In Updates to Dynamics ISV Solution Certification Rules, Microsoft Tries to Soothe ISV Displeasure about Lack of Customer Support Data

Microsoft Dynamics Value-added resellers (VARs) that want to become authorized resellers of Certified for Microsoft Dynamics (CfMD) add-on solutions from Dynamics ISVs now have to put a little more effort into the process.

Under the new guidelines from Microsoft, which went into effect on November 1, to achieve Authorized CfMD Reseller status, VARs now have to meet certain requirements of both the ISV and Microsoft. The ISV partner has to initiate the process by contacting Microsoft and providing certain information about the reseller such confirmation of Silver ERP or CRM Competency level in the Microsoft Partner Network and the reseller's enrollment in a Microsoft Partner Service Plan.

"Previously, this process was a bit informal, with only a few ISVs requiring some sort of test to be completed and passed to sell their products," according to a source with first-hand knowledge of the change. "This is yet the biggest area of improvement in the restructuring of CfMD as it allows VARs to really show some knowledge of the ISV product before making any recommendations."

On its face the change in the process appears to be pretty straightforward. However, there's more to this move by Microsoft than meets the eye.

According to the Dynamics professional who attended meetings between Microsoft and ISVs in 2009, disagreements surrounded Microsoft's decision to remove ISV access to VOICE, a portion of CustomerSource that holds customer data on things like registration keys, seats, and other details. "In these conversations, ISVs were displeased with the fact that Microsoft had unilaterally changed their VOICE access in early 2009 to suppress Microsoft Dynamics licensing information for customers registered for their solutions," the source told MSDynamicsWorld.com.