As we have a good time Microsoft’s fiftieth anniversary, our annual State of the Companion Ecosystem second is a good alternative to mirror on the unimaginable journey we’ve shared with our companions, staff and clients. Collectively, we’ve harnessed know-how as a drive for good, reworking industries and communities. From our early days of revolutionizing private computing to main the best way in cloud innovation and now AI, our shared milestones spotlight the ability of collaboration and reinvention.
Fifty years in the past, Microsoft began with a daring concept: the assumption that know-how might change the world. Due to the biggest accomplice ecosystem within the business, numbering 500,000 and rising, that imaginative and prescient grew to become a actuality, and I do know we’re simply getting began. From the early days of distributing Home windows PCs and Workplace to now delivering AI transformation methods that resolve probably the most complicated buyer challenges, our capacity to remain on the forefront of innovation as know-how evolves is a testomony to our tradition of steady reinvention.
Based on IDC, for each $1 of Microsoft income, companies companions earn $8.45, and software program companions earn $10.93. This underscores the immense alternative obtainable to companions of every type. As we sit up for the long run, we all know that generative AI (GenAI) is forecast to develop exponentially quicker than the general IT market. Companions producing a minimum of 25% of their Microsoft-related income from AI can count on greater margins and income development, unlocking much more potential for transformation and success.*
Microsoft has at all times been a partner-led firm. Our companions are core to our heritage and our future. Their innovation and collaboration have pushed actual transformation and buyer success and can proceed to form the way forward for industries world wide. As we commemorate this historic second, I wish to take the chance to say Thank You to our companions for being on this unimaginable journey with us.
Listed here are only a few methods you possibly can be a part of us to have a good time this milestone:
- Watch this video from Judson Althoff, Government Vice President and Chief Industrial Officer, Microsoft.
- Be part of the Microsoft AI Expertise Fest for 50 days of studying and discovery beginning April 8! Achieve expertise that may empower you and your staff to construct revolutionary AI options with Microsoft’s apps and companies.
“For many years, Intel’s partnership with Microsoft has sparked innovation and delivered worth to our clients. Collectively, we’ve revolutionized industries and established new benchmarks for excellence. We stay up for collaborating for the subsequent 50 years — and past.”
— Jim Johnson, Senior Vice President, Shopper Computing Group, Intel
Making ready for the long run with the Microsoft AI Cloud Companion Program (MAICPP)
Microsoft succeeds when our companions succeed. MAICPP has developed to allow companions worldwide to ship buyer outcomes throughout each business, from small companies to the biggest enterprises. Our program is designed to offer our companions with probably the most related instruments and sources they should thrive in a quickly altering market, and it serves as the house for all accomplice varieties.
“As a proud Microsoft alum, I’ve seen firsthand how our collaboration has developed to drive significant change for companies throughout industries. From technique by engineering and implementation, PwC and Microsoft drive innovation and ship actual enterprise outcomes for purchasers worldwide.”
— Stephanie Mosticchio, Principal, US and International Microsoft Alliance Chief, PwC
Via MAICPP, all companions can entry up to date advantages packages designed to speed up development and meet particular enterprise wants. Software program growth corporations are inspired to discover ISV Success, a pathway providing further advantages to increase growth capabilities and shorten time to market. Whether or not constructing, publishing or rising gross sales, companions can leverage focused presents to get the assist they want.
“As somebody who has led world partnerships at a number of of the world’s main know-how corporations, I’m impressed by how Microsoft has leaned in with their accomplice ecosystem and brought a management place in cloud computing and AI. We, at Snowflake, are excited to proceed to strengthen our partnership within the years to return, and we stay up for collectively driving buyer success within the age of enterprise AI. Congratulations!
— Tyler Prince, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Alliances & Channels, Snowflake
Relying on enterprise objectives, companions could pursue a Options Companion designation or specialization, each of which offer tailor-made advantages to assist differentiate their enterprise in a aggressive market. Attaining a designation unlocks precious go-to-market sources, gross sales assist, new incentives and product advantages to assist increase buyer attain, sharpen expertise and drive development. For software program growth corporations, turning into a Options Companion** with licensed software program*** additional enhances market presence by validating software program capabilities in high-demand areas.
“Having labored alongside each CEO of Microsoft in my profession, I wish to personally congratulate Microsoft for its 50 extraordinary years of driving relentless innovation.”
“Lenovo is proud to be a serious a part of this superb journey with Microsoft and we’re dedicated to this partnership for a lot of extra a long time to return.”
— Yuanqing Yang, Chairman and Chief Government Officer, Lenovo
For companions holding an Azure designation or Azure specialization, further incentives can be found by Azure Migrate and Modernize and Azure Innovate — each underpinned by Azure Necessities. With complete sources, in depth protection throughout eventualities and tailor-made incentives in a single easy-to-navigate hub, Azure companions can higher assist clients from migration to innovation. Study extra in What’s new for Azure partner-led choices: ISV Success and specialization updates.
Our program presents advantages for companions aligned to their development stage and throughout all buyer segments. We have now lately made the method of acquiring an Azure Options Companion designation extra aligned to our companions who specialise in working with small and midsize clients. We’re additionally increasing entry to Azure Migrate and Modernize and Azure Innovate incentives for SMB pathways. Learn extra concerning the SMB path to Azure Options Companion designations.
