Microsoft prepares Dynamics and Power Platform channel for 2025 priorities: Biz Apps Partner Summit 2024 recap

Microsoft is now a month into its fiscal 2025, and their channel teams have already put programs into motion to support the range of commercial goals. Microsoft teams focused on different market segments are offering Business Applications partners a range of engagement models that build on the approach in 2024 but adjust for new and evolving strategic priorities.

The Microsoft speakers on-hand for last week’s Biz Apps Partner Summit 2024 guided partners through those official plans for FY25 and urged them to invest in selling in product areas as well as market segments that the company aims to strengthen. 

For partners paying attention to Microsoft channel priorities in 2024, FY25 should represent a progression in a multi-year effort to change to a system that focuses on solution designations and specializations. With eight specialization areas for Business Applications, only three, intelligent automation, application development, and SMB business management, are fully “mission capable,” at this point, according to Dan Rippey, Senior Director for the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program (MAICPP). For the rest, the MAICPP team will continue pushing to add partner capacity. 

“My team's obsession is looking at capacity targets and [asking] do we have enough to service demand this year? If the answer is no, we need an answer to how to activate the channel for all sales plays. We don't want incoming demand without partner capacity to service it,” Rippey explained.

Scaling partner plays and priorities

The priorities of the Microsoft Customer and Partner Solutions (MCAPS) organization are not all about Business Apps, but Microsoft Global Partner Solutions lead Peter Jensen told attendees that a range of those priorities will apply to a Dynamics or Power Platform-focused partner. For example, MCAPS has defined goals like: 

• Copilots on every device across every role
• AI design wins with every customer
• Migrations for CRM, ERP, and bots 

Regarding migration opportunities, Jensen told the audience: “It’s our livelihood. Still.” Copilot is the future, he said, but traditional services like migrations will make it possible for the channel to make investments in the future. 

Other priority partner motions in FY25 will include: