Microsoft channel anxiety? November's eXtreme365 aims to guide Dynamics 365 partners

Microsoft shook up the partner channel when it announced plans to overhaul much of its sales and partner support models. But business never took a break for Dynamics resellers, who press on with client engagements, product launches, and the latest technology streaming out of the Microsoft cloud.

For partners who feel like fiscal year 2018 is in a state of disarray, there are two changes to monitor with the utmost care, says Joe Corigliano, who is helping produce November's eXtreme365 event in Long Beach.

"The perception of chaos in the Dynamics channel is real, and many partners are feeling it," he says. "The dust hasn't settled on the re-structuring based around Microsoft's One Commercial Partner approach that was announced at Inspire. That means partners in North America and elsewhere are not yet getting all the answers they need to plan for the next twelve to eighteen months in the Microsoft channel."

A Microsoft veteran himself, Corigliano says that recent conversations with both partners and Microsoft partner team representatives have revealed some truths about the current environment.

"I think key personnel in the Microsoft partner program understand that Dynamics VARs are eager to get in sync with Microsoft sellers who share their goals," he says. "I know from our event planning that Microsoft is getting its arms around the problem, but partners will have to stay vigilant to see it through."

One of the key changes at Microsoft that will impact the partner experience is the company's execution of its transition to the One Commercial Partner (OCP) strategy. "[OCP] is ...