 | | | | | Software and IT Partner News | | | |
By SuperUser Account on 3/24/2011 1:36 PM
 |
| Leading analyst firm points to opportunities for Microsoft partners both in cloud computing and with current Microsoft products. |
| |
|
REDMOND, Wash. — March 24, 2011 — Today, global research firm IDC issued a new white paper which estimates that members of the worldwide Microsoft ecosystem generated local revenues for themselves of $580 billion in 2010, up from $537 billion in 2009 and $475 billion in 2007. This demonstrates strong revenue growth when total worldwide IT spending increased less than half a percent, and validates the substantial opportunities and benefits available through the Microsoft Partner Network, the program that equips Microsoft partners with training, resources and support they need to successfully compete in today’s marketplace while allowing customers to easily identify the right partner for their technology needs.
Through the Microsoft Partner Network https://partner.microsoft.com, partners can extend their market reach for greater opportunities and profitability while delivering innovative solutions to help customers achieve their business goals. The IDC study estimates that for every dollar of revenue made by Microsoft Corp. in 2009, local members of the Microsoft ecosystem generated revenues for themselves of $8.70. In an additional study on Microsoft Core Infrastructure Optimization, IDC found that partners that invested in more difficult or a greater number of Microsoft competencies enjoyed 68 percent larger deals and 28 percent more revenue per employee, compared with partners that invested less.
“The Microsoft Partner Network has allowed us to extend and grow our business by delivering innovative solutions to our customers,” said Tom Chew, national general manager of Slalom Consulting. “Over the past year, we’ve increased revenue 45 percent and built strong momentum with Microsoft technologies around cloud services, business intelligence, portals and collaboration, dynamics, and unified communications. As a Microsoft partner, we’ve been able to differentiate Slalom and grow rapidly in an extremely challenging business landscape.”
“Microsoft and its partners make a significant impact on the global economy,” said Darren Bibby, program vice president for IDC Software Channels and Alliances Research. “Microsoft does an excellent job of providing great products for partners to work with, as well as effective sales, marketing and training resources. And the number of Microsoft partners working together is growing. The result is that the Microsoft ecosystem has achieved impressive results and has a very bright future.”
The Microsoft-commissioned IDC report reveals that the modifications made to the Microsoft Partner Network equip Microsoft partners with the training, resources and support they need to be well-positioned in the competitive IT marketplace, both with the current lineup of Microsoft products and in the cloud. Cloud-based solutions offer Microsoft partners the opportunity to grow by extending their current businesses via cloud infrastructure-as-a-service (private and/or public), software-as-a-service (Microsoft Business Productivity Online Standard Suite and/or Office 365), platform-as-a-service (Windows Azure) or a hybrid combined with on-premise solutions. Microsoft’s cloud offerings are based on products customers already use and that partners have already built their businesses around.
|
| By SuperUser Account on 2/17/2011 7:33 PM
For those of you Microsoft Partners with questions or concerns about the new Microsoft Partner Program, here is a great opportunity. Eric Ligman has just announced thru his blog that Microsoft is hosting an interactive forum in which we can participate. The team that will be presenting is impressive, and there is a Q&A session. Below is the blog post with the details. And also, if you havent already done so, be sure to post your thoughts on our discussion of this topic on our LinkedIn Group
From Eric Ligman's Blog, Microsoft Worldwide Partner Experience Lead Join us for a Microsoft Partner Network Interactive Leadership ForumWhat are you doing Thursday, March 10th from 7:00 – 8:30 am PST? If you are a Microsoft partner, I would like to invite you to join us for a unique opportunity designed just for you: an interactive online forum with the leadership team of the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Group. As I have mentioned many times here on my blog, through my Twitter account, my Linkedin account, in-person meetings, and many other places, here at Microsoft, we are continually striving to reach out, listen to, communicate with, and work with our partners to build a strong partnership with you and to enable the highest levels of joint success possible. Part of this effort includes helping partners get answers to questions they have, addressing misconceptions that may exist, and bringing awareness to resources available that you may not be familiar with. As such, we are hosting an interactive online forum with the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Group leadership team to discuss topics, questions, concerns, misconceptions and more that we have heard from partners around the world regarding the Microsoft Partner Network to help address and answer these for you. I will be moderating this session and joining me will be:
- Julie Bennani: General Manager, Microsoft Partner Network
- Ross Brown: Vice-President, Worldwide Partner Sales
- Karl Noakes: General Manager, Microsoft Partner Strategy & Programs
- Jon Roskill: Corporate Vice-President, Worldwide Partner Group (hopefully, based on travel schedule. Should know by end of this week.)
