Evolving the Microsoft Partner
Network programs
Learning Partner Program Overview
Updated June 2022
Evolving the Microsoft Partner Network programs
The world and how we work is rapidly changing. In this walking deck, we’ve outlined changes to the
The opportunities for Microsoft partners—whether Microsoft Partner Network programs—focused on
you build and sell services, software solutions, or simplifying our programs, delivering greater
devices—are significant. As the capabilities customer value, investing in your growth in new
required by our customers have evolved, our ways, and recognizing how you deliver customer
partner programs must also evolve to meet that value.
demand.
Focusing on customer needs and Partner growth
We want to help you grow a profitable business and to continue to deliver successful customer outcomes.
Simplifying Delivering greater customer Investing in your You have time
our programs value growth in new ways to prepare
A new single tier solutions partner Introducing a new set of learning We are making investments to We are providing you with 6+
designation, aligned to six solution partner requirements that help differentiate partners on their months’ notice before these
areas and the Microsoft Cloud. holistically measures your customer and solution area reach changes begin. Start now and
organization’s capabilities to drive and quality and have modernized review what these changes mean
Demonstrate your organization’s customer success. benefits for partners attaining the for your organization and assess
capabilities in delivering customer new program designations. how they align to your strategic
success aligned to how Microsoft business plans.
goes to market and where there is
customer demand.
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 Earn one or more Opportunity
Customers want to work with partners Partners can choose to earn one There are significant opportunities for
who have deep knowledge and solutions partner designation, or more, partners in this new world of work—
expertise. if applicable to your organization. whether you build and sell services,
A solutions partner designation Once you attain a solutions partner software, or devices.
identifies partners with specific designation, subsequent designations
capabilities and experiences in high can be attained, after requirements are
customer demand solution areas. It also met, with no additional fee.
rewards partners who deliver training
with quality.
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 training capabilities and demonstrated success
delivering training solutions.
Demonstrate your breadth and depth of skills and knowledge and set yourself apart from the competition. Once you attain a solutions
partner designation, you can further validate breadth of expertise by earning additional solutions partner designations.
Benefits are aligned to your solutions partner designations including product benefits, go-to-market services, co-sell eligibility, 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.
How to attain a solutions partner designation
Requirements Solutions Partner Business
Category & Metrics Benchmark Rules
Performance
1,000
Courseware Completion
KPI* • Fundamentals Courseware & Exams: 1 unit = 0.5 KPI
Breadth
• Advanced Courseware & Exams: 1 unit = 1 KPI
(Courseware / Exams) • Max Fundamentals Courseware contribution: 300 KPI
# of courseware completions
# of MCP Exams purchased
200 Exam Unit
KPI*
• Max Fundamentals Exams contribution: No Max
+
Solution Area # of Surveys
Performance Completed
Depth • Must earn designation in at least one solution area
Infrastructure 200
• Minimum of 200 learner surveys completed via Metrics that Matter (MTM)
(MTM Survey) Meet at least Data & AI 200 • Applicable to Advanced role-based course surveys only
# of surveys by Solution one Digital & App Innov. 200 • Azure categories: Digital and App innovation, Data & AI, and Infrastructure
Area Solution Area • Survey completions from May 1, 2022 – October 31, 2022 will count as 2
Modern Work 200
completions. Survey completions until May 1, 2022 and from November 1,
Security 200 2022 will count as 1.
Business Applications 200 • Completions count only if associated to an eligible MCT instructor
+
Quality
4.25+
• Scoring applicable to Advanced role-based course surveys only
(Survey) Survey Response • Scoring based on 9 selected partner-influenced survey questions
Avg. Training score by Score • While Fundamentals is not included in the benchmark score, all Microsoft
solution area courses including Fundamentals need to leverage MTM
• Scores count only if associated to an eligible MCT instructor
*KPI = Key Performance Indicator
All metrics will continue to be calculated on a rolling 12 completed months of data prior to a partner’s anniversary date
Simplified View for Achieving Solution Area Badging
Trailing 12 complete months of data prior to anniversary date
Performance Breadth Quality Performance Depth
200 Infrastructure surveys submitted
200 Data & AI surveys submitted
1,000 KPI 200 KPI 4.25+ 200 Digital & App surveys submitted
Courseware Exam MTM Survey
200 Security surveys submitted
Completions Purchases Overall Score
200 Modern Work surveys submitted
200 Biz Apps surveys submitted
Fundamentals KPI At least one solution area
capped at 300 required, more can be added
without increasing courseware /
exam requirements.
Surveys count 2x May – Oct, 2022
Not Meeting Solution Area KPIs?
Existing Learning Partners using MTM survey can:
Access and deliver free MS Learn Participate in Learning Partner forums,
Courseware community calls, and events
Claim
Publicly Learning
promote Partner
their / Official
ability to provide
Utilize the Courseware Title Plan
Microsoft
official trainingtraining
Microsoft status
Access Courseware Marketplace for labs, Continue leveraging MCTs for public
community courses, and Azure passes trainings
Access and leverage Microsoft-created FreeFree
access to Metrics
access thatthat
to Metrics Matter
Matter
marketing resources and files (MTM) (MTM)
quality survey
quality tool
survey tool
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* Q4 CY2022*
• Microsoft announces plan for new • Last day partners can renew legacy • Solutions partner designations are
solutions partner designations. competencies. Associated badging available to attain.
will no longer be valid from
• Partners begin to plan for program • Partners will need to meet the
October, but partners can retain
changes required learning partner benchmarks
their existing benefits.
• Partners will have 6+ months' to attain solutions partner
notice before designations are designations.
available and existing competencies • Benefits associated with legacy
are no longer available. competencies continue through the
partners’ next anniversary date.
*Timeline TBD: All dates and requirements subject to change.
Next steps
• Watch for future updates across comms channels including our monthly Community Call, monthly
Learning Partner newsletter, the Learning Partner Community, and our Learning Resources fileshare.
• Register for and leverage the Metrics that Matter (MTM) survey platform for all Microsoft training
deliveries
• Encourage your learners to activate their courseware and complete post-training surveys
• Create a plan for incorporating exam vouchers into your student training offering
Reference documents
Microsoft Partner Network Solutions Partner Overview
Learning Partner Program Update
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