CSP Legacy commercial subscription migrations reminder
As previously announced in July 2023, Microsoft will begin migrating all Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) commercial subscriptions that remain in the legacy system to new commerce in January 2024. All legacy subscriptions that Microsoft migrates to new commerce will be set to an annual term with the same billing plan and seat counts that the customers had in legacy. This Microsoft-led migration will occur on the date of subscription renewal, starting with all subscriptions set to renew on January 11, 2024 and continuing throughout the 2024 calendar year. Partners will have seven days after migration is complete to change the subscription term, quantity or cancel the subscription if necessary. We recommend that partners manage their customers’ migrations now to ensure the customer has the terms that best suit their business needs. If customers want monthly subscription terms, partners should migrate them before the legacy subscriptions reach end of term in 2024. In addition to setting customized terms with customers, proactive migration also gives partners the opportunity to socialize this change with indirect resellers and others in the partner’s ecosystem. Most Microsoft 365, Office 365, Security and Dynamics 365 commercial offers are currently available in new commerce. Partners can find the current list of CSP legacy offers available for new commerce in the Partner Center pricing workspace. Over the course of calendar year 2024, Microsoft will share the timeline for migration of all other remaining CSP legacy offers, including multi-year offers. Our intent is to ensure a Microsoft-led migration path for each CSP legacy offer at the time of customer renewal, starting with renewal dates in 2024 and beyond. Resources to help partners migrate customers to new commerce To support partners with their migration, Microsoft will run CSP Technical Training and CSP Spotlight calls in the months of October, November, and December. These sessions will give partners the opportunity to learn about migration details from Microsoft experts. Documentation is also available to assist partners who plan to drive their customers’ migrations themselves. Partners can review the Migrate subscriptions to new commerce article on Microsoft Learn and the other how-to documentation in the Resources section below, to complete customer migrations themselves. Update on new commerce timeline for CSP GCC, education and nonprofit legacy offers In July, Microsoft announced that CSP legacy Public Sector offers for Government Community Cloud (GCC), education and nonprofit would be available in CSP new commerce in November 2023. However, we have received feedback from partners that making system changes at the end of the calendar year would be difficult. To avoid business disruption for partners, we will launch Public Sector offers in new commerce and begin Microsoft-led migrations of Public Sector offers in calendar year 2024. We will provide an update on the revised timeline for both launches soon. Next Steps: Take action before January 2024 to start migrating your customers to new commerce. You can find how-to documentation here. This is especially important if your customers want monthly terms instead of annual terms. Learn how to use the batch migration (BAM) tool here. Find out how to earn partner incentives through the Microsoft Commerce Incentives (MCI) program. Download the Partner Incentives Guide here, and sign into the Partner Incentives page to enroll. Attend learning sessions to get migration guidance from Microsoft experts: CSP Spotlight calls and technical training. Resources: Migrate subscriptions to new commerce Migrate subscriptions to new commerce experience using the batch migration tool (BAM)New Solutions Partner with certified software designations coming soon!
During Microsoft Inspire 2023 (July 18-19), Microsoft provided an update regarding upcoming designations for ISV solutions. Now known as Solutions Partner* with certified software**designations, these designations will be available for qualifying cloud software solutions. At Microsoft, we recognize that what each partner needs to succeed is unique to their business model, size, and stage of growth. To accommodate this variation in need, our Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program provides offerings such as Founders Hub and ISV Success, which are designed to help partners who develop software build, publish, and grow well-architected software solutions on the Microsoft Cloud. For partners who are ready to differentiate their software solutions in the market, we will be adding Solutions Partner* with certified software** designations. When partners become a Solutions Partner with certified software, they signify to customers that their solution meets technical criteria for interoperability with the Microsoft Cloud and demonstrates a proven track record of customer success. For partners who develop software—often referred to as independent software vendors (ISVs)—certified software designations provide an opportunity to better connect with customers seeking software solutions and unlock additional benefits from Microsoft. Attaining a certified software designation for your solution will also unlock go-to-market, sales and marketing benefits designed to help propel your growth and fuel greater demand for your solutions. Because the marketplace is the essential platform for co-sell opportunities, maximizing the full benefits of becoming a Solutions Partner with certified software will help Microsoft sellers more quickly and confidently identify your solution for co-sell opportunities. Among the go-to-market, sales, and marketing benefits you will unlock: Dedicated engagement manager: Access subject matter experts who can assist with available Marketplace Rewards benefits and guide you through the fulfillment process—helping ensure you experience the full benefits of becoming a Solutions Partner with certified software. Customer-facing badging: When you become a Solutions Partner with certified software, a digital badge appears on the Microsoft commercial marketplace, including Azure Marketplace and Microsoft AppSource, which includes Industry Cloud Gallery. You can also download the badge for use in your marketing collateral. This badge matters—68% of customers searching for software solutions evaluate vendor certifications and badging when making purchasing decisions.2 Microsoft solution play cards: Designed to facilitate relevant and easy discovery by Microsoft sellers, use these cards to highlight the scenarios your software solution addresses. Nurture assets, emails, and call scripts: Use these assets to go-to-market more quickly and help drive demand for your certified solution. Customer-facing solution briefs: Outline use cases and value propositions tailored to your target audience for use in various go-to-market strategies, which can be customized to reflect your unique brand. These designations differentiate partners’ software solutions in areas of high demand—and help customers identify the trusted software solutions for their needs.. We will be sharing more on certified software designations in March. Details regarding these eligibility requirements can be found in the Solutions Partner with certified software FAQ. Microsoft Disclaimers *“Solutions Partner” refers to a company that is a member of the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program and may offer software, services, and/or solutions to customers. Reference to “Solutions Partner” in any content, materials, resources, web properties, etc. and any associated designation should be not interpreted as an offer, endorsement, guarantee, proof of effectiveness or functionality, a commitment or any other type of representation or warranty on the part of Microsoft. All decisions pertaining and related to your business needs including but not limited to strategies, solutions, partner selection, implementation, etc., rests solely with your business. **A certification is (1) specific to the solution’s interoperability with Microsoft products and (2) based on self-attestation by the solution owner. Solutions are only certified as of the date the solution is reviewed. Solution functionality and capability are controlled by the solution owner and may be subject to change. The inclusion of a solution in the marketplace and any such designations should not be interpreted as an offer, endorsement, guarantee, proof of effectiveness or functionality, a commitment or any other type of representation or warranty on the part of Microsoft. All decisions pertaining and related to your business needs including but not limited to strategies, solutions, partner selection, implementation, etc. rests solely with your business.
