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Marketplace Community - Upcoming AI Events
**Updated 3/7/2025** ISV Success is now supporting a series of AI-focused events to help partners maximize the AI opportunity when building and publishing solutions to the commercial marketplace. These events are open to all partners on marketplace – participation in ISV Success is not required to attend. Stay updated on the latest offerings by subscribing to this post, where we will be regularly updating our list of upcoming events and sharing links to recent events. Full instructions on how to subscribe are posted at the bottom of this post. Check out our upcoming AI events below and comment with any of your questions! _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ISV AI Envisioning Day Trainings We are excited to announce the launch of two new ISV AI Envisioning Day training courses introducing tools and frameworks to leverage in building AI applications that drive innovation and business value. Microsoft ISV AI Envisioning Day: Identify and Prioritize Use Cases for AI Solutions This session guides you through the process of identifying and prioritizing business use cases for AI solutions. You will learn how to structure each use case to assess its viability, differentiate its value, and explore learning opportunities. Practical advice and actionable steps will be provided to help you kickstart your AI projects and accelerate time-to-market. Microsoft ISV AI Envisioning Day: Get the Framework to Develop AI Solutions In this envisioning session, you will learn how to effectively plan, build, and deploy your AI solution. You will be empowered with tools and frameworks to guide you through the technical and business considerations to evaluate when determining the best approach to use in building your AI application. Whether you’re just beginning to identify and prioritize AI use cases or are ready to begin planning, building, and deploying solutions, you’ll learn the steps to make AI a reality in your organization. Both ISV AI Envisioning Day training courses will run monthly in multiple time zones and are delivered in English. Check back for upcoming session dates and times. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ISV Security Series The ISV Security Series is designed to empower ISVs to not only defend against current threats but also anticipate and prepare for future challenges. Whether you are just starting your security journey or looking to enhance your existing strategies, this series provides the insights and resources you need to succeed. Join us in creating a safer digital ecosystem – one that fosters innovation without compromise. Register for the upcoming session at aka.ms/asiaisvsecurity March 2025 Strengthen the ISV Supply Chain with DevSecOps Practices Discover how DevSecOps practices can secure your software supply chain, automate compliance checks, and build customer trust by delivering secure, reliable applications. April 2025 Safeguard Data Security & Privacy in AI-Driven Applications Gain insights into implementing robust data security and privacy measures for AI-powered solutions, ensuring compliance, and creating trusted experiences for your customers. May 2025 Enhanced Threat Detection & Monitoring for AI Solutions Learn about advanced techniques for detecting and monitoring security risks in AI-driven applications, including real-time threat intelligence and anomaly detection. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Copilot Developer Camp Join us for the Copilot Developer Camp—an immersive workshop designed for professional developers eager to expand their skills with Copilot for Microsoft 365 or create custom copilots. This free, one-day workshop, held right after the AI tour, aims to equip developers, ISVs, and tech enthusiasts with the knowledge and hands-on experience needed to enhance and extend Copilot’s capabilities for Microsoft 365. This is an in-person workshop offered in multiple locations. It is aimed at Developers, ISV partners, product centric companies, and enterprise developers. You will walk away with an understanding of the capabilities of Microsoft 365 Copilot and its extensibility AI models. See the different methods to develop Copilot agents utilizing Microsoft 365 Copilot's AI and orchestration on how to create a custom engine agent using Azure AI Studio and Teams AI library. How to develop a Declarative agent that includes a Build custom action for your agent via API plugins. Check here for upcoming dates and locations: Copilot Developer Camp Registration _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Build and extend your own agents using pro-code capabilities Microsoft Copilot Studio and building custom agents. Agents are AI-powered productivity tools designed to enhance everyday tasks by leveraging large language models (LLMs). Are you a developer interested in exploring advanced aspects of using Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft Copilot Studio, and building custom agents using professional coding techniques? Join our on-demand workshop to learn how to leverage pro-code capabilities and build intelligent agents that assist users across various domains. Workshop Agenda Day 1: Extend Microsoft 365 Copilot with declarative agents Build custom engine agents with Teams AI library and Microsoft 365 Agents SDK Day 2: Develop your own agents in Azure AI Foundry Day 3: Build your own agents with Semantic Kernel for a fully controlled end-to-end AI experience Secure and govern copilots Call to Action Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and build powerful agents with pro-code capabilities. Register now for this on-demand session and take the next step in your development journey! For more training opportunities, visit us at the Partner Skilling Hub. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Azure AI Foundry Council & AI Visionaries The Azure AI Foundry Council & AI Visionaries is excited to deliver new AI webinars to enhance your learning and help you navigate the future of AI. Azure AI Foundry Council | Azure OpenAI fine-tuning and distillation March 18 | 8:00 - 9:00 AM PST What is Distillation? Distillation is a technique used to compress a large, complex model into a smaller, more efficient one without significant loss of performance. This process helps in optimizing model deployment and reducing computational costs. What We'll Cover Fine-Tuning overview Introduction to Distillation Demos Best Practices Benefits of Attending Hands-On Learning: Gain practical knowledge through live demos. Expert Insights: Learn from Azure AI experts and get your questions answered. Networking: Connect with other partners and Azure AI Microsoft champions. Azure AI Foundry Partner Council | AI multi-agent orchestration with Semantic Kernel March 20 | 8:00 - 9:00 AM PST What is Semantic Kernel? Semantic Kernel is a framework that enables the orchestration of multiple AI agents to work together seamlessly. It leverages semantic understanding to coordinate tasks and optimize workflows, enhancing the overall efficiency and effectiveness of AI solutions. What We'll Cover Introduction to Semantic Kernel: Understanding the basics and benefits of using Semantic Kernel for AI multi-agents orchestration. Demos: Live demonstrations on how to implement and utilize Semantic Kernel in Azure AI Foundry. Best Practices: Tips and tricks for effective orchestration and deployment of AI multi-agents. Benefits of Attending Hands-On Learning: Gain practical knowledge through live demos. Expert Insights: Learn from Azure AI experts and get your questions answered. Networking: Connect with other partners and Azure AI champions. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Microsoft Azure Virtual Training Day: AI Fundamentals Join us for Azure AI Fundamentals, a free virtual training designed to build your technical expertise in AI and machine learning on Microsoft Azure. This course will dive into core AI concepts and foundational workloads, offering hands-on insights into Azure AI services that power intelligent applications. You'll explore machine learning models, computer vision, and natural language processing (NLP) capabilities such as sentiment analysis, language detection, and key phrase extraction. With guidance from Microsoft experts, you’ll gain the skills needed to analyze and automate workflows, develop AI-driven solutions, and ensure responsible AI use across applications. Use the link below to see the full list of upcoming sessions available for registration. Multiple dates and time zones are available, and new sessions are added frequently. Microsoft Azure Virtual Training Day: AI Fundamentals _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to this post If you're not a member of the Tech Community already, create an account at techcommunity.microsoft.com Select "subscribe" from the 3-dot dropdown in the upper-right corner of this post. Under "Notification Settings," select "Notify me of Any edits & comments on knowledge bases articles I subscribe to," then select to receive updates to this post either immediately, daily, or weekly (I recommend weekly). Manage your subscription settings so that you can receive email updates on new events. Manage these settings by selecting your profile icon in the top right corner of the community, selecting "My Settings," and selecting "Subscriptions & Notifications." You can also subscribe to the entire marketplace community which will provide you with regular updates on all marketplace discussion topics happening in this forum. To do this, click "subscribe" in the upper right corner of the marketplace community homepage.
Azure App Service Web Job Access
We have published a Managed App that includes a backend Web Job hosted on an Azure App Service, we did not use Azure Functions because this process can run for many hours. I understand some architectural thoughts could make it work, that change may come in the future. However, right now. We have the Plan configured to allow Partner owner access. But when I look at the web jobs on a customer environment I am unable to start the web job or view the logs of the web job. When I attempt to view the logs going through the Managed Applications Center I get this error: How do we get permission to run a job or view the logs? I would have thought owner access would be sufficient.Transitioning SaaS Offers with Multi-Year Pricing from AppSource to Azure Marketplace
When a SaaS transactable offer on Microsoft AppSource includes a pricing plan for more than 1 year, the offer is delisted from AppSource and becomes available on Azure Marketplace. This is due to the platform's structure: AppSource primarily supports monthly or annual subscription models for SaaS offers. Any pricing model that exceeds 1 year (e.g., 2-year, 3-year plans) is outside the scope of AppSource’s transaction capabilities. When a SaaS solution introduces multi-year pricing, it is automatically transitioned to Azure Marketplace, which can accommodate longer-term contracts and subscription models (such as 2-year, 3-year, or longer terms). Azure Marketplace is designed for more complex transactions, including multi-year deals, and supports deeper infrastructure integration and contract management features compared to AppSource. Thus, any SaaS offer that requires multi-year pricing terms will shift from AppSource to Azure Marketplace, where such transactions can be handled effectively.
