Partners will receive greater support in implementing vertical solutions. Thus, Microsoft Business Solutions will encourage partners to specialize in solutions for selected industries and market segments. All this is part of the recently announced details of the Microsoft Business Solutions strategy.
The Polish branch of Microsoft has announced plans to increase spending on the development of its partner channel. New opportunities for faster and more efficient system implementations will open up for companies implementing Microsoft Business Solutions, which should directly translate into increased benefits for customers.
The new strategy means increased investment in the partner channel – announces Jacek Chwalisz, head of Microsoft Business Solutions in Poland. – To this end, new tools, processes, marketing and sales support will be made available to partners to better meet the individualized needs of customers. We believe that this investment will increase the potential of our partners.
The introduction of two tools is intended to further develop partners and increase their efficiency:
Vertical Partner Business Planning Guidebook – used to assess market demand and define one’s own solutions in this context.
Partner Channel Builder – an online tool enabling collaboration with other partners, exchange of experience, and building and developing business in new markets.
Microsoft Business Solutions headquarters has also presented a list of 14 industries on which it wants to focus its marketing and sales activities. The list was created based on market analysis, the database of industry partners, and feedback from local branches. The Polish branch of Microsoft Business Solutions will maintain autonomy in this matter.
In the second half of 2005, Microsoft Business Solutions announced increased investments in marketing, demand generation, recruitment and training of partners, and product support. As part of these activities, training will be provided for Microsoft Business Solutions partners regarding new tools for system implementation. The company will provide support to partners so that by the end of May 2006, at least 50 percent of them will have specialized in specific industries. Partners will also be provided with new marketing and sales support tools.
Further support for partners will be provided by Industry Builder, an initiative of independent software vendors (ISVs), the goal of which will be to provide applications tailored to the specific needs of a given enterprise. These expectations vary depending on the industry in which the company operates, which is why there is a need to create many such applications for each market sector using Microsoft Business Solutions products. Software created by ISVs must meet the requirements set by Microsoft Business Solutions. After accreditation, the applications will be added to the offer for customers.