Welcome to the December edition of Partner Center Technical Corner. This month’s highlights include a closer look at the new Partner Center AI assistant, important security updates, and a recap of recently released capabilities. As always, you can find the most up-to-date technical roadmap and essential Partner Center resources at the end of the blog.
Spotlight: Partner Center AI assistant (preview)
Partner Center AI assistant (preview) enhances your Partner Center experience with the power of generative AI, offering tailored insights and intelligent suggestions to transform your everyday tasks in Partner Center into opportunities for growth and innovation. This feature is currently available in preview to partners using the English version of Partner Center.
AI assistant (preview) is continually being enhanced to dive deeper into workspaces and provide an individualized experience. It is seamlessly integrated into your experience, continuing your conversations as you navigate through Partner Center. You can ask the AI assistant for help with details on a customer’s Microsoft Azure usage estimate, earnings insights over a given period, or assistance with the various memberships we offer, among many other capabilities. Responses are pulled from a rich array of sources, including Microsoft product documentation, partner program guides, and partner-specific information in Partner Center.
For example, on membership queries, the AI assistant answers specific questions around the Solutions Partner designation by reviewing program rules, analyzing underlying metrics, and providing a detailed, data-driven response. The assistant can also troubleshoot missing attribution of employees in skilling scores or provide contextual recommendations to help you qualify for a Solutions Partner designation.
Partner feedback: One of our preview users shared, “This is really helpful! And I am very glad to see that our AI friend will know the payment status of claims IDs now.”
As needed, partners can initiate the support ticket creation process through the AI assistant panel.
Partners using the English version of Partner Center will be able to view the AI assistant sparkle icon in the upper-right corner of the page. Access to the feature will be expanded to other languages and users soon. Get started by exploring the many Partner Center AI assistant capabilities, learn how to address tasks with example prompts, and provide feedback on your experience.
Securing the channel
Deprecation of graph.windows.net audience tokens: To improve security posture, we are deprecating Azure Active Directory (AD) Graph, and as a result we are changing how you call Partner Center APIs (application programming interfaces). Partners should take the necessary actions to prepare for this change starting now. Review the full details and timeline for this API change along with tools and resources to help you strengthen your security posture and navigate the evolving threat landscape with Microsoft cybersecurity.
Reducing fraud with identity verification: As part of the ongoing commitment of Microsoft to trust and safety, the identity verification check is now mandatory for all partners enrolling in commercial programs, including dual enrollments, as well as existing partners undergoing re-verification. Identify verification can enhance security and reduce fraud by impersonation.
Just released
Upcoming subscriptions renewals: Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) partners can now view approaching renewals for legacy and new commerce license-based subscriptions seven, thirty, and ninety days in advance. This allows you to take actions like turning off auto-renewal or scheduling changes before renewal. Click the “subscription ID” link to take renewal actions!
New end of sale (EOS) price list: Starting November 1, 2024, you can view pricing for EOS SKUs in the newly introduced end-of-sale price list for new commerce license-based services. Partners can view pricing for products that are still renewable but no longer available for net-new purchase, ensuring continued visibility into all end-of-sale offers, including Microsoft 365 E3/E5 and Microsoft Office 365 E1/E3/E5 Enterprise SKUs. The EOS price list is accessible in the Partner Center portal (UI). Learn more at the CSP Partner Launch Calendar or review the technical documentation.
Price in cart: Partners can now review unit prices and total prices for new commerce offers in both the Partner Center portal and cart APIs. Prices shown account for license quantities, promotions, as well as proration adjustments.
Enhanced CSP billing reconciliation APIs migration: The new asynchronous APIs for billing reconciliation in Partner Center offer significant improvements including faster download times and reduced latency. To avoid service disruption, partners must migrate to these new APIs by January 21, 2025. You can leverage the Partner Center documentation to guide code modifications, taking specific notice of the update required for new endpoints and that the new APIs are available only for the public global cloud.
Variable payout for Microsoft Commerce Incentive (MCI) activity-based incentives: MCI incentives reward partners for activities that drive customer intent to buy or use products. The variable pay pattern for incentives now includes opportunities that drive consumption impact. This pattern enables partners to use active and eligible opportunities in the Microsoft system to drive impact in targeted customer segments. Note that payments are based on opportunity value and capped to align with partner costs. Partners can use the unified platform and transparent workflows to obtain visibility into potential payouts.
Microsoft Action Pack Subscription (MAPS) AI assistant support: With the upcoming retirement of the MAPS and legacy gold/silver offerings, you may have questions. Get quick answers and avoid the support ticket process by using the Partner Center AI assistant for your questions. The assistant can help you determine alternatives to MAPS/Silver/Gold offerings and also provide your current MAPS status when your MAPS renewal is due and tell you what next steps are needed.
Professional services through private offers in the marketplace: Partners in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States can now sell professional services through private offers in the marketplace, providing you with more ways to monetize and serve customers. With this new capability, you'll enjoy a single payout for both software and services while customers can purchase complete solutions on a single invoice, streamlining their procurement process. To learn more, read our blog on selling through the marketplace with professional services, watch a quick demo, or dive straight into the technical documentation.
“Now that professional services are offered within the Microsoft commercial marketplace, it gives us another path to service our customers with simplified selling. And we can bundle our service and product together, helping our customers cut through procurement red tape.”
-TeamViewer
Reduced agency fees for marketplace renewals: Partners now benefit from a 50% reduced agency fee for renewals sold as private offers through the marketplace. This automatic reduction applies when claiming existing marketplace agreements or off-marketplace sales as renewals in Partner Center. Learn more in our blog or review the technical documentation.
Partner Center Technical Roadmap and resources
Stay tuned to our blog for more updates and tips to make the most out of your partnership with Microsoft.