Adoption and Change Management specialization retired June 25, 2026
The Adoption and Change Management specialization retired on June 25, 2026. Rather than maintain a standalone specialization, adoption and change management capabilities are now measured within AI Business Solutions product-aligned specializations, such as Microsoft 365 Copilot, Secure AI Productivity, and Modernize Endpoints. Spreading these change management skill requirements across several specializations gives partners the opportunity to showcase their expertise in the context of specific, in-demand solutions. What this means for partners The Adoption and Change Management specialization is no longer available for enrollment or renewal. If you currently hold the specialization, it remains active until your anniversary date. If you currently hold or are pursuing adoption and change management capabilities as part of your Solutions Partner or incentives strategy, review your specialization status in Partner Center and identify the AI Business Solutions specialization that supports your business goals. Assess any remaining requirements, create a transition plan, and enroll in or continue progressing toward that specialization to protect benefit continuity. If you work with a Partner Development Manager or Partner Technology Strategist, engage them to support your transition. Why this matters Adoption and change management capabilities are now evaluated within AI Business Solutions product-aligned specializations, so partners can demonstrate their expertise in the context of specific, in-demand solutions. Go to Specialization Dashboard in Partner Center to check your anniversary date and specialization status, and review the other AI Business Solutions-aligned specializations.Updated skilling route for the Meetings and Meeting Rooms for Microsoft Teams specialization
Gain differentiated recognition for your deep knowledge, extensive experience, and proven success delivering Meetings and Meeting Rooms services and solutions for Microsoft Teams. As of April 15, 2026, the Meetings and Meeting Rooms for Microsoft Teams specialization now includes the Microsoft 365 Certified: Collaboration Communications Systems Engineer Associate certification as a skilling option. This certification will replace the Teams Meetings and Meeting Rooms Technical Assessment, which is being retired on June 15, 2026. Completion of the Teams Meetings and Meeting Rooms Technical Assessment on or before June 15, 2026, will count toward the specialization through June 15, 2027. No action is required if you already hold the specialization—simply prepare to meet the new skilling requirement at renewal. If you're working toward the specialization, align to the updated skilling requirement now. Review the requirements for attaining the specialization here, and visit the specializations dashboard in Partner Center to check your status.Skilling requirement update for Calling for Microsoft Teams specialization
Differentiate your capabilities and stand out in market with the Calling for Microsoft Teams specialization. To align this specialization to real-world customer needs, we updated the skilling requirements effective April 15, 2026. The Microsoft 365 Certified: Collaboration Communications Systems Engineer Associate certification will replace the Teams Calling Technical Assessment, which is being retired effective June 15, 2026. Completion of the Teams Calling Technical Assessment on or before June 15, 2026, will count toward the specialization through June 15, 2027. No action is required if you already hold the specialization—simply prepare to meet the new skilling requirement at renewal. If you're working toward the specialization, align to the updated skilling requirement now. Review all of the requirements for attaining the specialization here, and visit the specializations dashboard in Partner Center to check your status.Three Tiers, One Platform: Building Agents Together with the Build-Along Series
The Agentic Opportunity Every partner has agent ambition, but a single workshop format cannot serve every builder. Business makers want a fast win without writing code. Citizen developers want to orchestrate real processes across enterprise systems. Pro developers want a code-first surface with evaluations, tracing, and managed identity. Run the wrong session for the wrong audience, and engagement collapses - too abstract for one group, too constrained for another. The Agent Build-Along Series solves that by meeting builders exactly where they are, across three tiers of the Microsoft platform stack. Behind the series sits a self-serve GitHub repository - a curated library of build-along sessions with easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions, scoped to specific industry scenarios and business functions. Partners pick the scenario that fits the room, clone the assets, and run the session. No bespoke content build, no facilitator