14
The Microsoft Partner Program is evolving into the Microsoft Partner Network. This brings with it significant changes to the SBSC community designation we have today.
As blogged by Emily Lambert:
The Small Business Specialist Community designation will be reassigned to a new competency called Small Business Solutions. Key enhancements include providing additional entry points to target other types of partner communities such as Web VARs. With that, the new competency will retain many of the same requirements and benefits that partners are familiar with today - and partners should continue to enrol in the Small Business Specialist Community designation to maintain program status and benefits.
the Small Business Solutions competency is for partners who focus on supplying a range of base technology solutions to small business customers. Partners should be experienced in working with customers who value a local service that can meet their specific IT needs.
When will the changes take effect?
These changes are not scheduled to take effect until May 2010 and Microsoft will aim to advise and support you through the transition process.
Read that again:
The Small Business Specialist Community designation will be reassigned to a new competency called Small Business Solutions.
My immediate reaction to this is that Microsoft are trying to bring the SBSC designation more in line with the rest of the program by turning the SBSC designation into an actual competency. However it does mean we will effectively “lose” our differentiation as it looks as though the blue sbsc logo will be going as well. While I can see some benefits to this we (and Microsoft) have put a lot of time, effort and expense into the SBSC designation as it is our key differentiator from the rest of the program.
I can’t find any definitive information at the moment on the requirements that need to be met for the new Small Business competency other than to say it appears many of the requirements will remain the same. I’m attending the first PAL meeting this Thursday at WPC09 so I’m hoping some clarification will be forthcoming.
Please post your initial thoughts/concerns/reaction to the SBSC designation changes below or email me at swright@bmsnet.co.uk BEFORE Thursday 16th July so I can take them up at the PAL meeting.
Hi Steve,
Two questions if you get the chance:
The Blue Badge was a very clear visual mark for small business customers looking for a quality implementation. How do Microsoft plan to promote the new ‘Small Business’ competency to give as much (or more) impact?
What are their plans for the SBSC (i.e. the community)? Will this also be renamed/rebranded, and will there be continued support from Microsoft in this area. Have they considered applying some of the SBSC successes to the other competencies?
Thanks,
Guy
Hi Steve,
As we are going for a large marketing campaign at the moment which will lay some foundations for our business going forwards, I guess I need to know when we can achieve these competencies from, are talking October 2010? If so that means we have to put our new website and video case studies on ice because we are not sure what we can and can’t be talking about in our material which we intend to last longer than a year.
I think either way we need to see some representation from Microsoft back in the UK pretty soon after the WPC because I’m sure there will be lots of questions. Maybe a session at TVP?
Paul
To be honest I didn’t really get the answers I wanted from the PAL meeting at WPC09. Seems that the US MS folks were taken aback at the amount of concern over the changes to SBSC.
It is important to understand these changes have come from MS Corp NOT Microsoft UK. My understanding is that the SBSC program has been seen as an easy way for partners who have no intention of selling SBS to get up to Certified level. Changing the desgination to a competency removes that ability.
I’m meeting with Emily when I get back and will take your questions and suggestions to that meeting. Maybe we can get Emily up to the group to answer questions directly. I’ll see what I can arrange.
Is it easier? You still need two MCP’s within a company to reach Cert status. I’m suprised they were oblivious and to me shows a level of being “out of touch”. I feel the UK team and SBSC Partners have invested a lot of time and effort into promoting the brand to clients to just have it pulled leaves me a little open mouthed.
Paul