MPN Cloud Gold Competencies To Come with Guarantee

The addition of the first three cloud competencies to the Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) on Sept. 29 will come with a twist.

"When a customer achieves the gold competency level, we will provide them with account management. We've never made that commitment before," Gavriella Schuster, general manager of worldwide partner marketing and programs at Microsoft, said in an interview with RCP.

Microsoft has been pushing for years to get partners to offer cloud to customers, but the company has wrestled with how to integrate cloud into the MPN's structure of nearly 20-odd competencies. An extra-competency structure, called Cloud Essentials and Cloud Accelerate, is being wound down. Last year, the company also introduced, then canceled, a plan to create cloud tracks within relevant competencies.

The new plan is to create three competencies for cloud: Small and Midmarket Cloud Solutions, Cloud Productivity and Cloud Platform. A fourth competency built around Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is planned for later in Microsoft's fiscal year.

Promising either a Partner Account Manager (PAM) or a telePAM for partners who reach gold in a cloud competency is new for Microsoft. Normally, Microsoft reserves the right to choose only certain gold partners for management.

Posted by Scott Bekker on July 25, 2014 at 10:27 AM