Microsoft Ignite 2025 AI announcements: What software developers need to know
Igniting what’s next: What software development companies need to know about Microsoft’s AI announcements at Ignite 2025 The AI landscape took a major leap forward at Microsoft Ignite 2025, and for software development companies and digital natives, the announcements represent a massive opportunity: faster innovation, simplified agent development, access to enterprise‑ready AI platforms, and a dramatically expanded ecosystem to build on. This year, Microsoft introduced the era of agentic AI—and software companies are at the center of this shift. Ignite 2025 formally unveiled Microsoft Foundry, our unified platform for building, governing, and scaling intelligent agents. From new agent runtimes to multi‑agent orchestration, enterprise‑grade knowledge access, and one‑click publishing to Microsoft 365, the momentum creates one clear signal: 💡 AI assistants are becoming intelligent agents—and Foundry is the platform software companies will use to build them. Why Microsoft Ignite 2025 mattered for software companies Across every session, Microsoft doubled down on helping partners accelerate time‑to‑market with agentic AI solutions. Whether you’re building vertical apps, automation copilots, knowledge systems, or developer tools, the new capabilities in Foundry eliminate much of the heavy lifting associated with retrieval, orchestration, compliance, hosting, and model selection. Key themes this year from Azure AI: Unified agent platform across all Microsoft clouds Framework‑agnostic development (bring your own models, tools, or frameworks) Enterprise‑grade governance built into the lifecycle Open ecosystem and interoperability using MCP, A2A, OpenAPI Seamless distribution through Microsoft 365 and Teams Let’s break down what’s new—and what it means for your product strategy. Top announcements for software companies at Ignite 2025 Microsoft Foundry: A unified brand for AI agent development Azure AI Foundry is now Microsoft Foundry—a consolidated platform for building, deploying, and managing intelligent agents. For software companies, this means: One consistent developer experience Shared governance and compliance across products A more integrated ecosystem for publishing and distributing agentic solutions This rebrand isn’t cosmetic—it reflects Microsoft’s strategic shift to deliver a platform built explicitly for the next generation of AI agents. Introducing Foundry IQ: Your enterprise knowledge engine One of the most exciting announcements is Foundry IQ, a new engine that gives agents instant access to enterprise data from SharePoint, OneLake, ADLS, and the web, all governed by Purview. For software companies, this unlocks: Reliable, production‑grade knowledge retrieval without building RAG pipelines Consistent compliance and security models Faster customer onboarding with fewer integration gaps Foundry IQ is a game‑changer for teams who have spent months building retrieval layers or maintaining custom RAG components. Foundry Control Plane: Unified governance for all agents Now in public preview, the Foundry Control Plane enables teams to manage agents across frameworks, clouds, and environments. Highlights: Unified visibility and observability Built‑in security & compliance (Defender, Purview) Fleet‑wide monitoring for cost, health, and risk For software companies offering multi‑tenant solutions or operating in regulated industries, this dramatically simplifies the operational burden of managing AI agents. Agent Framework (public preview): SK + AutoGen, Unified The Microsoft Agent Framework, now in public preview, merges the strengths of Semantic Kernel and AutoGen into a single SDK for building durable, interoperable agents. Software companies gain: A consistent programming model Durable memory Strong interoperability with MCP, A2A, OpenAPI Framework‑agnostic design This is the developer foundation for future AI applications built on Microsoft clouds. Hosted Agents: Enterprise‑grade runtime, no infrastructure needed With Hosted Agents, teams can deploy custom‑code agents directly into a fully managed runtime—no containers, pipelines, or infra setup. What this enables for software companies: Faster deployment cycles Secure, autoscaling environments Simple onboarding for customer‑specific agents Observability and monitoring built in This drastically reduces the operational overhead many software companies face today. Multi‑agent workflows & connected intelligence Ignite 2025 introduced major advancements in multi‑agent orchestration: Built‑in memory across sessions A catalog of 1,000+ Microsoft & partner tools (with private catalogs for software companies) Visual and programmatic orchestration tools Enterprise‑ready coordination for long‑running workflows Foundry IQ for