| By SuperUser Account on 12/1/2010 10:01 AM
We're in the process of moving our News and Blog posts over to this News section from our old Blog, so we are re-posting this here just so we have it in our archives. In addition, this has been by far the most read article we have posted, as well as the most intensely debated one. In fact,the Discussion on this article in our Linked In Group has close to 200 replies I believe, and is a great read if you would like to get a general feel for the broad range of Microsoft Partner sentiment around the globe. It first ran in the September 2006 issue of SMB Partner Channel Magazine so is a bit dated, but still seems to be appropriate today IMHO. “This partnership stinks! I’ve been a partner for a year now and Microsoft hasn’t sent me one opportunity!” I hear this a lot. Many partners fully expect that once they sign up for the Microsoft Partner program, they will soon find it difficult to handle the flood of opportunities Microsoft sends their way. Not only is this a fallacy, it shouldn’t be expected. Inappropriate expectations from your partnership with Microsoft can cause great frustration for you and your team. They can also cause you to miss out on great opportunities that this partnership can present you. Should Microsoft send lots of leads to its partner community? Sure they should, and they do. But remember, Microsoft has over 300,000 partners worldwide. Before I discuss tactical ideas for leveraging better your partnership with Microsoft, I’d like to review why you should partner with Microsoft in the first place. You should NOT sign up for the Microsoft Partner Program because you expect leads or sales support. Just as you should with any other Product Manufacturer (though I do realize they call themselves a Solutions company), you should choose to become a Microsoft Partner because: - They make the products that your customers are asking for, OR
- They make products that make it easier for you to develop cost-effective solutions for your customers, OR
- They make products that integrate better with the business productivity applications (e-mail, word processing, spreadsheets) that most of your clients spend 80% of every day using, OR
- They make the products that will allow you to maximize the growth of your top and bottom line financial goals, OR
- They provide a robust partner program that will support your team as your firm grows
- And so on….. get the idea?
| By SuperUser Account on 12/1/2010 9:56 AM
|
| Q&A: Microsoft’s Jon Roskill discusses what it means to be successful in a partner-to-partner network, how to manage today’s fast-moving business climate and how partners can balance the future with the present for their prosperity. |
| |
|
REDMOND, Wash. — Dec. 1, 2010 — During most of his 18-year career at Microsoft, Jon Roskill has worked closely with partners and gained a deep understanding of what partner success looks like in a global economy. Now corporate vice president of the Worldwide Partner Group at Microsoft, Roskill leads the group that manages the Microsoft Partner Program. After nearly 150 days in the position, Roskill met yesterday with a few dozen partners in a town hall setting.
The gathering in the newly opened Microsoft Store in Bellevue, Wash., was the first in a series of meetings around the world that will help Roskill drive connection with the partner community. Roskill’s goal is to provide a platform for open dialogue where he can listen to partners’ thoughts and concerns, and share Microsoft’s vision for the future and how partners can work together to be successful. With the newly revamped Microsoft Partner Network having just launched, Roskill sees now as an ideal time to discuss any additional clarity partners may need.
“Last year, Microsoft generated $62.5 billion in revenue, 95 percent of which comes through the channel or partner ecosystem,” Roskill said. “Partners are integral to the future of Microsoft and its customers. We are critical to each other’s success, and key to that success is listening to what is important to them, what concerns them and what direction they are headed in for their future success. And that’s why we’re here today, so we can continue working as we travel at lightning speed into the future together.”
Microsoft News Center spoke with Roskill to find out more.
News Center: The town hall meetings with partners are an interesting idea. Why are you doing this?
Roskill: Community is the foundation of the Microsoft Partner Network and part of the work we do every day. We noticed through round table discussions with various partners that they are more collaborative with one another than you might expect. They often work together and share ideas on best practices and what has worked well for them. As we move toward the future, we want to amplify this for all partners and continue to strengthen these ties so the partner ecosystem can build momentum.
Town hall gatherings are one of the many ways we are connecting with this community. As part of the Microsoft Partner Network, we created social media forums on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and the Microsoft Partner Member Community sites. Partners can join the network at no cost, and once they’ve joined, they can take part in conversations with other partners and experts at Microsoft about the latest technologies and trends. Partners can use these resources to stay competitive, boost their bottom line, increase connections and find the keys to unlocking greater business success.
