Check out these top stories for the latest news of the week for Microsoft partners in the Americas.
This year’s premier partner event revealed a lot of great information about the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program and the latest AI innovations to help your business thrive. If you weren’t able to attend or want to catch up on the sessions you missed, you can still watch the sessions on demand. Be sure to check out this session co-hosted by Nina Harding, CVP, Americas GPS, to learn about our plans for FY24.
Now let’s take a look at some of the key highlights from Inspire. Browse all of the latest opportunities, news, and announcements listed below or use these quick links to review by solution area:
| Modern Work and Security | |
| Azure | Transformation |
| Business Applications | Voices for Innovation |
| Black Partner Growth Initiative | Partner Resources |
| Demand Gen | Join Us (Events and Activities) |
Modern Work
Partner audience: All Partners
Relevant to: #News, #GrowYourBiz, #ModernWork
Sales Advisor added to Microsoft 365 Lighthouse
Project Orland has moved to general availability with a new name, Sales Advisor, in the expanded Microsoft 365 Lighthouse. Lighthouse transforms the way Cloud Solution Providers (CSPs) engage with their customers through advanced AI-driven insights to proactively manage customer relationships on a larger scale. Sales Advisor simplifies tenant management, minimizes risks, and delivers personalized recommendations. We strongly advise our partners to make regular use of this tool to fully unlock your customer’s potential. Learn more and get started!
FY24 SMB workshops
SMB workshops drive customer intent and conversion with partner-led interactive briefings. In FY24, workshops are updated to support our FY24 solution plays with better value and flexibility for partners. To register your interest in the SMB workshops, fill out this form.
Microsoft 365 E3 promo extended
The Microsoft 365 E3 15 percent off promotion for new customers is being extended through Q1. We encourage partners to drive upsell to Microsoft 365 E3 and help get customers AI-ready. Review this FAQ and summary to learn more.
Bing Chat Enterprise
Bing Chat Enterprise gives organizations AI-powered chat for work with commercial data protection. Bing Chat Enterprise is rolling out in preview to customers licensed for Microsoft 365 E5, E3, Business Premium, and Business Standard at no additional cost. A standalone subscription will be available for $5 per user per month in the future. To learn more, read this announcement and this blog introducing Bing Chat Enterprise and Microsoft 365 Copilot pricing.
Microsoft 365 Copilot pricing
Microsoft 365 Copilot brings a whole new way of working, including the ability to ask questions and get answers from the web. We’re excited to announce that Microsoft 365 Copilot will be available for $30 per user per month for Microsoft 365 E3, E5, Business Standard, and Business Premium customers. To learn more, read this announcement and this blog introducing Bing Chat Enterprise and Microsoft 365 Copilot pricing.
Microsoft 365 Copilot in Teams Phone
Copilot in Teams Phone will quickly generate summaries of phone conversations, capture action items, and answer users’ questions about their phone calls. When summarizing calls, Copilot will highlight key points, such as names, dates, numbers, and tasks that were discussed, and can also recommend next steps based on what was covered in a conversation. Read more about the next wave of Copilot in Microsoft Teams.
Teams Essentials plus Teams Phone System bundle promo
As of July 17, 2023, CSP partners can now use a new set of promotional discounts and packages to create new customer acquisition motions around calling with Teams Essentials plus Teams Phone (up to $4 off per use per month). To learn more, see the promo FAQ and the Teams Phone SMB partner playbook.
Microsoft 365 CSP Masters Program bootcamps
The CSP Masters Program is built to help partners grow their Microsoft 365 sales and technical capabilities and drive adoption. We’re excited to announce the new bootcamps coming in September. Learn more and register for a bootcamp today.
Windows 365 Enterprise in CSP offer
Windows 365 Cloud PC has revolutionized hybrid end-user computing. To create more partner and customer excitement, we’ve introduced a 20 percent off promo for all Windows 365 Enterprise performance SKUs for existing Microsoft 365 Business Premium customers. CSP partners can take advantage of this channel-wide offer for all existing M365 Business Premium customers regardless of the original channel of purchase. Refer to the promo summary deck for details.
