If you have had a good year partnering with Microsoft, consider nominating your company for a Microsoft partner award. The award submission tool goes live February 8 and the deadline for nominations is April 5, 2023.
Winning one of these annual Microsoft endorsements can accelerate your sales, channel, and Microsoft alliance objectives. The core requirement of authoring a compelling 8,000-character essay remains the same. However, Microsoft tunes the award categories and requirements every year.
For 2023, Microsoft has renamed a handful of awards (e.g., Converged Communications, Low Code Application Development, Intelligent Automation, Business Intelligence), but they focus on the same underlying products.
2 awards have been removed: Dynamics 365 Commerce and Dynamics 365 Customer Insights & Marketing. The latter rolls under the expanded Dynamics 365 Sales & Marketing award (spanning Dynamics 365 sales, Marketing and Customer Insights products).
Microsoft has added 4 categories for SI and advisory partners: Global SI, MVP Industry Solutions Global SI/Advisory, Global SI Growth, and FastTrack Ready.
Global Systems Integrator: recognizes the Microsoft globally managed GSI that displays strong customer focus and success by partnering deeply with Microsoft on a global scale.
MVP Industry Solutions GSI/Advisory: recognizes the Microsoft GSI or Advisory partner for their leadership in driving the development and adoption of industry solutions, closely aligned to the Microsoft Industry Cloud strategy and Industry Priority Scenarios.
GSI Growth Champion: recognizes the Microsoft GSI or Advisory partner who has demonstrated significant growth across multiple Solution Areas, Solution Plays, Industries, and Regions.
FastTrack Ready: recognizes excellence in assisting claimed customers to realize value through delivery of the FastTrack Benefit for Microsoft 365.
Because of the ongoing program transition between the Microsoft Partner Network and the Microsoft Cloud Partner Program, Microsoft is more flexible and less specific about award eligibility requirements this year. MCPP Solution Partner designations, gold competencies (as of September 30, 2022), and ISV Success program enrollment are common requirements.
“Preferred qualifications” for some awards add additional insight as to what the reviewers are looking for. However, the essence of what Microsoft wants to see remains the same: customer and partner success in context of Microsoft technology, programs, and people.
Last year, Microsoft received over 2,900 partner award nominations from more than 100 countries so if you plan to pursue an award, do it with conviction. Competegy clients have been recognized 35 times for Microsoft Partner of the Year awards; contact Competegy for professional nomination authoring support.
2023 Microsoft Partner Award Categories
Azure
AI
Analytics
Cloud Native App Development
Internet of Things
Migration to Azure
Mixed Reality
Modernizing Applications
OSS on Azure
Rising Azure Technology
SAP on Azure
Business Applications
Dynamics 365 Business Central
Dynamics 365 Customer Service
Dynamics 365 Sales & Marketing
Dynamics 365 Supply Chain
Dynamics 365 Finance
Low Code Application Development
Intelligent Automation
Business Intelligence
Modern Work
Apps & Solutions for Microsoft Teams
Converged Communications
Employee Experience
Modern Workplace for Frontline Workers
Modern Workplace for SMB
Device
Device Partner Distributor/Reseller
Project and Portfolio Management
Surface Hub Reseller
Surface PC Reseller
FastTrack Ready – NEW
Security
Security
Compliance
Modern Endpoint Management
Industry
Automotive, Mobility & Transportation
Defense & Intelligence
Education
Energy & Resources
Financial Services
Government
Healthcare & Life Sciences
Industrials & Manufacturing
Media & Communications
Nonprofit
Retail & Consumer Goods
Social Impact
Community Response
Inclusion Changemaker
Sustainability Changemaker
Business Excellence
Advisory Services
Commercial Marketplace
Customer Experience
Global Independent Software Vendor (ISV)
Global Systems Integrator (GSI) - NEW
MVP Industry Solutions GSI/Advisory - NEW
GSI Growth Champion - NEW
Indirect Provider
Learning
Microsoft for Startups
Solution Assessments
Operational Excellence
Social Impact Awards
Community Response
Inclusion Changemaker
Sustainability Changemaker
Country/Region Partner of the Year
Learn more about the award nomination process and criteria at https://aka.ms/POTYA