instant knowledge access This allows software companies to design more autonomous, intelligent, and interconnected systems—moving beyond assistants toward true digital workers. Model Router GA + Anthropic partnership expansion There are two major updates for model flexibility: Model Router GA Now supporting 11,000+ models, the router helps developers intelligently choose the best model for each task, optimizing both cost and performance. Anthropic Claude models in Foundry Claude Sonnet 4.5, Opus 4.1, and Haiku 4.5 are now integrated into Microsoft Foundry through an expanded partnership with Anthropic. This gives software companies more choice, capability, and model‑agnostic development paths. One‑click publishing to Microsoft 365 & Teams One of the biggest wins for software companies: Agents built in Foundry can now be published to Microsoft 365 and Teams Chat with one click. This means: Access to hundreds of millions of users Unified governance through Microsoft Admin Center Seamless integration with Copilot experiences For software companies, this is a massive new distribution channel. Why this matters for software development companies Ignite 2025 didn’t just introduce new products—it signaled a platform shift. software companies now have: A full-stack platform for agentic applications - From data access to orchestration, hosting, deployment, and compliance. A unified runtime and SDK - Reducing fragmentation and speeding up development cycles. Enterprise reach through Microsoft 365 - Making your agents as discoverable as apps. A rapidly expanding ecosystem - More models, more tools, more integration points. If you’re building AI-powered products, this is your moment. Get hands-on: Sessions & resources for software companies Here are links to top Ignite sessions to dive deeper. Build & Manage AI Apps with Your Agent Factory AI Agents in Azure AI Foundry: Ship Fast, Scale Fearlessly AI‑Powered Automation & Multi‑Agent Orchestration Agent Developer Guide for Foundry Agent Service The Future of RAG with Agentic Retrieval & AI Search What’s next: December Foundry Council Session Join us on Dec 18 for the Ignite Recap session through the Foundry Partner Council. It’s the best opportunity for software companies to: Get deeper into the new capabilities Share partner/DN feedback Join focus groups For more information about the December 18 session, contact foundrycouncil@microsoft.com or visit aka.ms/foundrycouncilExciting Updates Ahead: A Preview of Our Partner Roadmap
I’m excited to share a sneak peek of the exciting developments coming to our Microsoft commercial marketplace ecosystem. Our recent partner roadmap presentation outlines our vision for the future and also reflects on the impactful features we've recently introduced.Exploring Azure AI Agent Service: A developer's guide
The world of AI is evolving rapidly, and at a recent TechConnect at the Azure AI Foundry Partner Council, we explored the game-changing potential of Azure AI Agent Service. This session was packed with insights for AI developers, cloud solution architects, and technical decision-makers eager to push the boundaries of agentic AI. If you're looking to simplify development, deployment, and scaling of enterprise-grade AI agents, this service is a must-know. In this blog post, we’ll summarize key topics covered during the session and provide insights into how Azure AI Agent Service can streamline your AI development process. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting, this is an exciting opportunity to learn how AI agents can autonomously execute business processes with minimal human intervention. Introduction to AI Agents The session kicked off by defining AI agents and their capabilities. Unlike traditional chatbots, AI agents are goal-driven and can autonomously execute business processes. They can reason over provided business logic, integrate with external data sources, and orchestrate actions to achieve specific goals. This marks a significant shift from simple conversational AI to intelligent, task-driven agents capable of decision-making and execution. Simplifying Development with Azure AI Agent Service Building AI agents traditionally involve working with frameworks like LangChain and Semantic Kernel and AutoGen which require developers to manage state, context, orchestration, and scaling. Azure AI Agent Service eliminates these complexities by offering a fully managed service with: Out-of-the-box tools for faster development Flexible model selection to fit diverse use cases Enterprise readiness with built-in security and scalability This means developers can focus on business logic rather than infrastructure concerns, accelerating the development cycle significantly. Function Calling and Code Interpreter Tools One of the standouts features of Azure