From July 1st 2017, changes made by Microsoft in their Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) scheme will make it more difficult for Microsoft Partners to sell Dynamics 365 licenses to their customers.
In order to provide a better service to Dynamics 365 customers who purchase their licenses via the CSP scheme, Microsoft have now stipulated that partners must now have at least two staff certified in Dynamics 365. The reasoning behind this is that if these products are not properly implemented and supported, it can lead to a negative experience and potentially damaging business consequences, as well as devaluing Dynamics 365 as a platform. By ensuring that their partners have certified staff, Microsoft are helping to guarantee a level of service for all Dynamics 365 customers.
What will be the impact of these changes?
For companies that currently sell Dynamics 365 licenses to their customers, they will have four months to ensure they have certified staff to enable them to meet the licensing requirements. Should they not have met these requirements after the four-month period has passed, then Microsoft reserve the right to remove their ability to sell Dynamics products under the CSP agreement. As some businesses sell Dynamics 365 as just part of a wider offering, it may prove difficult to ensure that they can meet the new requirements.
Will these changes affect sellers of Dynamics 365 Business Edition?
Currently, the new requirements only apply to the Enterprise edition of Microsoft Dynamics 365. However, as certifications become available for Business edition, we’re not sure if a similar approach will be introduced at a later date.
How can Strategy 365 help?
For companies looking to sell Dynamics 365 as part of their overall offering, Strategy 365 can be your certified partner, removing the certification requirement from your business, allowing you to focus on your core business. For more information on how we can help or to get in touch with one of our Dynamics experts, click here.