Secure your multi-tenant applications with Microsoft Entra ID
As an ISV, delivering a secure and seamless experience for your customers is essential—but managing identity and access across multiple tenants can be complex. Microsoft Entra ID simplifies this challenge, offering powerful tools to enhance security, streamline authentication, and protect customer data. Learn more in this guide, we’ll explore key strategies for building secure multi-tenant applications and provide valuable resources to help you get started. Discover how Entra ID can help you build with confidence! Building secure multi-tenant applications with Microsoft Entra ID: A guide for ISVsChallenges Business Users Face with Microsoft's Transactable Offers in the Marketplace
Here’s a summary of the challenges faced by business users when purchasing solutions through Microsoft's transactable offer setup in the marketplace: Limited Pricing Flexibility: Business users may find it challenging to secure multi-year or customized pricing as AppSource primarily supports monthly or annual subscription plans. This limits their ability to negotiate bulk discounts or tailored pricing, common in traditional procurement. Complex Procurement Processes: The setup of transactable offers on Azure Marketplace often requires coordination with IT departments for deployment, making it cumbersome for non-technical business users to manage purchases independently. The process may feel less intuitive compared to traditional software procurement methods. Integration Issues with Existing Systems: Many businesses have third-party procurement platforms or internal systems for billing and spend management. The reliance on Microsoft’s native billing system may not align with these existing tools, leading to difficulty in reconciling purchases, tracking invoices, and managing budgets efficiently. Lack of Contract Negotiation: Business users often rely on personalized contract negotiations for larger purchases. Microsoft’s marketplace setup offers standardized pricing without room for customized contracts, making it hard for customers to negotiate terms, volume discounts, or extended payment plans. Limited Cross-Platform Compatibility: Since Microsoft’s marketplace is primarily focused on the Microsoft ecosystem, it may not be the best fit for organizations that operate in multi-cloud environments or use non-Microsoft tools. This limits the flexibility for businesses looking for cross-platform solutions. Lack of Detailed Usage Reports for Business: Business users may find it difficult to get granular visibility into usage and costs, which can make it harder to track software ROI or align expenditures with department budgets. While basic reporting is available, it may not provide the level of detail needed for large organizations. Summary: The way Microsoft’s transactable offer setup is structured presents challenges for business users, including limited pricing flexibility, complex procurement coordination, and difficulty integrating with existing systems. These issues can create friction for organizations seeking more customized contracts, clearer usage visibility, and better alignment with multi-cloud environments.
Phi-4-multimodal and Phi-4-mini
Yesterday, Microsoft announced Phi-4-multimodal and Phi-4-mini, the newest models in Microsoft’s Phi family of small language models (SLMs) that empower developers with advanced AI capabilities. Phi-4-multimodal can process speech, vision, and text simultaneously and opens up new possibilities for innovation and context-aware applications, and Phi-4-mini excels in text-based tasks, providing high accuracy and scalability in a compact form. Learn more about this announcement and the exciting impact it can have for developing apps for the marketplace: Empowering innovation: The next generation of the Phi family | Microsoft Azure BlogReinventing the online shopping experience with GenAI: Preezie’s AI transformation
Preezie recently had the opportunity to be featured in an episode of Microsoft SaaS Stories with Jason Young to share our journey of transforming our business by developing a cutting-edge GenAI Shopping Assistant for eCommerce and retail. We provide insights into how we identified an opportunity to pivot, tackled the challenges of moving from concept to product, and built a commercially viable solution in an entirely new market. Here are some key takeaways from our discussion: Pivoting with Purpose: How we evolved from interactive eCommerce quizzes to a fully AI-driven shopping assistant. From Idea to Execution: The process of building an AI solution from the ground up, including overcoming technical challenges with Microsoft’s support. Reimagining Retail with AI: How our assistant bridges the gap between in-store and online shopping, driving higher conversions and a better customer experience. Business Model Evolution: Why we’re shifting from a traditional SaaS model to a usage-based approach. Scalability & Affordability Challenges: What we’re learning as we refine our AI solution for long-term growth. If you're interested in the future of AI in retail and how innovation can redefine customer experiences, this discussion provides insights and best practices to aid in the journey. Watch now to learn more about Preezie’s journey and the impact of GenAI on the shopping experience. Microsoft SaaS Stories | Learn from Software Experts | Episode 13 PreezieBuild and extend your own agents using pro-code capabilities
On-demand session Microsoft Copilot Studio and building custom agents. Agents are AI-powered productivity tools designed to enhance everyday tasks by leveraging large language models (LLMs). Are you a developer interested in exploring advanced aspects of using Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft Copilot Studio, and building custom agents using professional coding techniques? Join our on-demand workshop to learn how to leverage pro-code capabilities and build intelligent agents that assist users across various domains. On-Demand Workshop Agenda Day 1: Extend Microsoft 365 Copilot with declarative agents Build custom engine agents with Teams AI library and Microsoft 365 Agents SDK Day 2: Develop your own agents in Azure AI Foundry Day 3: Build your own agents with Semantic Kernel for a fully controlled end-to-end AI experience Secure and govern copilots Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and build powerful agents with pro-code capabilities. Register now and take the next step in your development journey! For more training opportunities, visit us at the Partner Skilling Hub.3/13 Customer office hours Q&A: strategic cloud planning with the marketplace
Join us on March 13th at 8:30 am PDT for our next customer office hours Q&A. Strategic cloud planning with the marketplace. This session will cover using the marketplace to get the most out of your tech investments. Learn strategies on how to holistically plan your Microsoft Cloud investments, and your software vendors' need to get a consumption-based view of your portfolio for smarter decision-making. We'll also provide an overview of Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitments (MACCs) and the opportunities for the marketplace to help you make the most out of your contract. This session will also feature opportunity for live Q&A. Register here. While this session is designed for customers, partners are welcome to attend. Direct customers to aka.ms/marketplacecustomerofficehours.
