Over the past couple of years, Microsoft has made some major changes to its partner program. Accredited Microsoft Business Partners used to be categorised by Gold, Certified and general tiers. Partners were awarded certification on a points-based system, and working with a Microsoft Gold Partner gave you the assurance that the partner was qualified, experienced and trusted by Microsoft to deliver its products and services.
As the network of Microsoft Partners expanded across the world and the experience and expertise of its business partners grew, there became a lot of partners certified to the highest level (Gold). So from a client’s point of view, with quite a few Gold Certified Partners around, how could you differentiate between them? If you’re looking at an ERP solution such as Microsoft Dynamics NAV for example, and you have three or four local partners , each certified to Gold and offering that product and related services, how do you tell which is more suited in terms of specific qualifications, technical expertise, product experience and business knowledge?
This is one of the reasons Microsoft revamped the way it certifies its partners. Microsoft has now replaced its Gold, Certified and general accreditation partner rating system with a more specific and more stringent competency-based programme. Microsoft Business Partners are now accredited as Gold or Silver in a specific competency area or areas. They are no longer accredited as Certified or Gold Certified as a company.
The phased out partnership programme was pretty general and although it served a purpose for a long time (this is the first time the programme has had a major overhaul in many years), the business environment has moved on.
Although at first glance these changes may seem subtle, they’re actually of real significance to Microsoft Business Partners. They’re also, more importantly, of major significance to businesses and organisations that are clients of, or are considering working with Microsoft Business Partners. It’s arguably the biggest change to Microsoft’s partner channel that the software company has ever made.
From a business partner’s point of view, the programme is tougher, there’s no getting away from it. But it makes sense. You’ll now be able to find a Microsoft Business Partner that is specifically certified to the business area you’re looking at and to a level of expertise you require. The more stringent and focussed accreditations provide a much higher level of assurance, reliability and business expertise to clients and potential clients.
Under the old partner programme, both TSG and Concentrix (now part of the TSG group) were Microsoft Gold Certified Partners. In case you haven’t seen it yet, TSG recently published a press release announcing how we achieved not one but three Gold Microsoft Competencies. So already, TSG is a UK Microsoft Partner with Gold Competencies in Server Platforms, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Portals and Collaboration.
As a company TSG is really proud that we’re among only one per cent of the 650,000 Microsoft Partners worldwide good enough to achieve this standard. To earn a Microsoft Gold Competency, organisations have to complete a rigorous set of tests to prove their level of technology expertise, have the right number of Microsoft Certified Professionals, submit customer references and demonstrate their commitment to customer satisfaction by participating in an annual survey.
This quote from TSG’s Chief Executive Officer David Stonehouse sums up the pride he has in TSG’s very capable employees,
“As the highest level of accreditation Microsoft offers its partners we are extremely proud of these achievements, especially as it’s a reflection of the hugely talented team here at TSG and I can’t praise them enough, our people really are our strength.
This was a very challenging process, with significant investment, Microsoft raised the bar last year by introducing their new competencies strategy, allowing for some differentiation of core capabilities within the Partner Network.
So to achieve recognition as one of the Microsoft Partners considered to be worthy of Gold Competency really is the icing on the cake and our customers can now have even greater confidence that their Gold Accredited Partner can deliver sound IT solutions".
For more information about the full range of TSG’s products and services or our formal accreditations and qualifications, please visit www.tsg.com or contact your TSG account manager.
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