At Microsoft Ignite 2025, one message was clear. We’re entering the era of the Frontier Firm, in which organizations combine human ambition with Microsoft 365 Copilot and an ecosystem of intelligent agents to transform every aspect of their business, driving differentiation and impact at scale.
At Microsoft Ignite, I saw firsthand how partners are becoming Customer Zero by using Microsoft AI, Copilot, and intelligent agents to transform their own organizations. That lived experience builds credibility and sets the stage for delivering similar transformation to their customers.
In her Microsoft Ignite recap, Chief Partner Officer Nicole Dezen reinforces how partners are defining what’s possible with AI and how Microsoft is investing in partners so they can deliver that same transformation to every customer at enterprises and organizations of all sizes.
This moment is especially important for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). With the introduction of Microsoft 365 Copilot Business, SMBs have access to tools to become Frontier. These organizations are the backbone of local economies, and they need accessible tools that create real productivity gains. Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) partners are in a strong position to guide this shift and empower SMBs to operate as AI-first organizations.
Why now: The trillion-dollar SMB opportunity
According to IDC, the total addressable market (TAM) for SMBs will reach $777 billion by FY26 and is on track to surpass $1 trillion by 2030.* That represents more than 400 million organizations worldwide exploring ways to adopt AI that fit their business. Our ecosystem has the expertise to support that journey and create new recurring revenue opportunities as customers modernize.
Microsoft partners are trusted advisors who can guide this transformation, showing customers how to deliver measurable business outcomes while creating new, recurring revenue streams.
Copilot Business, built for SMBs
Copilot Business was built specifically for SMBs. It delivers full Microsoft 365 Copilot capabilities at a compelling price point of $21 per user per month, for up to 300 users.
Customers gain:
- Copilot in core Microsoft 365 apps for everyday productivity.
- Secure, work-grounded AI chat.
- The ability to create and deploy agents that automate business processes.
From drafting emails and reports to automating workflows, Copilot Business empowers small teams to work smarter, grow faster, and scale securely—with Microsoft and their trusted partner by their side.
Partners can use the launch kit, which includes an FAQ, playbook, pitch decks, and ready-to-use assets to prepare teams and drive confident customer conversations.
Cloud Solution Provider partners power AI transformation
Copilot Business is more than a new offer. It’s a foundation for partners to support customers through Frontier Firm transformation.
Here are some ways in which partners can capitalize:
Turn renewals into growth
Q3 is an important renewal season, and it creates a natural moment for customers to expand their AI capabilities. With the promotional pricing available from December 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, partners can simplify sales motions with bundled offers that bring together Microsoft 365 Business and Copilot. These bundles encourage customers to activate AI across their productivity stack.
Deliver complete collaboration solutions
Partners can also deliver complete collaboration solutions using CSP private offers. By packaging Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, Copilot Business, and custom agents, partners can create tailored collaboration experiences. A software development company can extend their solution with margin, and the CSP partner can layer in deployment, training, security, managed support, and Microsoft licensing. This creates differentiated, value-added bundles that support customer outcomes and strengthen partner profitability.
Guide customers and monetize in the era of agentic AI
Organizations evolve into Frontier Firms in phases. They begin with human plus assistance, where every employee has an AI assistant. They move to human-agent teams, where agents participate as digital colleagues. They advance to human-led and agent-operated workflows, where humans set direction and agents take on execution.
Partners are uniquely positioned to guide SMBs through each phase using Copilot Business and the broader Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program.
Agentic AI also creates new monetization opportunities. Partners can build, deploy, and manage prebuilt or custom agents. This work becomes repeatable IP and fuels ongoing revenue streams through agent governance and billing. As customers scale their use of agents, partners grow their role through ongoing optimization and expansion.
Resources and investments for partners
We’re investing in the tools and resources partners need to activate greater customer opportunities.
With the resources in place, partners can shape how SMBs adopt AI and steadily move toward Frontier transformation.
Ready to lead? Take action today.
The agentic AI opportunity for SMBs is real, and CSP partners are at the center of it. With Copilot Business, Copilot Chat, and custom agents, partners have the tools to deliver differentiated, value-added solutions that support SMB customers as they evolve in the AI era.
Here are practical ways to get started:
- Activate Q3 renewal strategies: Use the critical renewal season to position Copilot Business as the must-have upgrade for SMBs. Leverage promotional pricing and bundled offers to drive renewals and strategic upsells.
- Monetize your expertise: Package deployment, training, agent development, and managed services to create repeatable revenue streams and deepen customer relationships.
- Engage with Microsoft Marketplace: List your solutions, explore CSP private offers, and start building bundles that combine Copilot Business, Copilot Chat, and agents with Microsoft 365 licenses.
- Leverage Microsoft resources: Tap into the Agentic AI + Copilot Partner Skilling Accelerator webinar series—as well as campaigns in a box, co-op funding, Copilot + Power Accelerate incentives, and Deployment Accelerators—to capture the opportunity and drive your customers’ success.
Now’s the time to empower SMBs to reach their full potential with Microsoft AI. The tools are ready, the momentum is strong, and we’re in a great spot to lead the way together.
*Throughout this document, $ refers to US dollar (USD).