Biz Apps Partner Podcast: Ciellos’ Ben Reid on Value of Partner Programs, Maintaining Pace of Innovation
Welcome to the “Biz Apps Partner Podcast,” a weekly video series designed to decentralize intelligence about how partners can scale their Microsoft practice by having short, to the point discussions with Microsoft leaders in product, engineering, marketing, partner management, programs, and more.
In this episode, John Siefert is joined by Ben Reid, Program Manager, Ciellos. The two discuss the latest trends in the Biz Apps ecosystem, the importance of partner programs and Microsoft’s strategic role in them, and his session at the Biz Apps Partner Summit.
Register for the Biz Apps Partner Summit, running July 24-25 in Bellevue, Washington, where attendees will make the right connections, gain insights into Microsoft’s FY 2025 priorities, and learn how to scale their Microsoft Business Applications practice at the 24-hour event.
Key Takeaways
- Overview: Ben works with Biz Apps Partner Summit Strategic Advisor Joe Corigliano on the Microsoft Partner Accelerator program, which offers advisory and consulting services to Dynamics partners, focusing on assessments, workshops, and robust subscription services to foster success within the Microsoft partnership framework.
- What to discuss: If you see Ben at the Biz Apps Partner Summit, happening July 24-25 in Bellevue, Washington, what should you discuss with him? Partner programs and Partner Center incentives, which focus on providing benefits through membership packages or by earning designations and specializations. He emphasizes the importance of discussions around keeping pace with Microsoft’s programmatic changes, investment directions, and funding allocations, particularly in the AI Cloud Partner Program.
- Biggest trends: The trends around Microsoft’s partner programs are seen as essential for cohesion, especially with the company’s constant evolution and focus on clear communication channels. AI and Copilot are strategic priorities, with significant external investment. Additionally, Microsoft’s policy of “deeper with fewer” reflects a shift towards empowering select partners to meet the challenges of rapid change and legacy partner limitations. Marketplace transaction stability is becoming increasingly important, with all major hyperscalers, including Microsoft, developing commercial marketplaces that will integrate with partner programs.
- Maintaining pace of innovation: The renaming of the Microsoft Cloud Partner Program to include AI signifies a strategic shift. It’s crucial to keep ahead of changes in designations, specializations, and eligibility requirements, as incentives are not only financially beneficial but also indicate Microsoft’s strategic direction, such as the current emphasis on cloud solution providers (CSPs).
- Connect with Ben: Register for the Biz Apps Partner Summit, happening July 24-25 in Bellevue, Washington to meet Ben Reid and learn how to dazzle customers, get insights into Microsoft’s FY 2025 priorities, and scale your Microsoft Business Applications practice. Ben will participate in a Fireside Chat with Microsoft’s Dan Rippey to discuss the AI Cloud Partner Program’s structure and rationale, particularly for FY25, which includes a deeper integration of AI into partner processes and corporate benefits.
Stream the audio version of this episode here:
