Recent Discussions
Net Customer Adds - encouraging the wrong culture?
We're a Microsoft Partner that focuses on delivering excellent service to our SMB clients. This involves making sure they're as secure and compliant as they can be, and that they understand how to use the vast array of modern workplace tools to maximum advantage. Our primary Solutions Partner Designation is therefore Modern Work (SMB). Our staff are keen on learning so we have maximum points for intermediate and advanced certifications. We are continuously helping our clients to exploit the modern work tools so deployment scores are excellent. We also help our clients ensure those tools are adopted into the everyday flow of work so usage growth is huge. BUT, given our focus is implementing more Microsoft workloads into existing customers, rather than adding more customers, our Net Customer Adds score is 0, putting our designation at risk (as you have to score points in every area to renew). I do feel we're effectively being penalised by Microsoft for concentrating on helping clients get the most out of their offerings, rather than just selling licenses. And after raising this with them, it sounds like there's nothing we can do other than simply keep our fingers crossed that a month of high net customer adds drops off the rolling 12 month window before our renewal date for us to maintain our designation. The skilling, deployment, and usage requirements all make sense as they're about providing a good service and ensuring adoption by the end customer, but net customer adds clearly puts selling over service which isn't our culture or business model (or that of many smaller partners). In chatting to other partners, many are choosing not to renew their SPD's for similar reasons so I'm hoping the relevant decision makers will listen to this feedback and review the scoring. What do you think?✨ FabCon + SQLCon 2026: Partner Know Before You Go Now Live!
Heading to FabCon + SQLCon 2026 in Atlanta? We’ve put together your full Partner Know Before You Go Guide — everything you need to navigate the week, maximize value, and make the most of all partner‑exclusive opportunities. 🚀 Here’s what you’ll find inside: 📅 Partner Day (Mar 17) — A full day of partner‑only learning, strategy, and networking. - SOLD OUT! 🍻 Partner Happy Hour — Connect with other partners and the Microsoft team. 🎤 AMA with the Fabric Partner Success Team — Bring your biggest questions around Data & AI priorities, partner opportunities, funding, enablement, and certifications. 🤝 1:1 Meetings — Book time with Fabric LT or the Partner Success Team to accelerate your strategy and unlock customer wins. 🎤 Partner Elevator Pitch Search — Submit your 2‑min pitch to be featured live on stage! 🔥 Partner Social Media Sprint — Daily LinkedIn challenge + chances to win Fabric SWAG. 🎓 Certification Spotlight — Get recognized during Arun’s keynote for hitting 100+ Fabric certs. 🎥 Testimonial Videos — Share your Fabric customer stories with global visibility. 📱 Whova Event App — Build your schedule, access slides, network, and join the partner community inside the app. 📘The full KBYG guide is attached below.
Tech Talks presents: Cloud PC Pools in Microsoft Copilot Studio
Join us on Thursday, February 12th at 8am PT as Jay Padimiti, CAT Advisory Principal PM, Power CAT presents 'From UI Actions to Enterprise‑Grade Automation: Cloud PC Pools in Microsoft Copilot Studio'. In this session, we’ll explore how Cloud PC Pools, powered by Windows 365 for Agents, unlock secure, enterprise‑ready UI automation inside Microsoft Copilot Studio. You’ll learn how Computer‑Using Agents (CUA) execute tasks across Windows apps and web systems just like a human - and how Cloud PC Pools enable these capabilities at scale with governance, compliance, and zero local infrastructure. This session demystifies the architecture behind Cloud PC Pools, provides a practical implementation walkthrough, and highlights best practices your organization can follow to deliver repeatable, high‑value automation securely using Microsoft‑managed Windows 11 Cloud PCs. We hope to see you there! Call to Action: Click on the link to save the calendar invite: https://aka.ms/TechTalksInvite View past recordings (sign in required): https://aka.ms/TechTalksRecording
Join Microsoft's In a Day (XIAD) events partner program!
The Microsoft In a Day (XIAD) partner events program offers an exceptional opportunity for partners to deliver one-day, hands-on workshops that empower customers to adopt and use Microsoft products effectively. Why Participate? 🏆 Showcase Expertise: Highlight your skills by demonstrating your knowledge and capabilities. 🤝 Drive Connections: Build strong relationships with new customers. 📈 Generate Leads: Create valuable opportunities for business growth. Microsoft offers the content, support, and resources necessary for the success of these workshops, allowing partners to deliver impactful, high-quality sessions. Workshop catalog includes: Agent in a Day App in a Day Automation in a Day Chat with your Data in a Day Dashboard in a Day Fabric Analyst in a Day Power Pages in a Day Real Time Intelligence in a Day Are you a Microsoft Partner interested in the opportunity to join the program? 📧 Contact the XIAD Program team: xiadevents@microsoft.com 📤 Submit requests to deliver events: aka.ms/XIAD/PartnerEvents 🎓 Attend an upcoming Train the Trainer event: aka.ms/XIAD/TraintheTrainer/PowerPlatformEvents & aka.ms/XIAD/TraintheTrainer/AzureDataEvents 🔍 Learn more about the program and review partner eligibility criteria: aka.ms/XIADpartneropportunityLeading through disruptive change: What partners need now
On February 25th, Ultimate Partner is hosting its annual Executive Winter Retreat in Boca Raton, Florida. We are excited to welcome Nina Harding, CVP, Americas Global Partner Solutions, as this year’s keynote speaker. Nina will share key customer insights during this period of rapid transformation and highlight the critical role partners play in driving meaningful business outcomes. Over the past several months, one thing has become clear: AI is no longer an abstract conversation. Customers are asking how to run it securely, measure its impact, and scale it across their organizations. At the same time, partners are looking for ways to convert the momentum from the Microsoft AI Tour into real execution. Nina will discuss what executives are prioritizing right now, how Agentic AI is reshaping expectations, and how partners can help customers realize measurable value. She will be joined on stage by a strong lineup of Microsoft leaders—Katharine Kennedy, Jason Rook, Erwin Visser, and Steve Cohen—each bringing a real-world perspective on what it takes to build successful, durable partnerships. These leaders will help partners focus on the drivers of momentum: Translating AI strategy into actionable partner plans Understanding how marketplaces now dominate transactions Leveraging ecosystem orchestration as a competitive advantage Navigating a buyer who thinks, evaluates, and purchases differently This retreat is intentionally designed for execution—not theory, not product announcements, and not high-level dialogue. It is a forum where partners gain clarity on how to build, sell, and deliver with Microsoft in 2026. Learn more about Ultimate Partner here: Events - Ultimate Guide to Partnering®ICYMI: 🚀 February Azure Update: What’s New for Partners
From expanded Microsoft Fabric capabilities and new secure migration incentives, to major skilling opportunities and can’t‑miss Azure events, this month’s Azure update is packed with ways to help you migrate, modernize, and lead with AI. Highlights include: New Defender for Cloud migration investments and incentives Expanded Microsoft Fabric features, including Fabric IQ and OneLake integrations FY26 migration incentives for software development companies Upcoming events like Azure Summit, FABCON/SQLCON, and Cosmos DB Conference New go‑to‑market resources to drive SMB and enterprise growth 👉 Dive in to explore the latest updates designed to help you build smarter solutions, secure workloads, and unlock new partner opportunities. Read the full February Azure Newsletter hereAccelerate your AI innovation with App Advisor
Have a great idea for an AI app or agent but unsure how to take it to market? Microsoft’s newly released App Advisor provides a clear, guided path from concept to commercialization. Whether you’re shaping an early idea, navigating build decisions, or preparing your solution for the Microsoft commercial marketplace, App Advisor helps streamline each step—reducing friction and increasing confidence. This walkthrough highlights how App Advisor connects the dots: From concept to execution with structured guidance From development to best practices with informed build recommendations From finished product to revenue through proven Marketplace readiness insights If you’re looking to build and sell AI solutions faster and more effectively, this resource is well worth your time. Read the full article: Build an AI app or agent faster to sell on Marketplace with App Advisor | Microsoft Community HubJoin the Fabric Partner Community for this Week's Fabric Engineering Connection Calls
🚀 Excited to share this week’s Fabric Engineering Connection lineup for our Microsoft Fabric partner community! We’ll be joined by Johannes Kebeck, Principal PM Manager, to dive into Fabric Maps — and how partners can bring location intelligence and rich geospatial experiences into their Fabric solutions. 📍 Fabric Engineering Connection – This Week 🌎 Americas & EMEA 📅 Wednesday, February 11 ⏰ 8:00–9:00 am PT 🌏 APAC 📅 Thursday, February 12 ⏰ 1:00–2:00 am UTC (Wednesday, February 11, 5:00–6:00 pm PT) These weekly calls are a chance for partners to: ✅ Hear directly from Fabric engineering ✅ See what’s new and what’s coming ✅ Ask questions and share feedback To participate in these calls, you must be a member of the Fabric Partner Community Teams channel. 👉 Join here: https://aka.ms/JoinFabricPartnerCommunity
Courseware completions - Not updating
Hi Team, We've started using achievement code end of last year and other requirements of Training Service Partner. We can Exam Unit and MTM being updated as we progress but the achievement code even after they're being redeemed in each training are not getting updated. Please assist.
Seeking Guidance & Partners for Promoting Microsoft TSP Training
Hello everyone, I’m exploring effective ways to market our Microsoft TSP (Training Services Partner) courses and would really appreciate insights from the community. If you have experience promoting Microsoft training offerings, I’d love to learn about recommended approaches, or useful resources that have worked for you. I’m also open to connecting with individuals or partners who support course marketing on a commission basis. If you have suggestions, guidance, or services you’d like to offer, please feel free to share. Your expertise would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your support. vk2Why build your AI apps and agents with Microsoft
Customer demand for AI solutions is accelerating rapidly, Microsoft has seen 2x growth in customers purchasing AI products. Organizations are looking for trusted, enterprise-ready platforms to support their innovation. Microsoft's AI-native ecosystem, backed by industry leading security, Responsible AI principles, and rapidly growing catalog of AI apps and agents, provides a strong foundation for building scalable, compliant, and high-impact AI solutions. Explore how developers and software companies can take advantage of Microsoft's integrated tools, streamlined publishing experience, and expansive Marketplace reach to deliver AI solution that meet customers where they are. Learn more and read the full article: Discover why to build AI apps and agents with Microsoft and sell through Marketplace | Microsoft Community Hub🎤 Save the Date: AMA with the Microsoft Fabric Leadership Team!
We’re excited to announce an upcoming Ask Me Anything (AMA) session with the Fabric Leadership Team—a unique opportunity for partners to engage directly with the leaders shaping the future of Microsoft Fabric! 🔹 Featured Leader Bogdan Crivat, Corporate Vice President, Azure Data Analytics 🗓️ Date & Time Tuesday, February 17 8:00–9:00 AM PT 💬 Ask Your Questions Have topics you want the leadership team to address? Submit or upvote your data analytics–related questions now: 👉 https://aka.ms/AMAwithFabricLT 👥 Who Can Join? This AMA is exclusive to members of the Fabric Partner Community. If you're not yet a member, join here to participate in future calls: 👉 https://aka.ms/JoinFabricPartnerCommunityMicrosoft Marketplace: $300B partner revenue opportunity by 2030
BIG momentum for partners: Microsoft Marketplace is projected to be a $300B partner revenue opportunity by 2030, according to a commissioned study by Omdia. And partners already selling through Marketplace are seeing real results: ✅ 88% report revenue growth ✅ 75% close sales faster ✅ 69% get larger deals Learn more about Marketplace growth opportunities for partners in this recent blog: Unlocking the profitability multiplier: Maximizing revenue with Microsoft Marketplace🚀 FabCon + SQLCon Partner Social Sprint
A 4‑Day LinkedIn Challenge for Partners Attending FabCon + SQLCon in Atlanta If you’re joining us in Atlanta this March for FabCon + SQLCon 2026, we’ve got a new way for you to amplify your impact: the Partner Social Sprint — a daily LinkedIn challenge designed to spotlight partner voices, share real‑world insights, and have some fun along the way. Whether you’re presenting, staffing a booth, or attending sessions, this is your chance to tell your story and connect with the global Microsoft Fabric & SQL community. 🔥 What Is the Partner Social Sprint? A 4‑day LinkedIn posting challenge running during FabCon + SQLCon 2026 in Atlanta. Each day has a theme, and every post earns you entries to win exclusive Fabric SWAG, including the fan‑favorite Fabric Kicks. 🗓 Daily Themes (Conference Week) Tuesday, March 17 – Day 0 (Travel / Partner Day) Why I’m going / why I’m here Wednesday, March 18 – Day 1 One big learning Thursday, March 19 – Day 2 Build your practice Friday, March 20 – Day 3 Customer impact ✅ How It Works If you’re a partner attending FabCon + SQLCon in Atlanta: Post once per day on LinkedIn during the event, following the daily theme. Use the hashtags: #FabConSQLCon2026 #PartnerSocialSprintSweepstakes #MicrosoftPartner Tag the FabCon & SQLCon – The Microsoft Fabric & SQL Community Conferences LinkedIn page. Submit all your LinkedIn post URLs via the entry form. 👉 Each post = 1 entry, and if you post all 4 days, you’ll get 1 bonus entry. 🏆 What You Can Win Fabric SWAG Fabric Kicks Recognition in the Fabric Partner Community and across our channels 🌐 Who Should Join? Microsoft partners attending FabCon + SQLCon in Atlanta Partner sellers, architects, engineers, and community champions who want to: Share key learnings in real time Highlight their Fabric & SQL practices Showcase customer success and impact 👉 Ready to Sprint With Us? Get all the details and submit your posts here: https://aka.ms/PartnerSocialSprint Let’s light up LinkedIn with the stories, insights, and innovation coming out of FabCon + SQLCon. We can’t wait to see your posts from Atlanta!How do you actually unlock growth from Microsoft Teams Marketplace?
Hey folks 👋 Looking for some real-world advice from people who’ve been through this. Context: We’ve been listed as a Microsoft Teams app for several years now. The app is stable, actively used, and well-maintained - but for a long time, Teams Marketplace wasn’t a meaningful acquisition channel for us. Things changed a bit last year. We started seeing organic growth without running any dedicated campaigns, plus more mid-market and enterprise teams installing the app, running trials, and even using it in production. That was encouraging - but it also raised a bigger question. How do you actually systematize this and get real, repeatable benefits from the Teams Marketplace? I know there are Microsoft Partner programs, co-sell motions, marketplace benefits, etc. - but honestly, it’s been very hard to figure out: - where exactly to start - what applies to ISVs building Teams apps - how to apply correctly - and what actually moves the needle vs. what’s just “nice to have” On top of that, it’s unclear how (or if) you can interact directly with the Teams/Marketplace team. From our perspective, this should be a win-win: we invest heavily into the platform, build for Teams users, and want to make that experience better. Questions to the community: If you’re a Teams app developer: what actually worked for you in terms of marketplace growth? Which Partner programs or motions are worth the effort, and which can be safely ignored early on? Is there a realistic way to engage with the Teams Marketplace team (feedback loops, programs, office hours, etc.)? How do you go from “organic installs happen” to a structured channel? Would really appreciate any practical advice, lessons learned, or even “what not to do” stories 🙏 Thanks in advance!Demystifying Microsoft Marketplace & Azure IP Co‑Sell expectations
