Open Licensing, new cloud competency rolling out to Microsoft Dynamics CRM partners

Beginning today, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online will be on Microsoft's Open Licensing Program, giving small and mid-size businesses access to the full suite of Microsoft Online Services.

"This presents a huge opportunity for Microsoft distributors and resellers and our CRM partners to differentiate themselves and grow their business," according to Neil Holloway, Corporate Vice President, Sales & Partners for Microsoft Business Solutions Division.

Microsoft advised that Dynamics CRM Online would also be added to the Open Licensing program back at its Worldwide Partner Conference in July. The move is intended to give Microsoft customers who use Open Licensing easier access to Dynamics CRM implementation experts. That's because Open Licensing partners will now be incentivized to include Dynamics CRM resellers to manage a CRM Online sale.

With today's announcement Microsoft makes good on that promise, he said.

The flexibility and potential cost savings of the Open Licensing model make it possible for distributors and resellers selling cloud-based services, now including Dynamics CRM Online, to sell additional cloud service business to small and medium-size organizations, said Gavriella Schuster, General Manager, Worldwide Partner Group, Microsoft, in a blog post.

"With Open, these businesses experience a much lower barrier to entry, greatly expanding [their] potential target markets," wrote Schuster.

In July, Microsoft also said that it would be launching the new Cloud Customer Relationship Management competency. Similar to the Azure and Office 365 cloud competencies, it is predicated on cloud performance.

"Partners will enjoy a rich set of benefits designed to help them grow their businesses. Program ...