News Center: When you look out at the next two to three years, what are the biggest growth opportunities for partners?
Roskill: Some of the biggest opportunities for partners are with on-premise products such as Windows 7 and Office 2010, both of which have had dynamite success. SharePoint Server, Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Windows Server 2008 R2 also are doing quite well. Microsoft gives partners far more cross-sell/up-sell opportunities that will deliver value for their customers, strengthen their customer relationship and bring in revenue.
|
|
| | | | |
| | | | | Featured Microsoft Partners | | | |
Please wait...
|
|
| |
|
|
Eskel Porter Consulting
Office Location: Sacramento, , United States
Type: VAR
Industry Focus:
Since 1978, Eskel Porter Consulting has been providing information technology solutions and consulting services to the public and private sectors. We consistently meet our clients' business objectives throughout the IT lifecycle, from planning through deployment and into maintenance and operations. Our philosophy is to do what it takes for our clients to succeed - providing the expertise and resources to make technology work!
|
|
|
|
C5 Insight
Office Location: Charlotte, , United States
Type: Systems Integrator,Reseller,Training Firm,VAR
Industry Focus: Banking Education Energy Events Manufacturing Government Health Services Hospital Pharmaceuticals Telecommunications Professional Services Travel Engineering Medical Boards Logistics Transportation
C5 Insight accelerates business by combining a deep understanding of our client's businesses with expertise in SharePoint and Microsoft Dynamics xRM/CRM.
|
|
|
|
Borek Business Solutions
Office Location: Bend, Oregon, United States
Type: Reseller,VAR
Industry Focus: Small and Mid-Sized Businesses needing Financial/ERP Software. Many healthcare firms, Non-profit, distribution and light manufacturing companies.
At Borek Business Solutions, we get it. We understand the needs of small & mid-sized businesses because we've been there: we're a midsize business with small company roots. We're experts in Microsoft Dynamics® GP, an integrated, adaptable, user-friendly ERP business management solution.
|
|
|
|
iNECTA llc
Office Location: Miami, Florida, United States
Type: ISV,Reseller,VAR
Industry Focus:
iNECTA is a Gold Certified Microsoft Business Solution Center. We provide comprehensive tailor-made solutions for today's mid-market businesses. Our mission is to improve our customers' business procedures using proven methodology and state-of-the-art technology delivering value at the right cost and on time. iNECTA is comprised of certified developers, implementers, hardware technicians and consultants with over 30 years of combined experience with the NAVISION product. Navision, which was officially acquired by Microsoft on July 11th, 2002, gives you an immediate competitive advantage thanks to the expertise of INECTA. Our specialists can help design a solution geared to your specific business needs, providing you with the tools that can help you realize the full potential of your business. The implementation process is fast, efficient and cost effective. Once the implementation is complete, iNECTA will provide a level of support that ensures you to gain maximum value from your business solution investment. With more than 133,000 installations, Software has been tried and tested. The experience from numerous implementations of business solution software give iNECTA the necessary understanding of your requirements and of the market you compete in. iNECTA will turn that knowledge into a solution best suited to your business. We realize that your business needs can change over time, and can therefore adapt a solution that changes and grows with your business. Microsoft-Navision's unique methodology, processes and tools ensure that implementing your new business solution will not bring your business to a standstill. Our implementation process is both fast and cost-effective. Our experts can provide excellent training programs at a low cost. Microsoft-Navision products are fast to deploy and easy to learn, and you have the support of our experts throughout the entire process. Once your new solution is up a running, you will notice an immediate competitive advantage. iNECTA ensures you that no matter what your changing business needs are, your investment in your business solution is secure. You can rely on quality service that include maintenance from a specialist when needed. You do not need to worry about the business outgrows the software solution. The methodology and tools provided by iNECTA means that you could easily upgrade or extend your solution without any disruption to your business.
|
|
|
|
LearnDevNow
Office Location: Eden Prairie, Minnesota, United States
Type: Training Firm
Industry Focus:
LearnDevNow provides practical online learning videos for Microsoft developers worldwide. Our comprehensive learning library features self-paced training videos for Visual Studio, SQL Server, SharePoint and more, allowing busy developers to learn whenever and wherever it fits their schedule.
|
| Search All Companies |
| |
| | | | |
|
|