Microsoft revealed its plans to revamp its partner model recently, replacing the Partner Network with the Cloud Partner Program. In the Dynamics 365 and Power Platform space, veteran partners have already started to take measure of the impact of the changes - how Microsoft will score their performance in the channel and what benefits they will gain, lose, or keep as a result.

Our guests, AJ Ansari of DWSi and Peter Wolf of Azamba, tell us that, on the whole, the early signals from Microsoft about the new program have been discouraging. They cite a number of reasons, from the details of the new scoring system to Microsoft's lack of outreach. Neither AJ nor Peter believes that Microsoft engineered the new program to hurt healthy and growing business applications-focused partners, but their concern is real and they believe Microsoft will begin hearing a rising chorus of questions and criticisms as the program nears the planned implementation date.

AJ and Peter discuss this issue from range of perspectives, including the new scoring, the business value of different benefits like IURs, and the realities of trying to run a Microsoft partner business under the new program.

See also:

• The Crancer Group discussion of the evolving Microsoft Partner Network
• Microsoft documentation on the Solutions partner for Business applications
• Upcoming webcast:  Business Apps Partner Chat, May 2022: Microsoft’s New Cloud Partner Program – What's Changing and What's In It for Me?