AI Is the Headline — but Readiness Is the Real Story for MSPs
AI is everywhere right now. Customers are asking about Copilot. They’re curious about automation. They want faster, smarter ways to work. And on the surface, it all feels exciting—and urgent. But when you spend time with MSPs, a different story often emerges. Behind the AI curiosity are environments that aren’t quite ready. Devices are managed inconsistently. Identity hygiene varies by tenant. Security baselines drift over time. And for MSPs, holding all of this together manually—customer by customer—simply doesn’t scale. That gap between AI ambition and operational reality is becoming one of the most important conversations MSPs can have today. Why AI Success Still Comes Down to the Basics AI doesn’t fail because of a lack of innovation. It fails because the fundamentals aren’t in place. Without secure identities, compliant devices, and consistent policies, AI initiatives struggle to move beyond pilots—or worse, introduce new risk. That’s why so many Copilot conversations eventually circle back to the same question: Are we actually ready for this? This is where MSPs play a defining role. Not as AI hype merchants, but as partners who help customers build the foundation that makes AI practical, secure, and sustainable. At the center of that foundation sits Microsoft Intune. Microsoft Intune: Essential, but How Do You Scale? Microsoft Intune is already included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium. Many customers own it. Many MSPs support it. Yet adoption and consistency remain uneven. The challenge isn’t Intune itself—it’s the operational model. Managing Intune tenant by tenant, navigating multiple portals, and maintaining consistency across customers creates friction for MSPs. It’s time‑consuming, error‑prone, and difficult to turn into a repeatable service. And yet, Intune is critical. It’s the control plane for users, devices, access, and security—everything AI depends on to work safely at scale. Without Intune done right, AI readiness remains theoretical. Why the Partnership Matters: Microsoft Intune and AvePoint Elements This is why our partnership with Microsoft matters so much. Microsoft Intune provides the foundation. AvePoint Elements makes it scalable for MSPs. AvePoint Elements acts as the MSP operating layer on top of Intune—helping partners standardize, automate, and manage Intune across multiple customer tenants from a single platform. For MSPs, that translates into something very tangible: Less manual effort and portal hopping Consistent Intune baselines across customers Automated user and device lifecycle management Reduced drift, better efficiency, and healthier margins Instead of Intune being “work you absorb,” it becomes something you can package, repeat, and build a business around. From One‑Time Setup to Ongoing Value What we’re seeing with leading MSPs is a mindset shift. Intune is no longer treated as a one‑off deployment. It becomes a managed service—part of a broader story around security, governance, and AI readiness. That might mean standardized Intune onboarding, continuous device and identity hygiene, or positioning Copilot readiness as an ongoing engagement rather than a project. The outcome is powerful and familiar to MSPs who’ve made this transition before: Predictable recurring revenue Operational scale without linear headcount growth Stronger customer trust A clear path from security to AI enablement The Moment for MSPs Customers don’t just want access to AI. They want confidence that it’s being deployed responsibly. MSPs who can provide that confidence—by grounding AI adoption in strong Intune foundations—will stand out in the next phase of the market. That’s exactly what the partnership between Microsoft Intune and AvePoint Elements is designed to enable. A Note for MSP Partners If you’re an MSP thinking about how to: Scale Microsoft Intune delivery Reduce operational friction And turn AI readiness into a repeatable service This is a conversation worth leaning into now. Because in the age of AI, the partners who win won’t just deploy new tools—they’ll make them work in the real world. Join us for “From Copilot to Catalyst: How MSPs Turn AI Readiness Into Recurring Revenue” and explore how Microsoft Intune and AvePoint Elements work better together—helping you turn AI readiness into real, sustainable growth.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.Partner Blog | Copilot monetization for SMBs: Start with Copilot Chat, scale with agents
This post kicks off a five-part series for Microsoft partners on the Copilot monetization opportunity for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Each post follows a repeatable approach aligned to the Microsoft Customer Engagement Methodology (MCEM) and the Win Formula—from building credibility as Customer Zero to driving adoption and measurable outcomes, then extending value with agents and specializations. If you’re looking for practical ways to turn your customers’ AI interest into secure, scalable outcomes and repeatable revenue, you’re in the right place. SMBs want proof, not hype. They want an AI path that fits how they work today, stays governed, and delivers results. SMBs are the backbone of the global economy, accounting for 90% of all firms with around 400 million enterprises worldwide, according to the World Economic Forum’s SME Resource Hub. At the same time, 82% of leaders are rethinking core aspects of their strategy and operations, under constant pressure to do more with less. That combination is driving a shift from AI curiosity to AI decisions. Continue reading here
Driving Global SMB Impact Through AI Powered, Partner Led Digital Sales
Join Siew Hoon Goh, General Manager of Microsoft’s Global Vendor Digital Sales (VDS) organization, as she shares how VDS is transforming SMB engagement through digitally‑scaled, partner‑centric sales motions that deliver impact worldwide. Under her leadership, VDS has become a core engine in Microsoft’s SMB strategy—driving significant YoY revenue growth, pioneering AI‑forward sales capabilities, and strengthening global alignment across Americas, EMEA, and Asia. In this session, Siew Hoon Goh will explore: How VDS empowers thousands of SMB customers by combining digital signals, AI innovation, and partner collaboration at scale. The evolving “digitally initiated, partner closed” model that accelerates customer acquisition, migration, and growth across global markets. FY26 priorities—including AI transformation, CSP growth acceleration, and deeper global‑regional orchestration—that strengthen partner execution and unlock new revenue opportunities. Attendees will gain insight into Microsoft’s fastest‑scaling SMB sales engine and learn how partners can amplify their impact by aligning with VDS’ global motion and leveraging shared best practices, joint planning frameworks, and AI‑powered customer engagement strategies. Register for this IAMCP Enlighten session here Driving Global SMB Impact Through AI Powered, Partner Led Digital SalesJoin the Fabric Partner Community for the next Fabric Engineering Connection calls!