guesswork. A Self-Serve Repository for Build-Along Sessions Diagram illustrating three tiers of agent building The repo at Agent Build-Along Github is a self-serve catalog of ready-to-run workshops. Every session is curated for a specific industry and business function, with easy-to-follow instructions a facilitator can pick up and deliver. Pick the combination that matches the room and run the session - the content, scenario, and assets are already there. Sessions are organised across three axes so partners can find the right fit fast: Industry - Financial Services, Healthcare, Retail, Manufacturing, Public Sector, Energy, Professional Services Business function - Sales, Marketing, Finance, HR, Operations, IT, Customer Service Workload - Agent Builder, Copilot Studio and Azure AI Foundry Each session in the repo includes a real-world scenario, step-by-step build instructions, sample data, prompts and configuration, and a facilitator narrative. Clone, brief the room, build the agent - that is the loop. Three Tiers - Meet Builders Where They Are The pyramid is intentional. Builders start where their skills are today and move up as confidence grows. The tier defines platform, audience, duration, and approach - content stays consistent. Tier Platform Audience Duration Approach 1 - Foundation Microsoft 365 Copilot Agent Builder Business makers, end users, departmental teams 60 min No-code 2 - Extend Copilot Studio Citizen developers, power users, ops teams 90 min Low-code 3 - Pro-Code Azure AI Foundry Pro developers, architects, AI engineers 180+ min Code-first Tier 1 - M365 Copilot Agent Builder Author your first agent - no code required. Microsoft 365 Copilot Agent Builder virtual workshop overview, What your customers will build A custom agent scoped to a real workplace scenario Grounded with knowledge sources (SharePoint sites, files, web URLs) Configured with custom instructions and conversation starters Tested in the preview pane and shared with a team Session flow Define → Ground → Refine → Test & Share Prerequisites Microsoft 365 Copilot licence (or Copilot Chat free) Modern browser (Edge / Chrome) A workplace scenario in mind, or use our template Outcome Attendees leave with a working agent they can use immediately, plus a repeatable pattern for future use cases. This is the right entry point for departmental teams who want to operationalise Copilot without engineering involvement. Tier 2 - Copilot Studio Orchestrate multi-step agents across enterprise systems. Microsoft Copilot Studio virtual workshop overview What your customers will build A copilot with generative answers and authored topics Custom actions that call APIs and Power Platform connectors Knowledge sources spanning SharePoint, Dataverse, public web, and enterprise data Channel deployment to Microsoft Teams and a public web embed Session flow Design → Connect → Author → Publish Prerequisites M365 Copilot license with access to Copilot Studio Familiarity with Power Platform helpful, not required A multi-step workflow or process in mind Outcome Attendees leave with a published copilot running in Teams or on the web, plus a pattern for connecting copilots to enterprise systems. This is where citizen developers and ops teams turn manual processes into orchestrated, agent-driven workflows. Tier 3 - Azure AI Foundry Ship a code-first agent with evaluations and observability. What your customers will build A code-first agent with custom tools and function calling Grounding via Azure AI Search and the customer's own data Model selection from the Foundry catalog, with optional fine-tuning Evaluations, tracing, and managed-identity deployment Session flow Provision → Build → Evaluate → Deploy Prerequisites Azure subscription with Azure AI Foundry access VS Code, plus Python or .NET familiarity Sample data or a use case ready to ground on Outcome Attendees leave with a deployed agent - code, evaluations, and tracing in place - plus reusable SDK templates. This is the right tier for architects and AI engineers shipping agents into production with the governance bar enterprise customers expect. How the Repository Works The repo removes the heaviest lift in running these workshops: content creation. Every session is curated against the same three axes - industry, business function, tier - and shipped with step-by-step instructions a facilitator can follow with minimum prep. Industry/Business Function × Tier → Ready-to-run Build-Along Each session in the repo ships with: A real-world scenario grounded in the chosen industry and business function Step-by-step build instructions tuned to the selected tier Sample data the agent can ground against Prompts, conversation starters, and configuration snippets Facilitator narrative so anyone can run the session Need an enterprise agent that can handle integrate with CRM data? There is a curated Copilot Studio session with a deal-desk scenario and sample CRM data. Need a pro-code health