Legacy benefit retention vs. new MCPP benefit attainment

[BReid]

My team is assisting another Microsoft partner with an ongoing PC support escalation regarding legacy benefits & the transition to the new benefits system aligned to Solutions Partner designations under the new Cloud Partner Program. While we're continuing to work with the support agents, we'd like to raise a few questions here for greater clarity.

1. We're coming up on our renewal date. Our understanding is that while the old MPN Gold/Silver designations have been retired, we can choose to retain legacy benefits until our next renewal date. Is that correct?
2. If we retain our legacy benefits at renewal, are we forced to retain those benefits and only those benefits for the full year, or can we opt-in to the new benefits program tied to Solutions Partner designations under MCPP? If yes, do we automatically lose all legacy benefits on activation, or are the MCPP benefits additive?
3. We don't have complete faith in the accuracy or reliability of the solution area capability scores reported in the Membership workspace on Partner Center. In particular, we've seen a 70+ score drop below 70 for no discernable reason. If we opt into the new SP designation-based benefits package under MCPP, and we suddenly fall below the 70-point designation threshold due to a reporting error, will our benefits automatically be cut-off, or do we have a grace period to correct the issue?
4. Is the benefit activation process for new benefits the same as legacy benefits? Do we retrieve & assign allocated product keys, or are they enabled a different way?

Does anyone have a definitive response to any of these questions? Have any other partners run into similar escalations? If yes, what was the outcome?

Thanks,

Ben

[JanoschUlmer · Accepted solution]

@BReid 

1. Yes, at next renewal after Oct. 3, 2022 you can choose to renew legacy benefits (same level as you had on Oct. 3 2022) for another year

2. While you would earn the Slution Partner designation badge/logo as soon as you qualify for it, you would only have the option to get the new solution Partner benefits at next renewal - thus it is either or

3. Indeed there were some updates to the scoring method based on issues reported to support - and the score is also based on a 12 month rolling window, so constant changes are somehow expected. As with the legacy compatencies, if you are eligible for the solution designation at renewal time and then you get the benefits/badge, there is no impact if you drop below the threshold later during the membership year, you keep both benefits and designations. If you then have sufficients points again within the last 30 days before renewal (at any day in this 30-day period), you are eligible to renew the status again.

4. Technically it is the same process, the same kind of activation tokens for internal use software

[BReid]

That's what I need, thanks.