AI Agent Service is function calling, which allows agents to interact with external systems by executing predefined functions. The session showcased how developers can: Define and use function calling to connect AI agents to other systems Utilize the code interpreter tool to enable AI agents to generate data visualizations and perform analysis These tools empower developers to create more dynamic and responsive AI agents that can process and present insights effectively. Extending Agent Knowledge with File Search AI agents are only as good as the information they can access. Azure AI Agent Service includes a file search tool that allows agents to tap into external data sources such as product catalogs, knowledge bases, or proprietary documents. This significantly enhances an agent’s ability to answer complex queries and perform in-depth analysis. Real-Time Information with Bing Search For scenarios that require real-time, up-to-date data, the Bing Search tool is a game-changer. The session demonstrated how this tool enables agents to fetch and analyze current web data for use cases like competitive analysis, market research, and trend monitoring. With seamless Bing Search integration, AI agents can stay relevant and informed in an ever-changing world. The training session wasn’t just about concepts, it was packed with practical demonstrations, live coding examples, and troubleshooting tips. You can watch the full session to help you: Understand the core capabilities of Azure AI Agent Service See live implementation of function calling, file search, and Bing Search tools Learn best practices for deploying scalable and secure AI agents Ready to Explore Further? Don’t miss out on the chance to deep-dive into agentic AI to enhance your AI development skills and streamline agent deployment. Check out the recording of the session to take your AI projects to the next level and unlock the full potential of Azure AI Agent Service! About the Azure AI Foundry Partner Council: The Azure AI Foundry Partner Council is a dynamic and collaborative initiative designed to foster innovation and drive advancements in artificial intelligence. This council brings together a diverse group of industry leaders, technology experts, and strategic partners who are committed to leveraging the power of Azure AI to solve complex business challenges. Through the Azure AI Foundry Partner Council, members are empowered to push the boundaries of what is possible with AI, ultimately driving progress and delivering value to their organizations and customers. Call to Action Learn more about how Azure AI Agent Service: Revolutionizing AI Agent Development and Deployment Start trying Azure AI Agent services in Azure AI Foundry or Start building with the SDK documentation Dive deep into enterprise knowledge extensibility in Azure AI Agent Service Learn how to design, customize and manage AI applications with Azure AI Foundry Learn how to empower data-driven decision making with Microsoft Fabric Watch this recorded breakout session from Ignite 2024 to learn more about how companies are automating key business processes with Azure AI Agent Service Watch this live demo at Ignite 2024 to learn how customers are going beyond chat-based interactions Nominate to join the Azure AI Foundry Council via aipartnerteam@microsoft.comBuilding your first AI Agent with Azure AI Agent Service
AI agents are transforming the way developers create intelligent AI applications, and Azure AI Agent Service is leading the charge. At a recent hands-on workshop at the Azure AI Foundry Partner Council, we explored how to build an agent application using Azure AI Agent Service, leveraging its powerful tools and SDKs to simplify AI development. Whether you're an experienced developer or just starting, this blog provides key insights into streamlining AI agent creation and integrating with enterprise systems. In this blog post, we’ll summarize the key topics covered during the workshop and highlight how Azure AI Agent Service empowers developers to create scalable, intelligent agents with minimal complexity. Introduction to Azure AI Agent Service The workshop kicked off with an overview of Azure AI Agent Service, explaining how it enables developers to create goal-driven AI agents with advanced reasoning and execution capabilities. Unlike simple chatbots, these agents can integrate with external data sources, automate workflows, and execute complex business processes autonomously. Creating Your First AI Agent Developers were guided through the step-by-step process of building an AI agent using Python and the Azure AI Agent Service SDK. Key concepts covered included: Setting up the development environment Defining tools for the agent Managing conversations with threads Using system prompts to guide AI behavior