Today, three new specializations became available to Solutions Partners for Azure and Business Applications in the Microsoft Cloud Partner Program. Those specializations are: Build and Modernize AI Apps with Microsoft Azure, Business Intelligence, and Intelligent Automation. Learn more about each of these specializations below and check your status in Partner Center.
Build and Modernize AI Apps with Microsoft Azure
Partners who demonstrate extensive knowledge of designing solutions and deploying projects using Azure Kubernetes Service, Cosmos DB, Red Hat OpenShift, Azure Spring Apps, and AI may seek the Build and Modernize AI Apps with Microsoft Azure specialization.
AI technology presents partners with a unique opportunity to secure long-term cloud relationships with customers by streamlining processes with innovative app and database services that simplify the market, build opportunity, and impact recurring revenue streams. The Build and Modernize AI Apps with Microsoft Azure specialization allows partners with an active Solutions Partner for Data & AI (Azure) or Solutions Partner for Digital & App Innovation (Azure) designation to further differentiate their organizations, demonstrate their capabilities, and build stronger connections with customers.
Partners who earn a specialization will have a customer-facing label displayed on their business profile, gain access to specific go-to-market offerings, and be prioritized in customer searches in Microsoft AppSource. For these reasons, this opportunity is available only to partners who meet additional, stringent requirements.
The details
How do partners earn this specialization?
Only a Partner Administrator (PA) of an organization's Microsoft account can submit an application for the Build and Modernize AI Apps with Microsoft Azure specialization on behalf of the organization. Given the appropriate role and access, the PA can apply by signing in to Partner Center and navigating to their Partner Center dashboard > Membership > Specializations.
What are the requirements?
Eligible partners must meet the highest standards for service, delivery, and support. All requirements will be verified by Microsoft and/or a third-party vendor, either automatically or by manual review, and are subject to change.
Business Intelligence
The Business Intelligence (BI) specialization validates a partner's deep expertise in creating and deploying Microsoft BI solutions with Power BI interactive reports, real-time dashboards, and powerful analytics, enabling customers to visualize their business data and generate actionable insights to help build BI solutions at enterprise scale.
Microsoft has been consistently recognized as a Magic Quadrant Leader in Gartner's Magic Quadrant for Analytics and BI, and a Business Intelligence specialization with Microsoft technologies offers partners a deeper set of capabilities to profit from this large, high-growth opportunity.
Partners with the Business Intelligence specialization further differentiate their organization beyond an active Solutions Partner for Data & AI (Azure) or Solutions Partner for Business Applications designation with demonstrated knowledge, validated experience and capabilities, and documented success in supporting customer adoption of Business Intelligent solutions.
Partners who meet the comprehensive requirements and earn the specialization:
- Will receive a customer-facing label displayed on their business profile in Microsoft AppSource under the Business Intelligence specialization filter.
- Are prioritized in customer searches to drive new business.
- Can generate a certified letter from Microsoft that verifies the specialization they've earned.
The details
How long will the specialization stay active?
The Business Intelligence specialization will remain active for one year. After that, partners can renew it, provided they meet the requirements at that time.
How do partners earn this specialization?
There is no application process for the Business Intelligence specialization. If your partner has a relevant Solutions Partner designation and meets the requirements, they will be notified in Partner Center that they have been awarded the Business Intelligence specialization.
Intelligent Automation
By 2024, the estimated market for automation solutions will be more than $16 billion, with greater than a quarter of work tasks suitable for automation. Today, 37 percent of companies are still using paper to manage critical business processes. CIOs need partners they can trust to ensure automations are efficient, effective, and secure. With the Intelligent Automation specialization, partners can further differentiate their business with Power Automate to enable their customers to achieve business efficiencies and be more responsive to market changes.
Partners who earn a specialization will have a customer-facing badge displayed on their business profile, gain access to specific go-to-market programs, and be prioritized in customer searches.
The details
How long will the specialization stay active?
The Intelligent Automation specialization will remain active for one year. After that, partners can renew it, provided they meet the requirements at that time.
How can partners earn this specialization?
The Intelligent Automation specialization has no application process. If partners meet the requirements, they will be notified in Partner Center that they have been awarded the Intelligent Automation specialization.
Next Steps
