Author
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Sherman Crancer
Voice of the Microsoft Partner
The Microsoft partner ecosystem is a gold mine of opportunity, yet many businesses find themselves leaving money on the table. Whether itโs unclaimed incentives, missed co-sell opportunities, or underutilized marketing programs, partners often struggle to unlock the full potential of their Microsoft relationship.ย
The challenge isnโt just understanding whatโs available โ itโs knowing how to leverage it effectively.ย
The Cost of Missed Opportunities
Too often, Microsoft partners spend years building their business without fully tapping into the resources designed to help them scale. Some common roadblocks include:
- Unclaimed Partner Incentives: Millions of dollars in rebates and funding go unused each year. Many partners simply donโt realize theyโre eligible or donโt know how to claim them.
- Co-Sell Confusion: Many partners assume theyโre co-selling with Microsoft, only to realize they havenโt optimized their listings, seller engagement, or deal registration processes.ย
- Certification & Specialization Gaps: Microsoftโs solution designations and specializations unlock major benefits, but the roadmap to achieving them is complex. Without a plan, many partners fall behind competitors.ย
- Inefficient Sales Strategies: Many partners invest in outbound sales without aligning their approach with Microsoftโs sellers, missing key opportunities for collaboration.ย
What These Insights Mean for Your Business
For partners, the inability to navigate these areas results in lost revenue, wasted effort, and missed growth opportunities. Businesses that fail to align with Microsoftโs strategy risk falling behind, while those who optimize their engagement gain a competitive edge, increased visibility, and better access to Microsoftโs vast network.ย
The partners who win in this space arenโt necessarily the biggest players โ theyโre the ones who understand how to work with Microsoft effectively.
Turning Complexity Into Growth
For those looking to gain clarity and take action, fortunately itโs never too late to optimize your Microsoft strategy. By taking a proactive approach โ whether through a Partner Center audit, refining your GTM strategy, or investing in the right sales support โ partners can unlock real, measurable growth.ย
As the Microsoft partner ecosystem keeps evolving, staying informed and making the right moves today can define your success tomorrow.ย
About The Crancer Group
At The Crancer Group, we simplify success by providing the guidance and resources needed to maximize your Microsoft relationship.
If youโre looking to take your Microsoft partnership to the next level, letโs connect.ย Additionally, join us for our Voice of the Microsoft Partner call on January 31, 2025! Tune in on LinkedIn or YouTube.