Function Calling and SQL Queries One of the most exciting demonstrations involved function calling, where AI agents interact with external systems. The session showcased how agents can: Generate and execute SQL queries Retrieve, analyze, and manipulate real-time data Seamlessly integrate with databases for enterprise applications Code Interpreter for Data Visualization To enhance user interactions, the workshop highlighted the code interpreter tool, allowing AI agents to: Write and execute Python code Generate visual representations like pie charts Process CSV files for advanced data analysis Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) Developers were introduced to Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), a technique that improves AI responses by leveraging external documents. The session covered: Setting up a simple vector store Using file search to provide context-aware responses This technique is valuable for applications where AI agents need to reference structured data to provide accurate, informed answers. Bing Grounding for Competitive Insights A standout feature discussed was Bing Search grounding, which enables AI agents to: Retrieve up-to-date web data Perform competitive product analysis Deliver real-time business insights By integrating Bing Search, AI agents can stay informed with the latest industry trends, making them highly relevant in business environments. About the Azure AI Foundry Partner Council: The Azure AI Foundry Partner Council is a dynamic and collaborative initiative designed to foster innovation and drive advancements in artificial intelligence. This council brings together a diverse group of industry leaders, technology experts, and strategic partners who are committed to leveraging the power of Azure AI to solve complex business challenges. Through the Azure AI Foundry Partner Council, members are empowered to push the boundaries of what is possible with AI, ultimately driving progress and delivering value to their organizations and customers. Call to Action and Resources Leverage this GitHub Repo with Presenter and Proctor Resources Azure AI Agent Service Documentation Fundamentals of AI Agents on Azure Introducing Azure AI Agent Service Blog Post Python Library Workshop Repository Export and Import Agents using Solutions How to use Grounding with Bing Search in Azure AI Agent Service Sample Code for Custom Functions If you’re looking to take your AI development skills to the next level, don’t miss this opportunity. Watch the recording today and start building intelligent AI agents with Azure AI Agent Service!
Knowledge Managment in M365 after Viva Topics retirement
Hi, What is the Microsoft POV on knowledge management in M365 after the retirement of Viva Topics? I know we have Microsoft AI Content Management features to manage knowledge. But when it comes to surfacing the knowledge to end users, there is no dedicated front end like Viva Topics that auto-curate content for users. Microsoft 365 Copilot is very generic and renders global content results which impacts the quality of knowledge-related results. Building a custom Chatbot is an option but it's expensive and has its limitations.AppSource Marketplace bugs
Hi everyone, We recently noticed some bugs on the Marketplace, such as the call-to-action button displaying “CTA_Get” instead of the correct label. I’m curious—has anyone else experienced similar issues? It’d be great to know if this is isolated or more widespread. Thanks for sharing your feedback!December edition of Microsoft Marketplace Partner Digest
Microsoft Ignite 2025 - Marketplace highlights Microsoft Ignite was packed with announcements and insights for Marketplace partners. From new commerce capabilities to AI-driven innovations, here are some key takeaways: Global expansion of Microsoft Marketplace - Microsoft announced that the reimagined Microsoft Marketplace, which launched in the U.S. earlier this year, is now globally available. This expansion includes new APIs for distribution partners, enabling them to link their own cloud marketplace with Microsoft’s, opening significant opportunities for software companies in SMB and mid-market segments. 🎬 Watch a recorded webinar with TD SYNNEX on the power of distribution to accelerate SMB marketplace sales. Global availability of Resale Enabled Offers - This capability allows software development companies to and channel partners to resell software solutions directly through Marketplace, simplifying transactions, expanding reach, and scaling revenue. 