and running with our 4 week Bus Apps onboarding program

Got some new hires and need them to get up to speed on D365 and Power fast? We still have a few places left in our November 22 intake for the Business Applications 4 week onboarding program covering technical skills, customer engagement training and time with our own local Microsoft Bus Apps experts. We are also taking applications for our February, March, April and May intakes for next calendar year too. Find all the details and register your new crew here.

BUS APPS NEWS & EVENTS

Find all the recent announcements in the Ignite Book of News

Our recent Ignite event featured lots of new Business Applications announcement with the theme of ‘building a hyperconnected business’. From the new Supply Chain Insights, to our first-party voice channel for D365 Customer Service and preview of D365 Connected Spaces. From deepening the integration between Power Platform and Teams, to new pay as you go Power Apps. The best place to catch up on it all is the Ignite Book of News. Use the table of content button to skip straight to the D365 or Power Platform announcement. We also recommend the Industry Cloud section for updates on now generally available Cloud for Financial Services, Non Profit, and Healthcare; and in preview Cloud for Manufacturing, and Sustainability.

New pay-as-you-go for Power Apps

We recently announced a new, more flexible way to pay for Power Apps, where customers can use an Azure subscription to cover their Power Apps and Dataverse costs based on actual usage. Historically, low-code platforms required customers to figure out their licensing needs in advance. While there are many benefits to the scale and predictability of user-based licensing, several scenarios today require the agility of a usage-based model. With deep roots in both Microsoft 365 as well as Azure, Power Platform is uniquely equipped to offer customers both options. With the new pay-as-you-go plan, customers only pay for what they use, giving them more flexibility to get started with low code with low risk and then scale their investments over time based on the usage patterns of their solutions. Find more here.

Get started with D365 Intelligent Order Management on demand webinar for partners

D365 Intelligent Order Management (IOM) enables organisations to adapt quickly and meet future order and fulfilment complexities while supporting methods like click and collect. This on demand session designed for partners covers the concepts you need to present IOM to customers, and understand the solution architecture and roadmap to fit the solution into customer environments. Watch it here.

SKILLING AND CERTIFICATION

Upcoming Bus Apps certification training for November and December

Looking to get your first – or your next certification – and prefer instructor led training?

• Join our MB800 Business Central Functional Consultant virtual bootcamp with Microsoft Certified Trainer Glen Morris. Designed for functional consultants working with Business Central, or with other D365 apps who want to expand their knowledge of Business Central. The bootcamp includes 5 days x 3 hour training sessions plus an exam voucher to sit the MB800 exam. Register here.
• Microsoft Certification Week for Partners is back December 13-16. This is for those who demonstrate skills every day on the job and are ready to validate their technical expertise and gain a certification. This no cost, four-day event includes training resources, expert-led study groups, and exam preparation sessions. Plus, participating in all 2 hour sessions over all four days qualifies you for the opportunity to receive a practice test and a full exam voucher. The Bus Apps tracks are MB-910 D365 Fundamentals Customer Engagement Apps, MB-230 D365 Customer Service, MB-240 D365 Field Service and PL-200 Power Platform Functional Consultant. Make sure to register for the APAC timezone option which is ANZ friendly.

Join us for the next Women Rising cohort

Not strictly Bus Apps, but something close to our hearts is the Women Rising program. We are passionate about gender diversity in the tech industry and we know our customers and partners are looking for ways to attract, retain, develop, and promote talented women too. Microsoft Australia has partnered with leading women’s development expert Megan Dalla-Camina, Founder & CEO of Women Rising - a program that enables women to unlock their potential through evidence-based curriculum, expert coaching, and supportive community. The program gives women the confidence, tools, and practical steps to take their leadership to the next level, and to help your business reach its goals. Women Rising is a six-month fully virtual experience, allowing women to learn at a time and place that fits their schedule. The program is $999+GST (50% off exclusive to Microsoft Partners and customers) which includes all training, live coaching, and community, with lifetime access to all program materials. This year the program has supported nearly 1000 women and registration is open for the next cohort in March 2022. As one of those women, I can’t recommend it enough!

Questions? Feedback? Just reply to this post.