care agent? Choose the Foundry session with a patient-flow scenario and a grounded dataset. Same repo, different curated paths - at the right depth for the room. What Attendees Walk Away With Agent-Builder - A working agent in Microsoft 365 Copilot, ready to share with colleagues. Copilot Studio - A published copilot running in Teams or on the web, connected to enterprise systems. Foundry - A deployed Foundry agent with evaluations, tracing, and SDK templates for the next build. In all cases attendees leave with assets - not slides - and the confidence to build the next one without facilitation. Next Steps - Host a Build-Along Pick your tier - Start where your skills are today. Move up the pyramid as confidence grows. Drive Registration – Socialise your Build-Along session to maximise attendance. Show up and build. Bring a real scenario. Customers leave with a working agent to share. Where to Next Browse the self-serve repository of Build-Along sessions - curated by industry and business function, with step-by-step instructions ready to run: Agent Build Along.Help Shape the Future of Microsoft Teams for Small and Medium Businesses
Have you ever wished Microsoft Teams worked just a little better for the way your SMB customers run their business? Maybe you've thought: “It would be great if Teams could do this…” “This workflow would be so much simpler if…” “Why isn’t there a feature for…?” Now’s your chance to directly influence what comes next. Microsoft is inviting Small and Medium Business (SMB) partners to join the Teams SMB Partner Advisory Council (PAC) — a simple, low-effort way to share real-world feedback with the product team and help shape the Teams roadmap for SMB customers. What is Teams SMB PAC? Our Teams SMB Partner Advisory Council (PAC) brings together a Microsoft partners who: Work with SMB customers implementing Teams Have insights into the challenges SMBs face when adopting collaboration tools Want to help improve the products they rely on Through monthly virtual sessions, participants get the opportunity to: ✅ Preview upcoming features and improvements ✅ Provide feedback during early stages of product development ✅ Share what’s working well — and what isn’t ✅ Highlight real-world business scenarios that should be better supported ✅ Influence priorities for SMB-focused innovation in Teams This isn’t a sales call or a support channel — it’s a direct line to the Teams product team. What’s the Commitment? We know you are busy. That’s why participation is designed to be: Flexible – Virtual meetings combined with async conversation Low effort – No prep required for most sessions Conversational – Small-group discussions, not presentations Most sessions are informal and focused on understanding how Microsoft can better support you and your SMB customers. Your input helps ensure we build features that reflect how SMBs actually work — not just how software assumes they do. Why Join? Participants often tell us that one of the biggest benefits of joining the PAC is the opportunity to: Get early visibility into what’s coming next Understand where Teams development is headed Provide feedback that directly reaches the team building the product Help shape experiences that impact SMB customers worldwide Your perspective matters — and it can directly shape the future of Teams for SMB. Trusted by partners across regions including EMEA, APAC, and North America. Interested in Participating? If you'd like to be considered for the Microsoft Teams SMB Partner Advisory Council, simply fill out this short interest form: 👉 Express your interest to join the Teams SMB Advisory Board Once submitted, our team will review your response and follow up with more information on next steps.Microsoft 365 Fundamentals certification is now retired
As part of our regular review of skilling and certification requirements, we have retired the Microsoft 365 Fundamentals certification, effective March 31, 2026. This change reflects our ongoing alignment with customer and market demand. Partners can no longer obtain this certification. For partners who were certified before retirement, the certification will continue to count toward skilling points for the Modern Work designation until March 31, 2027. Plan for future renewals by reviewing other eligible certifications in place of Microsoft 365 Fundamentals. We will continue to share guidance and new skilling options—including planned alternatives to Microsoft 365 Fundamentals like the Copilot and Agent Administration Fundamentals certification—to support your skilling journey. Learn more about maintaining your Modern Work designation and eligible certifications to demonstrate your skills.From Copilot to Catalyst: How MSPs Turn AI Readiness Into Recurring Revenue