👉 Read more about this announcement and get started Introducing App Accelerate - A unified offer that brings together incentives, benefits, and co-sell support across the Microsoft Cloud. App Accelerate provides end-to-end technical guidance, developer tools, and go-to-market resources so software development companies can innovate and scale. Previews are beginning now, with full availability planned for 2026. ✅ Sign up to receive updates Enhanced Partner Marketing Center - Discover, customize, and launch campaigns faster with intelligent search and AI-powered tools—all on one connected platform. The current Partner Marketing Center will remain available as the new and enhanced Marketing Center platform launches in early 2026 with 24 campaigns-in-a-box, aligned to FY26 solution plays. ✨ Get ready for the new era of partner marketing Frontier Partner badge – New customer-facing badges recognize top services, channel, and software development company partners that are driving AI transformation with customers and offer them an opportunity to differentiate themselves from the competition. 🛡️Differentiate your AI-first leadership Catch up on Microsoft Ignite sessions Ignite 2025 delivered powerful insights and announcements for Marketplace partners, and now you can catch up on the sessions you missed. Explore these recorded keynotes to learn about new capabilities, partner programs, and strategies to accelerate growth through Microsoft’s ecosystem. Ignite opening keynote Ignite partner keynote: Powering Frontier Partnerships Additionally, we’ve compiled recordings of relevant Marketplace partner and customer sessions so you can watch on-demand. Revisit Marketplace-focused sessions and resources. Just look for the ✨ icon below. Partner sessions: PBRK415 Grow your business with Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program Find out how the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program helps you grow with new benefits, designations, and skilling opportunities. This session covers updates like the Frontier Partner Badge, Copilot specialization, and streamlined Marketplace engagement—all designed to accelerate your AI transformation journey. PBRK416 Accelerate Growth through Partner Incentives Explore how Microsoft is boosting partner growth with streamlined incentives, AI-first strategies, and new designations like Frontier Distributor. This session covers expanded investments in Azure Accelerate, Copilot solutions, and security practices—plus insights on how to capitalize on evolving programs and co-sell opportunities. PBRK417 Partner: Connect, Plan, Win – Enhancing Co-sell Engagement Discover how to enhance collaboration, optimize joint efforts, and drive success in shared initiatives. Gain insights into improving interactions with Microsoft sellers and leveraging opportunities, along with guidance on proactive co-selling to align your goals with Microsoft's for sustained growth. PBRK418 Partner: Benefits for Accelerating Software Company Success Learn about the resources and benefits available for software development companies across all stages of the build, publish and grow journey in MAICPP. Whether you’re developing a new agent solution or working toward a certified software designation, there are targeted skilling opportunities, technical resources, and GTM benefits to help. Tap into new investments for AI apps and agents and hear from your peers on how they’ve used rewards such as customer propensity scores and Azure sponsorship. PBRK419 SI & Advisory Partner Readiness: Accelerating the Journey to Frontier Understand how Microsoft is empowering our SI and advisory partners to accelerate frontier firm readiness for our Enterprise customers by driving AI transformation with agentic solutions and services. ✨PBRK420 Executing on the channel-led marketplace opportunity for partners See how Microsoft’s unified Marketplace drives partner growth with resale-enabled offers, creating scalable channel sales and co-sell opportunities. This session shares practical steps to build a sustainable Marketplace practice and leverage the partner ecosystem for greater reach and profitability. PBRK421 Enabling a thriving partner ecosystem: New CSP Authorization Criteria Dive into what’s new for Cloud Solution Providers, including updated authorization requirements and designations that help you stand out. This session covers steps to choose the right tier, build trust as a customer advisor, and prepare for growth with AI-driven solutions and Copilot offerings. PBRK422 The Future of Partner Support: Customer + Partner + Microsoft Discover ‘Unified for Partners,’ Microsoft’s new support model designed for CSP partners to deliver customer success at scale. This session introduces the Support Services designation, offering faster response times, financial incentives, and integrated tools to strengthen your support capabilities. PBRK423 Partner Execution at Scale with SME&C Explore growth opportunities in the high-potential SME&C segment. This session highlights investments in co-selling, AI-first strategies, and what it means to become ‘customer zero,’ with examples of frontier firms driving innovation at scale. ✨PBRK424 Marketplace Success for Partners—from SMB to Enterprise Learn how to build, publish, and monetize AI-powered solutions through Microsoft Marketplace. This session shares a proven approach to align your Marketplace strategy with your sales motion and unlock new revenue opportunities. PBRK272 Accelerate Secure AI: Microsoft’s Security Advantage for Partners Explore Microsoft’s integrated security solutions and learn how to help customers strengthen their defenses in the AI era. This session highlights partner opportunities, resources to grow your security practice, and what it takes to lead as a next-generation security partner. Customer Sessions: ✨Microsoft Marketplace: Your trusted source for cloud solutions, AI apps, and agents | STUDIO47 Hear from Cyril Belikoff, VP of Commercial Cloud & AI Marketing, sharing the reimagined Microsoft Marketplace—the gateway to thousands of AI-powered apps, agents and cloud solutions—all built to accelerate innovation and drive business outcomes. Discover how customers benefit from faster deployment, seamless integration with Microsoft tools, and trusted solutions, and how partners can scale their reach, accelerate sales, and tap into Microsoft’s global ecosystem. Azure Accelerate in action: Confidently migrate, modernize, and build faster Join Cyril Belikoff for a rapid Q&A that spotlights real-world customer success and the transformative impact of Azure Accelerate. Hear how customers like Thomson Reuters achieved breakthrough results with our powerful offering that provides access to Microsoft experts and investments throughout your Azure and AI journey. ✨BRK213 Microsoft Marketplace: Your trusted source for cloud and AI solutions Discover how the reimagined Microsoft Marketplace is reshaping the future of cloud and AI innovation. In this session, we’ll explore how Microsoft Marketplace—unifying Azure Marketplace and Microsoft AppSource—empowers organizations to become Frontier Firms by streamlining the discovery, purchase, and deployment of tens of thousands of cloud solutions, AI apps, and agents. ✨BRK215 Boost cloud and AI ROI using Microsoft Marketplace As organizations embrace an AI-first future, cloud adoption is accelerating to drive innovation and efficiency. This session explores practical strategies to optimize cloud investments—balancing performance, scalability, and cost control. Learn how Microsoft Marketplace enables rapid solution deployment while maintaining governance, compliance, and budget discipline. Build a resilient, cost-effective cloud foundation that supports AI and beyond. Community Recap Partner of the Year Award Winners Congratulations to the winners and finalists of the 2025 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards in the Marketplace category! 🏆 Explore all winners and finalists Fivetran earned the top honor as Marketplace Partner of the Year for its innovation in automating data movement on Microsoft Azure, enabling enterprises to accelerate AI and analytics initiatives. Varonis Systems Inc. and Bytes Software Services were recognized as finalists for delivering exceptional solutions and driving customer success through Marketplace. What’s Coming Up AI-powered acceleration: Scale faster in Microsoft Marketplace 📆 Thursday, December 04, 2025, at 9:00 AM PST Microsoft Marketplace is no longer just a procurement convenience; it’s a strategic revenue engine. Dive into operational readiness, CRM-native automation, seller engagement, trust signals, and AI-enabled acceleration. Whether you're just getting started or looking to optimize your Marketplace motion, this session will provide you with information that will turn your first sale into a repeatable growth engine. Scale smarter: Discover how resale enabled offers drive growth 📆 Friday, December 05, 2025, from 11:00 - 12:00 PM GTM+1 Discover how resale enabled offers help software development companies to scale through the Microsoft Marketplace by simplifying transactions, expanding reach and accelerating co-sell opportunities. Chart your AI app and agent strategy with Microsoft Marketplace 📆 Thursday, December 11, 2025, from 8:30 - 9:30 AM PST Organizations exploring AI apps and agents face a critical choice: build, buy, or blend. There’s no one-size-fits-all—each approach offers unique benefits and trade-offs. Tune in for insights into the pros and cons of each approach and explore how the Microsoft Marketplace simplifies adoption by providing a single source for trusted AI apps, agents, and models. Office hours for partners: Marketplace resale-enabled offers 📆 Thursday, December 18, 2025, at 8:30 AM PST Tune in to explore resale enabled offers through Microsoft Marketplace. This recently announced capability enables software companies to expand into new markets globally, at scale, and without additional operational overhead. Dive deep into the workflow and requirements for these deals. Learn about reporting and best practices from those that are already selling globally with resale enabled offers. Microsoft Ignite will return to San Francisco next year 📆 November 17-20, 2026 Sign up now to join the Microsoft Ignite early-access list and be eligible to receive limited‑edition swag at the event. 