Get ready for a practical, insider‑focused session designed to demystify what drives real success in Microsoft Marketplace and Microsoft Azure IP co‑sell. Join us on February 25th at 8:30 AM PST to hear directly from guest expert Barbara Treviño, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Alliances at Labra, as she highlights the signals Microsoft looks for in strong submissions and reveals how high‑performing software development companies set themselves apart. This session gives you clear guidance on aligning your solution, documentation, and customer proof to accelerate approvals and maximize go‑to‑market impact—setting you up to turn Marketplace and co‑sell into true growth drivers for your business. Registration is not required. Learn how you can attend and receive reminders for the session here: Inside Azure IP co-sell: What high-performing software developers do differently - Microsoft Marketplace Community All sessions are recorded, and the link above can be used to watch the recording once the session date has passed. Check our Marketplace trainings and events calendar | Microsoft Community Hub for additional upcoming Microsoft Marketplace events and recordings of past sessions.Microsoft Marketplace partner office hours: How to build a Microsoft Marketplace channel practice
Building a strong Marketplace practice requires aligned teams, clear ownership, and a solid strategy—not just great offers. Join us February 18th 8:30 AM PT for the February Partner office hour online session with live Q&A, to learn how top partners structure their organizations and use a proven framework to drive Marketplace growth. You’ll walk away with practical tools and templates to accelerate onboarding, publishing, co‑sell, and sales execution. Registration is not required. Learn how you can attend and receive reminders for the session here: Marketplace office hours for partners: February 2026 - Microsoft Marketplace Community All sessions are recorded, and the link above can be used to watch the recording once the session date has passed. Partner office hour sessions are held monthly, typically on the third Wednesday of each month. Check the Marketplace Community Events Calendar for upcoming dates and times. Session topics will be added as the event approaches.Join the Fabric Partner Community for this Week's Fabric Engineering Connection calls!
The Fabric partner ecosystem is buzzing right now — and 2026 is already raising the bar. 🚀 On this week's Fabric Engineering Connection call, Tamer Farag will share what’s next for partners across skilling, demos, FabCon + SQLCon Atlanta, and more. Highlights include: 🎓 More skilling momentum (DP‑600/DP‑700 vouchers, new Partner Project Ready workshops, and a new “Chat with your Data in a Day” xIAD workshop). 🔦 Fabric Certification Spotlight: partners who reach 100+ Fabric certifications will be recognized live in Arun’s keynote at FabCon + SQLCon. 🤝 New ways to tell your story and win with customers through Fabric Demo eXperiences, Fabric Featured Partners + case studies, and FabCon experiences (Partner Elevator Pitch Search, 1:1 + executive meetings, testimonial videos, the Partner Social Sprint, and more). If you’re a Microsoft partner investing in Fabric, we’d love for you to join our next Fabric Engineering Connection call: 📅 Americas/EMEA – Wednesday, Feb 4, 8–9 AM PT 📅 APAC – Thursday, Feb 5, 1–2 AM UTC (Wednesday, Feb 4, 5–6 PM PT) To join, you must be a member of the Fabric Partner Community in Teams: https://aka.ms/JoinFabricPartnerCommunity
Events
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We’re excited to announce an upcoming Ask Me Anything (AMA) session with the Fabric Leadership Team—a unique opportunity for partners to engage directly with the leaders shaping the future of Mi...
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Building a successful Marketplace practice takes more than great offers—you need the right people, processes, and strategy working together. Learn exactly how top‑performing partners organize their t...
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Recent Blogs
- Across the ecosystem, partners are moving quickly to support customers on their frontier transformation journey. You’re building AI solutions, strengthening security, and modernizing data estates—and...Feb 16, 2026
- 1 MIN READAccess the latest Instructor-Led Training (ILT) updates anytime at http://aka.ms/Courseware_Title_PlanFeb 13, 2026