AI interest is surging—but most customers aren’t ready to scale it securely or successfully. Gaps in device management, identity hygiene, data governance, and operational consistency often stall AI initiatives before they deliver real value. For Managed Service Providers, this challenge creates a powerful opportunity. In this webinar, you’ll learn how MSPs are using Microsoft Intune as the foundation for helping manage and secure devices, and extending it with AvePoint Confidence Platform: Elements Edition to standardize, automate, and scale AI-ready environments across customer tenants. Together, they enable MSPs to move beyond one-off AI projects and deliver AI readiness as a repeatable, revenue-generating managed service. This session focuses on turning AI demand—starting with Copilot—into a long-term services motion that improves margins, reduces operational friction, and positions your MSP as a trusted AI partner. In this webinar, you will learn how to: Turn AI readiness into recurring revenue Learn how MSPs are packaging AI readiness—starting with Copilot—into repeatable, high-margin managed services customers renew and expand. Scale securely without adding overhead See how Microsoft Intune, extended with AvePoint Confidence Platform: Elements Edition, enables standardized, automated delivery across multiple customer tenants. Move from AI pilots to real outcomes Get a practical blueprint to replace one-off AI projects with scalable services that position your MSP as a trusted AI partner. Register now: From Copilot to Catalyst: How MSPs Turn AI Readiness Into Recurring RevenueMicrosoft Partners: Accelerate Your AI Journey at AgentCon 2026 (Free Community Event)
Recently, a customer asked me a question many Microsoft partners are hearing right now: “We have Copilot — how do we actually use AI to change the way we work?” That question captures where we are in the AI journey today. Organizations have moved past curiosity. Now they’re looking for trusted partners who can turn AI into real business outcomes. That’s why events like AgentCon 2026 matter. A free, community-led event built by practicioners AgentCon is not a traditional conference. It’s a free, community-driven global event organized by the Global AI Community together with Microsoft partners and ecosystem leaders. Simply put: it’s for the community, by the community. Across cities worldwide, developers, consultants, architects, and Microsoft partners come together to share practical experiences building with AI agents, Copilot, and the Microsoft platform. The focus isn’t theory — it’s implementation: What worked What didn’t What partners can apply immediately with customers This peer learning model reflects how many of us actually grow in the Microsoft ecosystem: by learning from other partners solving real problems. Why this matters for Microsoft partners The opportunity for partners is evolving quickly. Customers aren’t just asking about AI tools — they’re asking how to redesign processes, automate work, and unlock productivity using AI-powered solutions. The Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program emphasizes partner skilling and helping customers realize value from AI investments. Community events like AgentCon accelerate that learning by bringing partners together to exchange proven approaches and practical insights. When partners upskill faster, customers succeed faster. Why attend AgentCon is designed to help partners move from AI awareness to AI delivery. As an attendee, you can expect: Practical sessions and demos from practitioners Real-world AI and agent scenarios Direct conversations with builders and peers New collaboration and co-sell opportunities You’ll leave with ideas and approaches you can bring directly into customer engagements. Why speak AgentCon thrives because partners share openly with one another. If you’ve implemented Copilot, explored AI agents, or learned lessons from customer deployments, your experience can help others accelerate their journey. Speaking at AgentCon allows you to: Share your expertise with the global partner community Build credibility within the Microsoft ecosystem Create new partnerships and opportunities Contribute to collective partner success You don’t need a perfect story — just an honest one others can learn from. Join the global AgentCon community AgentCon 2026 events takes place around the world including these upcoming events: March 9 - New York: https://aka.ms/AgentconNYC2026 April 11 - Hong Kong: https://aka.ms/AgentconHongKong2026 April 16 - Seoul: https://aka.ms/agentconLondon2026 April 22 - London: https://aka.ms/agentconSeoul2026 Each event is locally organized, community-led, and free to attend. Help shape the next phase of AI adoption AI transformation is happening now — and Microsoft partners play a critical role in guiding customers forward. AgentCon is an opportunity to learn together, share experiences, and strengthen the partner ecosystem driving AI innovation. 👉 Register or apply to speak: https://aka.ms/agentcon2026 We hope you’ll join us — and be part of the community helping customers turn AI potential into real impact.