💬 Share Your Feedback! We truly appreciate your feedback and want to ensure these Partner Digests deliver the information you need to succeed in the marketplace. If you have any feedback or suggestions on how we can continue to improve the content to best support you, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below!Modifying Plan Minimum Number of Users for Private Offers
Hi, I’m curious to know if there are any plans to allow ISVs to modify the Minimum Users/Seats when creating a private offer, even if that value differs from the limits defined in the corresponding public plan. At present, it appears private offers must stay within the min/max seat range configured in the public plan. However, there are strategic opportunities where we may need to override the minimum user count (e.g., to accommodate a smaller pilot or proof of concept for a large customer). Thanks, TimThe Marketplace Partner Digest | April 2025
Welcome to the monthly partner release notes for the Microsoft marketplace! The marketplace is central to how we help you reach more customers, simplify sales, and unlock growth. Dive into this month’s roundup of announcements and updates to stay informed about the latest marketplace developments. Don’t miss an update! Subscribe to the “Partner Digest” label to get notified whenever a new Marketplace Partner Digest hits the community blog. Check out this community post for how-to guidance on configuring your settings. 🚀 Noteworthy Highlights New private offer enhancements As part of our ongoing commitment to improving your Microsoft marketplace experience, we recently rolled out new updates to streamline the private offer purchase process. Here’s what’s changed: Clearer terminology: We’ve changed "recurring billing" to "auto-renew" across private offers, private plans, and public offers to better reflect this functionality. New settings: Auto-renew is now set to “off” by default for SaaS private offers and private plans, preventing unwanted renewals and reducing refunds and cancellations. Simpler interface: The auto-renew option now uses a toggle button to improve its on/off functionality. Customer notifications: Customers will now receive email notifications about their upcoming renewals or expirations, helping them stay informed and take action when needed. The value for you and your customers: These enhancements will further streamline the private offer purchase experience, reducing friction and giving customers more confidence when transacting through the marketplace. For you, this means more seamless marketplace sales and higher customer satisfaction. Resources: For more details, explore the technical documentation to learn about these private offer improvements. 🌟 ️Partner Resources Discover exclusive resources designed to help you maximize your success in the marketplace! Explore our latest resources, blogs, and much more below: Partner blog series: Capturing the marketplace opportunity by selling path Check out our ongoing four-part blog series on how you can make the most of the Microsoft marketplace across different selling motions. Part one: Learn how adopting the marketplace as a core go-to-market strategy can help you close deals faster and increase deal sizes. Part two: Discover the power of always-on selling with digital self-service to help you grow your pipeline. Part three: Published this month, get tips and insights to maximize success when selling with channel partners through multiparty private offers. If you're looking to optimize your marketplace strategy, these blogs are a great place to start. Catch up on parts one to three now and stay tuned for the final blog in May, which will cover how to drive successful joint sales opportunities when co-selling with Microsoft. Co-sell Coaching Series Hosted in the Marketplace Community, Co-sell Coaching is where your peer Microsoft partners will walk you through their best practices on how to effectively co-sell through the Microsoft marketplace. These sessions also include live Q&A with Microsoft subject-matter experts. Episode 2: Abnormal AI, On Wednesday, April 23 Brett Ferancy, Global Alliance Leader at Abnormal AI will share: The value of co-selling with Microsoft Proven best practices for effective co-sell execution Scaling through the marketplace and multiparty