Transcribed
The Microsoft Partner Journey Explained
Jul 15, 2026 ·
14m 47s
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The Microsoft Partner Journey Explained
Description
Many Microsoft partners still think in Silver and Gold tiers and leave real money on the table. This episode explains to partner owners and alliance managers how membership, Solutions Partner...
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Many Microsoft partners still think in Silver and Gold tiers and leave real money on the table. This episode explains to partner owners and alliance managers how membership, Solutions Partner designations and specializations work today, what the Partner Capability Score measures and how incentives and MDF really pay out.
In this episode
Key takeaways
Explore more on M365.FM
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In this episode
- 00:00 – Why the old Silver and Gold model is gone
- 02:16 – The membership layer
- 03:33 – What a Solutions Partner designation requires
- 05:20 – The six solution areas and the coming consolidation
- 06:32 – Benefits and incentives of a Solutions Partner
- 08:53 – Specializations, where the economics change
- 10:36 – Co-op, MDF and money left on the table
- 11:58 – Building your partner journey roadmap
Key takeaways
- The Microsoft partner journey has three layers, membership, Solutions Partner designation and specialization, and the program now measures customer outcomes instead of certifications.
- A Solutions Partner designation requires 70 of 100 Partner Capability Score points with no zero in any metric, and customer success through usage growth and deployments carries the most weight.
- Partners should check their capability score and MDF balance in Partner Center, start with one solution area such as Modern Work and then target a first specialization.
Explore more on M365.FM
- Episode page: the full episode with chapters, costs, scoring rules and a short FAQ
- Microsoft Azure – provides the starter credits in membership bundles and three of the six solution areas
- Microsoft 365 – behind the Modern Work designation, named as the easiest first solution area for most partners
- Dynamics 365 – maps to the Business Applications solution area and appears among membership license benefits
- Related episode: How to Become a High: Performing Microsoft Partner
- Related episode: The Partnership Mistakes That Cost Partners Millions
Follow and rate M365.FM in your podcast app, and join the free M365 community at m365con.net.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/m365-fm-microsoft-365-azure-cloud-power-platform-ai--6704921/support.
Information
| Author | Mirko Peters M365, Azure & AI |
| Organization | m365 FM |
| Website | www.m365.fm |
| Tags |
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