If you haven’t already done so, please reply to the Microsoft 2010 SMB Partner Insight online survey as Microsoft will be using the results to help promote the SBSC brand through integrated marketing and media relations.
The deadline for responses has been extended until Feb 1 so please reply if you have a few mins: http://rap6.tns-online.com/rapsurvey/presurvey.asp?SID=916&Language=English
I thought I’d do a quick comparison of using Eopen versus the “new and improved” Volume Licence Service Centre (VLSC) to add a new agreement.
Scenario 1: Eopen
Scenario 2: VLSC
In reality scenario 1 used to take 10 minutes max. Scenario 2 took 8 hours while we waited for emails to arrive, the customer to be available to talk through the process etc.
The worst part of all this is we then get the customer saying to us “why are you involving us in this process? We don’t want all the hassle, that’s why we pay you to sort it out for us”. To be honest I couldn’t agree more.
Go take a look at Eric Ligman’s blog post and the huge number of replies and you’ll see we aren’t the only ones complaining!
Is your Small Business Specialist status: ‘active not compliant’?
If your Small Business Specialist status is showing as ‘active not compliant’, please check that you have met all of the requirements of becoming and remaining a Small Business Specialist. While there have been no changes to these requirements, some assessments, including the Small Business Sales and Marketing Skills Assessment, must be renewed once every two years. If you’re a Registered partner, remember your annual Action Pack or Empower subscription may need to be renewed. If your status is showing as ‘active not compliant’ and you would like to discuss, please feel free to contact Dell Quinn or the Regional Service Centre via: 0800 91 73 128. Please note that you do not need to take any action if your status is showing as ‘active’.
If you are a Microsoft partner and SBSC you need to go and complete the SMB Partner Insight Survey. The results will help Microsoft showcase the Small Business Specialist Community as experts in the use of IT to save costs and improve productivity amid a down economy. Please complete the survey by Friday, 22 January 2010.
The next Business and Technical Schools are now available for registration:
Are you a small business which would like to build new routes to market to create more visibility for your business and target new customers? As experienced Channels and Alliances specialists, Giant Step, will guide you on avoiding the pitfalls and understanding the opportunity of partnering for your organisation.
During this Live Meeting, Microsoft’s Jessica Meats will provide an overview of SharePoint. Jessica will describe how best to position this product with SMB customers and the resources you can use to sell it.
As normal Andy Trish will be hosting the Business School and I’ll be doing the Technical School. I am getting some great feedback from partners around these events so please come and join us. Just click on the links above to register – look forward to seeing you there!