Microsoft Urges ISVs Toward AppSource, Noting Range of Current and Future Opportunities

Yes, Microsoft AppSource is a new directory for finding add-on solutions for Microsoft software, including Dynamics ERP and CRM. But Microsoft officials have also offered a note of caution this week at WPC 2016: Don't underestimate the new platform's possibilities.

Microsoft made its case for the new directory in a range of sessions at WPC this week.

At Tuesday's morning keynote session, Microsoft executive vice president Scott Guthrie and corporate vice president James Phillips noted that AppSource can help vendors offer cloud-based apps in conjunction with Dynamics 365, Office 365, and Azure.

Phillips showed off one of the model solutions, Citizen Services from AvePoint. When a trial of the solution is initiated, AppSource spins up multiple Microsoft cloud services - CRM Online, Power BI, Azure IoT technology, and other Cortana Intelligence analytics tools. Those work in tandem with AvePoint's proprietary IP for providing a portal, reports, and monitoring services that a government agency can run on for its citizens.

Vendors can offer trials that are run either by the customer directly or through a partner. And AppSource keeps track of who has requested trials so the vendor can be track them as leads.

WPC attendees were also introduced this week to Ron Huddleston, Microsoft's new leader of ISV and channel (official title: "corporate vice president of MBS partner strategy and ecosystem"). Huddleston joined Microsoft in June and comes from Salesforce, where he was credited with the launch and evolution of the Salesforce AppExchange, among other duties. He was an executive at Oracle prior to joining Salesforce.

Huddleston said that beyond the obvious benefits of a new and ...