Microsoft Cloud Partner Program to add new marketplace offers, Business Apps designations, social impact classifications

Microsoft's Cloud Partner Program has re-aligned the channel around Solution Partner designations in the past year. The program will evolve further with new ISV solution designations and updated specializations for the Business Applications designation.

In a new blog post, Nicole Dezen,  Microsoft Chief Partner Officer and Corporate Vice President, wrote:

Designations for ISV solutions are aligned to how Microsoft goes to market and how customers are buying: by industry (e.g., finance, retail); by use cases across industries (e.g., security); and by specific imperatives of line-of-business leaders (e.g., marketing and sales). These designations distinguish an application’s specific capabilities and help customers identify proven solutions for their business needs.

The Business Applications ecosystem are getting four new specializations: Sales, Service, Finance (for Dynamics 365 Finance), and Supply Chain (for Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management). These specializations focus on "demonstrated knowledge" and "proven skills". They join two others: Business Applications, Microsoft Low Code Application Development and Small and Midsize Business Management specializations.