Each quarter Microsoft does a partner survey to understand what we are doing well, and where we need to improve. One of the repeated comments that we get from both our Services Partners (ie: Managed Service Providers, System Integrators) as well as Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) is that the Microsoft Action Pack Subscription (MAPS) is super valuable and worth the minor investment. Action Pack provides benefits that will allow partners to build their business with Microsoft quicker, providing access to things like support.
The benefits that come with MAPS are worth much more than the subscription price. The benefits include:
- Access to Product Licenses such as Azure, Microsoft Office 365, Visual Studio, Dynamics
- Five advisory hours with a Partner Technical Consultant
- Up to 10 support incidents
- Opportunity to be listed in the Microsoft Partner Directory
- Access to curated resources to take your solution to market
- Marketing and readiness materials
- And access to virtual trainings
If you are looking to leverage Microsoft solutions to build your business further, then you may want to consider this as a first step.
To see the current list of benefits and full list of product licenses, click here.
Partners may want to take their partnership with Microsoft even further and unlock even more benefits. That is where you may want to consider obtaining a silver or gold competency. A competency requires a partner to take training and get certified with the product that aligns to the competency, achieve a revenue clip level and pay an annual fee.
Once a partner completes all the requirements for the competency, they have access to additional benefits (ie: more licenses & support), they be able to get a badge (ie: silver or gold) and display it on their website, or include it in customer RFPs, etc.
To see the various levels and options of the Microsoft Partner Network including competencies, click here.
For partners who are looking to build new solutions (managed services or applications) leveraging Microsoft products or are looking to better understand their benefits, there are two resources to leverage.
Solution Workspace is a self-serve digital tool for all partners in the Microsoft Partner Network, that will serve up customized development content, partner-tested marketing strategies, and curated selling resources – all in one space. Check out Solution Workspace now.
The Cloud Enablement Desk supports partners who are looking for help to determine which competency is right for them, access go-to-market or partner technical resources and support (if you have Action Pack or Competency), understand and work toward co-sell ready, and get your solution into Marketplace. The Partners who are interested in speaking with a Cloud Enablement Desk Specialist can submit a request to be contacted through this form. To qualify, you must have an MPN ID and also be an unmanaged partner (ie: you are not working with a Partner Development Manager).
Sign up for Microsoft Action Pack now!
For more information on How to get the Microsoft Partner Network working for you, read this blog.
