AI is no longer a future conversation - it is here. Customers are moving beyond pilots and productivity experiments to embed Copilot, agents and AI into everyday workflows, decisions and business processes.
For partners, the opportunity is shifting from selling licences to making AI real: deploying it securely, driving adoption and delivering measurable customer outcomes. The good news is Microsoft has launched new programs, investments and incentives to help partners build capability, create demand and turn this opportunity into growth.
Key dates for August.
Kickstart FY27 with AI RACE Refuel Day - a focused webinar series designed to help you accelerate your Microsoft practice with fresh insights, practical guidance, and clear next steps from Microsoft and Dicker Data.
Across four dedicated sessions, we’ll unpack Microsoft’s FY27 priorities, key solution area opportunities, incentives, programs, and the latest AI Frontier Transformation vision - helping you understand what’s changing, where the opportunities are, and how to take them to market with confidence.
Register now
Announcing Copilot in 30
If there is one area where Microsoft's investment remains strongest, it is Copilot.
An exciting upcoming opportunity is the Microsoft 365 Copilot Business Trial, allowing eligible SMB customers to experience Copilot using their own data and workflows before purchasing. Which are now available on the Dicker Data Portal.
Trial Subscription Changes
Trial subscriptions will automatically have their renewal preference set to Cancel approximately one day after provisioning. This means the trial will expire at the end of the trial period unless action is taken by the partner.
If your customer wishes to continue the subscription, select Convert to Paid before the trial ends. During conversion, you can review and update the licence quantity, commitment term, billing frequency, and end date alignment. You'll also need to acknowledge that the trial will convert to a paid subscription and that ongoing charges will apply once the trial expires.
Partner action
If you'd like to understand the upcoming Copilot trial program, Microsoft 365 Business with Copilot opportunities or how to position AI conversations with customers, check out this blog CoPilot blog
Azure Accelerate Funding Available Through Dicker Data
As a Microsoft Frontier Distributor, Dicker Data can help eligible partners access Azure Accelerate funding to support Azure customer acquisition, migration, modernisation, AI initiatives, and Azure consumption growth.
The other big advantages of Dicker Data's Microsoft Frontier Distributor designation is access to tools that help partners transition eligible Azure Enterprise Agreement (EA) customers to CSP through a simplified billing conversion process. For many partners, this is a genuine game-changer, opening new opportunities to strengthen customer relationships while bringing Azure workloads into CSP.
Funding may be available for activities such as workshops, assessments, proof of concepts, migrations, deployment services, and AI readiness engagements. The goal is to help partners remove customer barriers, accelerate cloud adoption, and drive Azure growth.
Microsoft categorises opportunities using "T-Shirt Sizes", which are based on the projected Azure Consumption Revenue (ACR) of the opportunity. These values are measured in USD ACR and are one of the factors used to determine funding eligibility and available support.
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T-Shirt Size
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ACR Range (USD)
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XXS
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$5K - $15K ACR
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XS
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$15K - $50K ACR
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Small (S)
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$50K - $100K ACR
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Note: The values above represent projected Azure Consumption Revenue (ACR) and not the funding amount itself. ACR is measured in USD, and funding availability is assessed by Microsoft based on the customer scenario, opportunity size, and expected Azure consumption outcomes.
If you have an Azure opportunity you would like to discuss, reach out to the Dicker Data Microsoft team to explore available funding options and support.
The key message is simple: engage early.
Microsoft Co-op Gets Simpler in FY27
If you've used Co-op before, FY27 will feel familiar, with Microsoft focusing more heavily on Demand Generation, AI and simpler claiming.
Key changes include new guidance around funding allocations, the introduction of Partner AI Adoption funding, streamlined activity categories, updated spend caps, and mandatory training requirements for Microsoft-funded resources. Digital marketing activities have also been consolidated into a new Paid Media with Multi-Touch Campaign category, making paid media a required component.
The claiming process has been significantly simplified, with easier Proof of Execution requirements, one submission per activity, clearer examples, enhanced Partner Center guidance, and the introduction of random audits. The bottom line: FY27 Co-op is all about making funding easier to navigate while encouraging partners to invest in customer acquisition, AI adoption and measurable business outcomes.
For full details, review the FY27 Co-op Policy Guide
Expanded SMB Track Eligibility for Designations
Microsoft's 31 July Partner Center announcement on Expanded SMB Track Eligibility is another important signal for partners. Microsoft continues to refine how partners can qualify for recognition within the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program, particularly where partners are serving SMB customers and building capability around Microsoft cloud and AI workloads.
For many partners, Solutions Partner designations are more than a badge. They influence customer credibility, program positioning, go-to-market visibility and access to aligned benefits. Any expansion to SMB track eligibility is therefore worth reviewing, especially for partners who have strong SMB practices but may have previously found designation requirements difficult to reach under broader enterprise-style thresholds.
The practical next step is to review your current designation progress, check your Partner Center scoring and identify whether the expanded SMB eligibility pathway changes your qualification position. This is particularly relevant for partners investing in Modern Work, Security, Azure, Business Applications, Data and AI capability.
Partner action
If you have been close to a Solutions Partner designation, or if you mainly serve SMB customers, this is a good time to reassess your eligibility. The Dicker Data Microsoft team can help partners understand where program updates may create new designation opportunities.
AI-Focused Skilling Is Replacing Traditional Certifications
Microsoft's investments are increasingly centered around AI, data, automation and intelligent business processes. Partners should review certification plans and ensure their teams are aligned to Microsoft's latest skilling requirements as these changes continue to roll out.
Certifications retiring with replacements:
- Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204) retires July 31, 2026. It's replaced by Azure AI Cloud Developer Associate (AI-200), available July 9, 2026.
- Dynamics 365 Customer Experience Analyst Associate (MB-280) retires July 31, 2026. It's replaced by Dynamics 365 Sales AI Consultant Associate (AB-210), available July 9, 2026.
- Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500) retires August 31, 2026. It's replaced by Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate (SC-500), available July 21, 2026.
- Power Platform Functional Consultant Associate (PL-200) retires August 31, 2026. It's replaced by Intelligent Applications Builder Associate (AB-410), available July 30, 2026.
Certification retiring without a direct replacement:
Certifications being added:
Other Key Microsoft Updates You May Have Missed
For a complete breakdown of all the latest announcements and updates from Microsoft, visit
Partner Centre Updates & Ongoing information
How Dicker Data Can Help
Whether you're looking to build a Copilot practice, explore Azure funding opportunities, maximise FY27 incentives, position Microsoft Fabric, understand COCP changes or identify new customer growth opportunities, the Dicker Data Microsoft team is here to help.
And don’t forget to come and visit us at TechX in a state near you!!
Dicker Data TechX 2026 | Register Now!
Thanks for your ongoing partnership.
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