Winning in 2026 and beyond: Key insights from Ultimate Partner’s Livestream
2026 is reshaping partner strategy at a pace we’ve never seen before. AI, cloud marketplaces, ecosystem-led growth, and shifting buyer behavior are transforming how partners influence, co-sell, and win. During Ultimate Partner’s January 13 livestream, analyst Jay McBain and Microsoft leader Cyril Belikoff offered deep insight into the trends defining the year ahead. Cyril Belikoff,(VP of Commercial Cloud & AI Marketing at Microsoft) Key takeaways Frontier Firm Framework: Enrich Employee Experiences → Reinvent Customer Engagement → Reshape Business Processes → Bend the Innovation Curve. Microsoft introduced Work IQ, Fabric IQ, and Foundry IQ to help organizations operationalize AI. Agent 365 enables governance, security, and observability for AI agents. Microsoft Marketplace is now unified into a single experience and growing rapidly. Resale-Enabled Offers (REO) unleash scale by connecting ISVs with resellers/MSPs globally. Jay McBain (Chief Analyst at Omdia) Key takeaways “Opportunity — that’s the word for partners in 2026.” Tech is expected to grow more than 10%, with massive upside in AI-related services. 96% of enterprise deals involve multiple partners. Co-selling and influence—not resale—drive the majority of wins. Marketplaces are accelerating. Indirect influence is rising even in areas where resale declines. “Early partner involvement determines who wins the deal.” Visibility into the ecosystem is becoming essential. Many deals are shaped months before a vendor or seller ever see activity. Certifications matter. 80%+ of customers evaluate partners based on competencies and continuous learning. AI services are the fastest-growing partner opportunity, with >35% CAGR projected through 2030. Partner action plan for 2026 Invest in continuous AI upskilling and certifications. Use ecosystem tools to detect early influence moments. Publish or resell offers in Microsoft Marketplace. Prioritize data modernization to unlock AI impact. Lean into co-selling and multi-partner orchestration. The partners who embrace ecosystem visibility, continuous learning, and marketplace-driven growth will be best positioned to win in 2026 and beyond. If you missed the livestream, you can watch a recap here: Podcast - Ultimate Guide to Partnering® Join the movement Ultimate Partner® is built for one thing: helping partnership leaders achieve their greatest results by staying ahead of the tectonic shifts in AI, marketplace, co-sell, and ecosystem-led growth. Learn More and attend upcoming events here: Events - Ultimate Guide to Partnering®Marketplace offer live? Now make it shine!🌟
Microsoft gives you the tools, best practices, and guidance to boost visibility, drive traffic, and turn interest into real customers fast. And the quickest path? App Advisor. 🚀 Start with App Advisor: Your Marketplace growth playbook App Advisor is your self‑serve hub packed with step‑by‑step best practices, optimization guidance, and proven GTM strategies designed to your help app or agent rise above the noise and stand out to buyers. 🛠️ Optimize your listing Sharpen your sales page with clearer, benefits‑forward messaging Strengthen SEO so your offer is easier to find Enable a trial - the strongest conversion accelerator Offer public plans with clear tiers (Basic / Standard / Premium) to support direct sales Add visuals, screenshots, and short videos to show value instantly 📈 Boost visibility Cross‑link your website, G2 profile, blogs, and social posts back to your listing Understand factors that influence Marketplace search rankings and views Review your category selections - they directly affect discoverability Encourage customer reviews - including from G2, which flows into your listing! 📣 Promote with confidence App Advisor provides guidance around: Ready‑to‑use templates Partner‑tested messaging Campaign ideas to drive awareness and demand Be sure to: Link all channels (website → Marketplace → G2 → social → email) Use OCIDs to see exactly which channels move the needle in Marketplace Insights Double down on what moves the needle 🏅 Unlock Marketplace Rewards When you publish a transactable offer, Marketplace Rewards kick in automatically, giving your listing additional promotional lift. Rewards include: Personalized listing optimization recommendations Marketplace blog and newsletter promotion Extra visibility for your listing Editorial + press release templates GTM enablement that grows with performance Marketplace Rewards + App Advisor = compounding growth momentum. 🧲 Build a product-led growth motion Sales don’t happen by accident - they happen with a smart GTM motion. App Advisor walks you through: Segmenting your target market Defining messaging that resonates with real buyers Building educational content (blogs, case studies, guides, emails) Nailing SEO & SEM basics Creating a conversion‑ready experience that shows quick wins Tracking performance with OCIDs + Marketplace Insights Strengthening your digital presence Encouraging reviews and customer storytelling Running targeted ads to your ideal audiences This motion turns Marketplace visibility into pipeline, and pipeline into wins. 🤝 Expand your reach through channel partners Once you’ve optimized your offer and are promoting it consistently, it’s time to extend your reach even further. Forge relationships with channel partners - let them sell for you. By leveraging channel partners, you can make your solution available for system integrators, distributors and resellers to sell to their customers. You can sell through or with channel partners by leveraging resale enabled offers (REO), multi-party private offers (MPO), or Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) offers. That means: Your offer appears in their reseller catalogs They bring your solution into their customer conversations You tap into existing, trusted partner‑to‑customer relationships You gain scale without extra headcount or marketing spend A small switch. A massive multiplier. Enable resale so channel partners can open doors you couldn’t reach alone. ✅ Where to go next Start with App Advisor to sharpen your listing + GTM motion Add public plans + trial Strengthen SEO and performance signals Track success using OCIDs Publish a transactable offer to unlock Marketplace Rewards Enable REO to let channel partners help scale you globally – go deeper in this REO-focused post. Ready to make your offer shine? Head to App Advisor and get started.Microsoft Ignite- Meaningful Announcements That Create Real Movement
Now that we are officially in 2026, I want to reflect back on Microsoft Ignite as it was more energized than ever. There is real momentum right now across Microsoft Marketplace, and the most meaningful shift I am seeing is around REO( Reseller Enabled Offer )capability. This is opening the door for partners to take Marketplace offers and bring them directly into new regions, new customer segments, and new routes to market without adding operational friction for either side. A true channel selling motion! For ISVs, REO means you can authorize trusted partners to resell your Marketplace offer in the way that works best for the customer. You no longer need to manage every deal yourself. For partners, it means instant access to in demand AI and security solutions that customers are already asking for. It removes barriers, it speeds up the process, and it connects the ecosystem in a much more natural way. If anyone in the community is exploring REO, private offers, multiparty models, or Marketplace strategy in general, it would be great to hear from you or reach out and would love to discuss. Looking forward to connecting with everyone in the new year. justinroyal