Are you a Microsoft partner that is interested in data and analytics? Be sure to join us for the next Fabric Engineering Connection call, now offered at two different times! 🎉 This week's Fabric Engineering Connection call will include Rick Xu and Sumiran Tandon presenting on CMK for Fabric Workspaces. The APAC Fabric Engineering Connection call will take place Thursday, June 5, from 1-2 am UTC/Wednesday, June 4, from 5-6 pm PDT. This is your opportunity to learn more, ask questions, and provide feedback. To join the call, you must be a member of the Fabric Partner Community Teams channel. To join, complete the participation form at https://lnkd.in/g_PRdfjt. We can't wait to see you Wednesday/Thursday!📢 Swiss Partner Townhall – May Edition
🗓 May 28th 🕤 9:30 – 10:30 AM (Online) 👉 Register here: https://aka.ms/swisspartnertownhall We’re back with our Monthly Swiss Partner Townhall, your go-to forum for the latest updates, strategies, and guidance to empower your business. 💡 This month’s agenda is packed with timely topics and expert speakers: 🔹 Top of Mind – Andrew Reid 🔹 New European Digital Commitments: What They Mean for Switzerland – Moritz Oberli 🔹 3-Year SKU Strategy & Promotional Roadmap – Thomas Rupp 🔹 Technical Presales & Development Services Benefits – Beat Weissenberger 🔹 Understanding Security Score Requirements: FAQs – Manuel Michaud 🔹 Events & Partner Enablement Updates – Diyor Iskandarov 🎯 Stay informed. Stay competitive. Stay connected. We look forward to seeing you there. 👉 Register here: https://aka.ms/swisspartnertownhall #SwissPartnerTownhall #MicrosoftSwitzerland #PartnerNetwork #Switzerland #Cloud #AI #Innovation #Technology #TechUpdates #DigitalSwitzerland #PartnerEnablement #CloudInnovation
CSP potential customer on MCA multitant/ shareholding
Hello, Thank you for the opportunity to write about this. We have a request where a customer would like to implement Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations on a multi-tenant basis. However, there are now the challenges that the customer wants to map several holdings of his company network in his productive environments. Is this a license violation if the customer includes company holdings from his company network, as shown in the diagram? In my opinion, it is clear from the MCA that the customer cannot license company A in his tenant under CSP in the case of minority shareholdings. Is this correct? AS employees of companies B and C provide services for company A, the customer would like a one- tenant solution Is it possible to reach an agreement with Microsoft for this company construct without concluding an EA? Thank you!AI Guide for Swiss SMEs: Mastery and Implementation
The Growing Importance of AI for Swiss SMEs Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the daily operations across all industries. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), AI opens up new business opportunities and has the potential to significantly enhance efficiency and productivity through tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot. According to the study "New Technology: The Projected Total Economic Impact of Microsoft 365 Copilot For SMB," AI is set to revolutionize business processes profoundly. Cross-Organizational Potential of AI Utilization Over 50% of Swiss SMEs are already incorporating AI into their processes, yet only 9% are using it systematically. Studies reveal that 42% of companies anticipate noticeable efficiency and productivity gains within the next two years. AI can accelerate administrative tasks, automate data analysis, and support lead generation in sales, among other applications. The potential uses span the entire value chain and various roles within SMEs. Building Knowledge and Competence as Key Factors To remain competitive, it is crucial for SMEs to develop a fundamental understanding of AI, systematically build knowledge, and continuously expand practical applications. Establishing a solid foundation of AI knowledge and competencies enables strategic decision-making and efficient operational measures in the era of this transformative technology. About The AI Guide This guide by Innovate Switzerland is a carefully curated collection of selected content that makes the diverse field of AI accessible for different roles within SMEs. It aims to help SMEs find a productive entry point into the topic, build trust in AI technologies, and successfully implement them both strategically and operationally. Key Takeaways for Microsoft Partners AI's Growing Role: Emphasize the increasing significance of AI for Swiss SMEs and the transformative potential of tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot. Educational Resources: Highlight the availability of concise and informative resources for understanding generative AI and Microsoft 365 Copilot. Broad Applications: Showcase the wide-ranging applications of AI across various business processes and roles within SMEs. Competence Building: Stress the importance of developing AI knowledge and competencies to make informed strategic decisions and enhance operational efficiency. Supportive Guide: Promote the training guide by Innovate Switzerland as a valuable resource for SMEs to navigate the AI landscape effectively. By leveraging these insights, Microsoft Partners can better support Swiss SMEs in their AI journey, helping them unlock new opportunities and drive growth through innovative AI solutions. Discover more and access the full guide here: German: https://innovate-switzerland.ch/de/ki-verstehen-und-anwenden French: https://innovate-switzerland.ch/fr/comprendre-et-appliquer-lia/
