Find out what’s new for Microsoft partners. We’ll connect you to resources that help you become market-ready, connect with customers and prospects, and differentiate your business. Read previous issues.
We provide real-time updates about the topics covered in this newsletter and other partner-related news and information on our US Partner Community Twitter feed.
To stay in touch with me and connect with other partners and Microsoft sales, marketing, and product experts, join our US Partner Community on Yammer and see other options to stay informed.
Top stories
Catch the Office 2016 wave today – rollout begins September 22
Office 2016 is the latest addition to Office 365—a subscription service that helps make it easier than ever for people to do their best work, together. The rollout of Office 2016 begins Tuesday, September 22. On our blog, see the virtual launch events schedule and get links to partner resources. Read our blog post
Cloud Services partner incentives – September 2015 update and office hours
Get an update about three Cloud Services incentives that support customer and partner success by rewarding usage and consumption. US incentives lead, Jenny Kordell, explains key things for partners to know, provides links to your resources, and invites you to her monthly office hours for the US Partner Community. Learn more
Build pipeline, increase revenue, and close deals with the “Make more money” webcasts
In the “Make more money” sales excellence webcasts for US partner sellers, we’ll explain the latest partner opportunities, how to identify them, and how to have effective customer conversations to build your pipeline, increase revenue, and close deals. Speakers include Microsoft product experts and partners that will share their insights and best practices. See the schedule and register
New Microsoft Data Platform University sales training series
This new series of online, live, interactive sales training sessions will explain each of the Microsoft Data Platform solutions and the resources available to you, and provide guidance for orchestrating a sale across each stage of the Data Platform sales cycle. Learn about SQL Server, Azure HDInsights, Power BI, Azure Machine Learning, Azure Internet of Things (IoT) services, and more. See the schedule and register
SMB Live Roadshow events schedule
Get ready to learn how you can move your business forward, profitably. Join the US SMB Team in a city near you for a day that covers what you need to know about partner success in the cloud, from the latest market data to trends in customer purchasing to building demos and making money. Choose from the “Get Started” cloud practice-building event, or the “Grow” event for partners with established cloud practices. Find and register for the event that fits your business
- October cities include Atlanta, Bellevue, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Downers Grove, Fort Lauderdale, Indianapolis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Rochester, Tampa
- November cities include Austin, Kansas City, Mountain View
Sign up for the new 8-part partner profitability webcast series that starts September 30
Each Wednesday from September 30–November 18, you can attend a free online webcast about taking your Microsoft practice to the cloud, profitably. You’ll learn about the considerations to make in your business, how to build recurring revenue, levers to increase the valuation of your business, and more. Sign up for the series
- Resources for building and sustaining profitability in your partner business
- September 23 webcast: Cloud Business Transformation Tool and offer
Windows 10 Partner Roadshow: register for the Sales Track or Technical Track in a city near you
We’re bringing Windows 10 technical and sales experts to several United States city to help you sell Windows 10, then deploy and manage it successfully for your customers. Take a look at our blog posts about these events, and register to join us in your city, or the city nearest you.
- Windows 10 Partner Technical Roadshow (16 cities; first event is September 22–23 in Tampa, FL)
- Windows 10 Partner Sales Roadshow (10 cities; first event is September 30 in Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Introducing the Proof of Value program for Advanced Analytics
With Cortana Analytics Suite, Microsoft is broadening accessibility to machine learning and in doing so, increasing the addressable market for advanced analytics solutions. Learn about our new program for US partners that helps you scope and deliver an advanced analytics solution in an accelerated time frame. Get the details about this opportunity
US Partner Hot Sheet training schedule
The Hot Sheet is a schedule of partner training courses, webcasts, community calls, and office hours. It’s updated as we learn about new training for all roles in your partner business. Visit the current Hot Sheet
Understanding and utilizing your internal use rights
Internal Use Rights cloud services and on-premises software give partner organizations firsthand knowledge of product features and capabilities. They are available to partners that have purchased a Microsoft Action Pack subscription or attained a silver or gold competency. Learn more about IUR
These support articles will help you with different products available to you for internal use:
- Internal use rights overview and activation summary
- Sign up for Office 365 using your internal use rights
- How to activate your Enterprise Mobility Suite internal-use rights licenses
- How to activate your Microsoft Azure internal use rights licenses
- Activate and assign Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Professional internal-use rights licenses