Cloud Resolution Supplier is our accomplice hero movement for small and medium enterprises
In November at Microsoft Ignite, we highlighted the $661 billion whole addressable market (TAM) alternative for SME&C clients in FY25 and past. Cloud Resolution Supplier (CSP) companions are the trusted advisors who serve these clients and speed up their AI transformation with the value-added companies and options that create actual enterprise affect. CSP is our hero movement that permits these companions to drive this enterprise transformation.
“Our Microsoft partnership has developed to satisfy the wants of our enterprise and our companions. Collectively we’ve been capable of assist our companions to ship true resolution and worth promoting, leveraging the sturdy sources obtainable by Microsoft AI Cloud Companion Program and benefitting from the wealthy incentives. It has enabled us to drive innovation and ship distinctive experiences for our companions by our ArrowSphere platform and broader enablement packages to make sure they’re empowered to ship actual buyer outcomes. Collectively, we’re enabling the channel to ship options that ship actual affect for purchasers world wide.”
— Brendan Murphy, International Director, Public Cloud, Arrow Electronics
We try to offer CSP companions with the skilling, capabilities and investments to make this chance a actuality. To date in FY25, now we have:
- centered our incentives to obviously align to our 5 strategic priorities — Copilot on each gadget throughout each function, AI design wins with each buyer, securing the cyber basis of each buyer, a give attention to migrations and Microsoft 365 execution
- devoted 70% of our whole incentive spend to companions that serve the Small and Medium Enterprise and Buyer (SME&C) section
- launched a collection of new promos, together with a new-to-Microsoft 365 E5 provide to allow CSP companions to win new clients
Increasing our portfolio of CSP presents and capabilities is an ongoing precedence. We share updates as they turn out to be obtainable.
Capturing {the marketplace} alternative
As clients more and more centralize their resolution procurement, marketplaces have turn out to be the popular shopping for platform. For software program corporations, adopting cloud marketplaces accelerates deal closure and will increase deal sizes. Serving as a worldwide B2B commerce engine, our market empowers Microsoft companions to offer options to clients worldwide. It presents varied gross sales fashions: digital direct, by companions or with Microsoft — offering flexibility to align with how clients wish to purchase and the way companions wish to promote. Study extra on this current weblog.
Unlocking success by skilling and occasions
The pace of know-how innovation requires steady studying. To assist this, we provide our companions a wide range of skilling alternatives, corresponding to our fashionable in-person Microsoft AI Companion Coaching Days, designed to assist companions develop each technical and gross sales capabilities.
We’re additionally streamlining and simplifying our skilling portals by initiatives like Microsoft Gross sales Titan (at present in personal preview for CSP Speed up companions and obtainable for all companions in summer season 2025), a program tailor-made to equip gross sales professionals with in-depth information of Microsoft Risk Safety SKUs, empowering them to place themselves as business leaders. Uncover these and different skilling alternatives.
Trying forward, we invite our companions to be a part of us at Microsoft Construct, going down Might 19–22, 2025. This flagship occasion presents an unique alternative to discover the newest developments in AI, discover ways to work smarter and elevate your tasks. Join with friends, business consultants and Microsoft management whereas diving into the code and improvements that may form the long run.
“Schneider Electrical and Microsoft have been pushed by a shared imaginative and prescient of a world that’s extra electrical and digital. We’re thrilled to have a good time Microsoft’s fiftieth anniversary and excited to proceed pioneering revolutionary options collectively, harnessing the transformative energy of AI, pushing the boundaries of what’s potential for our clients and shaping a sustainable future for generations to come.”
— Frédéric Godemel, Government Vice President, Vitality Administration, Schneider Electrical
Trying ahead – the subsequent 50 years
As we have a good time this exceptional milestone, we stay centered on and optimistic for the long run. We proceed to innovate, collaborate and empower our companions to thrive within the period of AI and past. The previous 50 years have been outlined by shared success, and this can proceed for our future. Collectively, we’ll unlock new alternatives, drive transformation and form the way forward for know-how.
All through this journey, tales of innovation have impressed us. Just a few examples of how companions are celebrating our fiftieth anniversary are included on this weblog. See the total record of accomplice quotes on the Microsoft 50th Anniversary celebration website.
Thanks for being an integral a part of our story. We are able to’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish collectively subsequent!
*IDC: Microsoft Companions: Driving Financial Worth and AI Maturity
**“Options Companion” refers to an organization that may be a member of the Microsoft AI Cloud Companion Program and will provide software program, companies, and/or options to clients. Reference to “Options Companion” in any content material, supplies, sources, internet properties, and so on. and any related designation must be not interpreted as a suggestion, endorsement, assure, proof of effectiveness or performance, a dedication or some other kind of illustration or guarantee on the a part of Microsoft. All selections pertaining to and associated to what you are promoting wants together with however not restricted to methods, options, accomplice choice, implementation, and so on. relaxation solely with what you are promoting.
***A certification is (A) particular to the answer’s interoperability with Microsoft merchandise and (B) primarily based on self-attestation by the answer proprietor. Options are solely licensed as of the date the answer is reviewed. Resolution performance and functionality are managed by the answer proprietor and could also be topic to vary. The inclusion of an answer in market and any such designations shouldn’t be interpreted as a suggestion, endorsement, assure, proof of effectiveness or performance, a dedication or some other kind of illustration or guarantee on the a part of Microsoft. All selections pertaining and associated to what you are promoting wants together with however not restricted to methods, options, accomplice choice, implementation, and so on. relaxation solely with what you are promoting.