What does Microsoft Solution Designation mean for Partners?

The Microsoft Partner Network is evolving and in October, legacy silver and gold competencies as well as associated badging will no longer be valid. Afterwards, partners will need to meet the required partner capability score to attain solutions partner designation. There are six areas to specialise in and each come with unique benefits and investments.

You can read detailed information about the changes including competency mapping and benefits of the new program here on Microsoft’s dedicated resource hub.

Watch the Video: Understand the Solutions Partner Capability Score

To attain the new Solutions Partner designation, partners will need to demonstrate their organisation’s capability the areas of performance, skilling, and customer success.

We highly encourage you to login to Partner Centre and to view your Solution Partner Score Simulator to check your status and determine your next course of action. To be able to view this dashboard, please ensure that you have MPN Partner Admin or Global Admin access. We recommend partners on legacy program with renewal date before September 30, 2022 to renew your membership to keep your benefits.

Hear from Microsoft:

Dicker Data Ascend: Solution Designation Resources

The Dicker Data Microsoft team would like to support partners through this transition by offering partners access to the Solutions Designation Ascend program and opportunity to participate in a tailored workshop to close your score gap. In the Solutions Designation Ascend program, we will provide comprehensive information, actionable steps, and resources to help you navigate these changes.

Access your resources here.

Mapping existing Competencies to the new system: 

You can view the latest detailed information regarding changes on Microsoft Partner site including Solutions Partner dashboard demo, benefits guide, and walking decks for each designation. Becoming a Solutions partner gives customers a way to identify you as a partner that has both the commitment to training, accreditation, and has delivered solutions that lead to customer success. Legacy competencies are simplified and mapped to the new designations as shown in the diagram below.

Partners who meet the requirements for the new solutions partner designation will receive the designation automatically. For partners who doesn’t meet the criteria, you have time until your next membership anniversary after October 3, 2022, to earn a minimum of 70 points across Performance, Skilling and Customer Success. Attaining solutions partner designation will earn Microsoft Solutions partner badge and benefits such as product licenses, advisory hours, and marketing.

1:1 Support from Dicker Data: 

For partners who need support in improving their partner capability score, we invite you to the Solutions Designation Ascend program which includes a tailored workshop to build a plan to close your score gap. In this program, partner will have access to the following resources to help you navigate the new requirements:

• Solution build workshop and blueprint for a Go To Market ready offer in your chosen designation
• Technical enablement and skilling
• Sales coaching and GTM planning advice
• Exam guidance days with certified Microsoft trainers to help you achieve certification requirements
• Evergreen access to content including supporting videos, downloadable slide decks and Marketing in a box assets.

Access your resources here.