private offers (MPOs) Episode 3: Silverfort, On Wednesday, May 14 Jonathan Nativ, Senior Director of Strategic Alliances at Silverfort will talk about how Silverfort: Went from $0 to over $10M in marketplace billed sales (MBS) in two years Used the Microsoft marketplace to help close deals faster and with minimal friction Closed a recent marketplace deal with a large UK oil and gas company Take action: Register for Episode 2 | Register for Episode 3. You can also view all past and future sessions here. Check out the updated marketplace playbook on Microsoft Learn Access a new comprehensive guide with best practices and step-by-step instructions to streamline your marketplace onboarding and enhance your selling experience. Check out the playbook here. Mastering the Marketplace webinars Whether you’re new to the marketplace or focused on growing sales, our Mastering the Marketplace webinars cover a broad range of business and technical session topics to help accelerate your marketplace success. Visit aka.ms/MTMwebinars to find upcoming webinars, register, and mark your calendars. 🔮 Marketplace Events Marketplace Office Hours April 24, 2025, 8:30 am PST: Channel partner office hours Q&A During this channel partner office hours session, the team will provide updates on the marketplace roadmap, including upcoming features like flexible billing to support enterprise deals. We will also discuss strategies for closing end of year deals. Join to learn: Insights on the roadmap with a deep dive on enhancements to flexible billing How to close the year by getting your deals to land in May What you can expect in FY26 with Marketplace Rewards and new marketplace features Please note, this office hours will prioritize channel partner questions, please submit questions in advance when registering. Pre-submitted questions will be discussed during the Q&A portion at the end of the event. Register here! April 30, 2025, 8:30 am PST: Customer office hours Q&A with a preview into new marketplace functionality In our next customer office hours, the team will walk through new marketplace functionality that helps further streamline financial operations to help your organization be more efficient. Customers will get a deep dive into our private offer with new enhancements in flexible billing and more that will help safeguard the customer’s organization from shadow IT while fuelling innovation. Invite your customers to register and join us for a preview into new marketplace functionality and view previous sessions office hours session on-demand here. Marketplace at Catalyst 2025 The Microsoft marketplace team will be at the Catalyst conference, hosted by Partnership Leaders in Seattle from May 13–15, 2025. Microsoft Chief Partner Office Nicole Dezen will deliver the keynote, and Jason Rook, Sr. Director of Marketplace Product Marketing, will host a mainstage session on "Activating the channel and co-sell opportunity through the Microsoft marketplace," which will dive deep into partner-to-partner selling opportunities and how to co-sell with the Microsoft field. Plus, receive guidance on how to boost marketplace success with benefits and incentives. Take action: Register for Catalyst! Microsoft Build 2025 Mark your calendars! Microsoft Build returns to Seattle and online from May 19 – 22, 2025. Register now to receive the most up-to-date information about the event. Opportunity for 1:1 meetings the week of Microsoft Build 2025 During the week of Microsoft Build (May 19-22), executives from software development companies can request meetings with Microsoft leaders from Azure Marketing, Engineering, and Marketplace. This is a unique chance to engage directly with key decision-makers at Microsoft, as we work together to build the future. Whether you’re driving innovation, scaling your business, or exploring strategic partnerships, these conversations can help unlock new possibilities. Complete this form by Apr. 30 to submit your request. The Microsoft team will reach out to confirm availability and the next steps. Please note: These meetings will take place offsite and are not part of the official Microsoft Build agenda, so event passes are not required or provided. Also, due to high interest and limited availability, submitting a request does not guarantee a meeting slot. Take action: Register to attend for Build and complete the form by April 30 th to submit a request for a 1:1 executive meeting (if you plan on attending in person). 💬 Share Your Feedback! We truly appreciate your feedback and want to ensure these Partner Release Notes deliver the information you need to succeed in the marketplace. If you have any feedback or suggestions on how we can continue to improve the content to best support you, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below! Thank you!
