An interesting topic being discussed on a number of different forums that I’m involved in is the question of Microsoft’s Partner Program. Many have had issues with the various programs over the years, sometimes with no resolution. Recently one of the partners raised a thread in a discussion group and I was literally stunned at the lack of response from other partners that I KNOW have had similar issues. So the question must be asked… Do Partners still value the Microsoft Partner Program?
What problems have you had, what issues do you think need to be changed? If you don’t complain about them then you have no way to change things. I believe Microsoft will listen and do something about it but they can’t do anything if you don’t tell them.
We’re a pretty large West Australian Consultancy. We sell/install 2-3 SBS2003 Boxes per week and provide outsourced support and managed services to around 600 Business and just under a thousand home users.
We’re “Registered” Partners but won’t be going to Certified or Gold as I just can’t see any justification for the cost. I get nothing from being registered and the listed benefits of being “Certified” certainly don’t match the cost.
I can’t identify many others in Perth who are as large as us – and yet I’ve never heard boo from Microsoft. Big Fish, Small Pond? I don’t mind having a TAP in Sydney – I’d just like to have someone…. anyone….. I’m lonely 😎
The MS Partner Program sux because they expect me to do one of their online courses to be able to keep on paying them $700 per year for the Action Pack Subscription
They announce this after i have paid.
Then they don’t give any help as to which of their course i should attempt
As far as their Training Partners, I think that MS Oz efforts to get us to go to Excomm in 2007 was a mistake. The teacher at Excomm had an overinflated ego and he was more interested in the students who already knew
We have been a certfified partner for a few years now. initially we gave it a go to see if there were any benefits and in all honest we will probably cancel when it next comes due. Why?
– Customers have no idea what it means to be a Certified Microsoft Partner.
– Our supposed MS account manager keeps sending us stuff that is for enterprise not small business
– We constantly get blasted with stuff that simply is not relevant to our business. Says that Microsoft haven’t taken the time to determine who we are simply in the ‘get everything’ bucket.
– Action pack represents far more value than being a Certified Partner.
To me Microsoft isn’t focused on smaller certified partners. Their expectation is that a certified partner is a huge organisation. Well sorry to disappoint your Microsoft we aren’t all enterprise focused !