New Microsoft Teams Exploratory self-service trial offer
Microsoft launched a new Teams Exploratory self-service trial offer for Enterprise and SMB customers. The new Teams Exploratory self-service trial offer replaces the 12-month Teams Exploratory trial. The intent of this trial is to allow end users without Teams to use the offer for free, seeding usage that can be converted to a paid Teams license upon trial expiration. Learn more about the Teams Exploratory experience.
Azure
Partner audience: All Partners
Relevant to: #News, #AccelerateDeals, #Azure
Azure is the platform that underpins your favorite cloud services and enables innovation. From new and expanded investments to new resources on your journey to AI, here are a few of the important updates announced at Inspire:
Azure OpenAI expanded availability
Azure OpenAI Service already has more than 4,500 active customers. Now this service will reach more organizations around the world, with expanded availability in North America, Western Europe, and Asia. Learn more.
New Azure capabilities and investments
New Azure capabilities and investments include a substantial investment to increase the scale and availability of the Azure Migrate and Modernize program and the launch of Azure Innovate, a new dedicated investment, in response to the demands for analytics and AI.
Microsoft is also expanding the partnership with Meta to bring Llama 2 to Azure AI along with new innovations to the entire Azure AI portfolio.
New investments in the marketplace to unlock Azure IP co-sell benefits
Microsoft is bolstering its strategic investments in the commercial marketplace to expand Azure IP co-sell benefits. As of July 1, 2023, having a transactable offer published on the commercial marketplace is a new baseline requirement for accessing co-sell benefits, and we’re partnering across our ecosystem to help customers transition to the marketplace and access maximum benefits to grow their profitability. As a Microsoft partner, this is an enormous market opportunity for you to sell your co-sell eligible cloud-based apps on the commercial marketplace. Read this blog to learn more.
Migrate to innovate
Our customers need help modernizing their data estate to take advantage of the capabilities that AI has to offer. We continue to improve and build on our free Azure Migrate tool, which helps partners demonstrate the value of Azure to customers. Learn more about the updates we’ve made since Inspire.
Business Applications
Partner audience: All Partners
Relevant to: #News, #GrowYourBiz, #BizApps
AI-powered Business Applications and Power Platform
Dynamics 365 Copilot, the world’s first AI-powered assistant for CRM and ERP, is helping organizations harness AI innovation to leapfrog the competition and grow their business with customers. Learn more.
Microsoft Sales Copilot
An evolution of Microsoft Viva Sales, designed to transform seller experiences, Microsoft Sales Copilot empowers sellers to increase productivity with custom engagements and close more deals. Learn more.
Dynamics 365 Customer Insights
Dynamics 365 Customer Insights unifies Dynamics 365 Marketing and Dynamics 365 Customer Insights into a single AI-powered solution. Generally available September 1, 2023, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Insights combines customer journey work, real-time marketing, and customer insights for an all-in-one solution. Learn more.
AIM for the future with Microsoft Dynamics
A new program to help customers accelerate their move to the cloud, AIM provides a tailored path through access to resources (assessments, implementation guidance, services, and investment offers). Customers with full on-prem ERP and CRM products are eligible. Learn more.
AI innovations in Power Platform
AI innovations in Power Platform, the most complete low-code platform, will help you accelerate app development, drive productivity, optimize for efficiency, and reduce costs. Learn more.
Business Applications opportunity with the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program
The Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program enables Business Applications partners—both ISVs and SIs—to differentiate their business. Show your expertise and unlock incentives with a Solutions Partner designation or differentiate further with a Business Applications specialization in Business Intelligence, Finance, Intelligent Automation, Low Code Application Development, Sales, Service, Small and Midsize Business Management, and Supply Chain. For ISVs, leverage the Business Applications ISV Connect program as part of ISV Success. Learn more.
Related posts
Learn about the FY24 Business Applications solution plays | Microsoft
Essential partner support resources to help you achieve more | Microsoft
Join the conversation
Want to explore this and other topics you care about with Microsoft and other US partners? Head over to the Microsoft Americas Partner Community on LinkedIn.
