Inspire 2017: Expect an industry-focused, partner-powered Microsoft

Microsoft on Day 2 of its Inspire 2017 partner conference talked down the importance of out-of-the-box ERP and CRM.

"Business applications are no longer the systems of record," said Microsoft EVP, Worldwide Commercial Business Judson Althoff in his keynote address. If anything, "They are systems of oppression."

If the future is in digital transformation, then the future is in intelligence-driven solutions built upon ERP and CRM. But what does that look like, and how can partners deliver that?

Microsoft is hammering home a $4.5 trillion addressable market in the intelligent edge and intelligent cloud, which it puts under the umbrella "digital transformation" (see the slide below, used in both Nadella's and Althoff's keynotes). Its 64,000 cloud partners will find that simply being cloud or mobile is no longer a differentiator; that $4.5 trillion is for applications that deliver actionable intelligence.

No surprise in this view; but partners are telling Microsoft they need more help to capitalize upon that opportunity, writes CVP of One Commercial Partner Ron Huddleston in a blog post. Needs include building profitable businesses on new models, recognizing and responding to new opportunities, and helping identify and connect with new customers.

One Commercial Partner aimed at simplicity, focus

"We agree - we can do more together," Huddleston wrote, and its One Commercial Partner model is Microsoft's answer.

That "one commercial partner" is Microsoft with its re-organization. This model ostensibly brings together a highly-segmented set of partner-focused teams (e.g., in development, marketing, business development, and programs) from across Microsoft into one organization. All partners can expect ...