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has announced the roll out of
its new Microsoft Partner Network (MPN), to align its seven year old
Microsoft Partner Program (MSPP) closely with the changing
requirements of businesses. This new MPN is an evolution of
Microsoft's partner model, that combines the best aspects of the
award-winning MSPP with an even deeper focus on and increased
investment in resources, that help partners strengthen capabilities,
serve customers better, and drive real-time connections through
communities.
Speaking on this occasion, Rajeev
Mittal, GM-Small and Medium Enterprises,
India, said,
“For today's, CIOs the key factor to adopt a particular
technology or solution is the quality of hand-holding they receive
from the vendor/partner community. With increasing complexity of
technological requirements and more vertical specific requirements
customers are demanding, that the consultants be industry savvy.
Specialized competencies from partners is also something that
customers have been seeking. The new Microsoft Partner Network hopes
to address this and more.” The new MPN includes the elimination of
'gold certified' and 'certified' levels; a change in the structure of
competencies to include both 'basic' (silver) and 'advanced' (gold)
levels and the elimination of 'partner points', as the measure for
partner requirements; new customer satisfaction requirements for top
partners since October 2009; new partner practice accelerator and
Microsoft Platform Ready benefits; Microsoft Pinpoint that helps
build customer demand for partners in MPN; and recognizing individual
sales professionals for their Microsoft solution expertise through
MPN Sales Specialist Accreditation.
Mittal added, “The new MPN offers-
partners diverse network to spark innovation, benefits to realize their
full potential, communities to connect with peers,
opportunities to strengthen capabilities and develop their business,
expertise to help serve customers better, and competencies that
demonstrate expertise and drive customer demand. Working together,
Microsoft and its partners can contribute, to focus on creating
innovative solutions, that drive profitability and sustain
competitive advantage.” MPN also provides partners with four
relationship options, each designed to meet their varying business
needs. Relationship options include the very basic community and
subscription followed by the silver competency and gold competency.
The new look competencies in Microsoft Partner Network include those
around the core infrastructure, business productivity, application
platform, CRM and ERP, cross platform solutions, SMB, and cloud.
According to Mittal, partners with gold
competencies demonstrate the highest, most consistent capability, and
commitment within a specific business solution area. Achieving a gold
competency helps partners assert their best-in-class capabilities, to
customers and other partners. “Partners, customers, and industry
leaders provided the feedback we needed, to evolve the Microsoft
Program into the MPN. The MPN provides access to a range of benefits
and resources to support partners' goals at every phase of their
business cycle. And as partners increase their investment in partner
relationship with Microsoft, the MPN recognizes their commitment with
higher value benefits. Now, partners can choose the MPN membership
opportunity, that provides the best value for their business,”
concluded Mittal.