At Microsoft Inspire 2023 this week, the company announced Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program, a new partner program that promises members more value by leveraging Microsoft AI and the Microsoft Cloud. This program is designed for all types of partners, from startups to ISVs, services to device partners, and provides benefits and resources to help you grow an AI business.
In an accompanying blog post, Microsoft explains that the AI Cloud Partner Program bring more ISV Success benefits, new Solutions Partner designations, and new commercial marketplace investments.
Microsoft says that AI is transforming the world and creating new opportunities for customers and partners. The company cites a recent survey, 90% of leaders believe AI will give their organization a competitive edge, while Microsoft’s own Work Trend Index shows 70% of employees are willing to delegate tasks to AI to free up their time.
There has been an increasing demand for. Azure OpenAI Service, for example, is the fastest-growing service in Azure history, with over 9,500 customers using it. And more than 200 partners have already earned the new Build and Modernize AI Apps with Microsoft Azure specialization. As a partner in the new program, businesses can capitalize on this AI opportunity by creating value for customers and their own productivity.
Microsoft Details Ways to Monetize with Cloud AI
- Monetize IP: Build innovative and scalable software and solutions on the leading AI platform and differentiate yourself in the market.
- Monetize services: Offer a wide range of AI services to help your customers succeed on the most comprehensive AI platform & ecosystem.
- Monetize value-add services: Reinvent your value-add services portfolio by partnering with a responsible AI partner that empowers human ingenuity.
- Monetize the edge: Create new consumer, commercial, and education experiences with AI-enabled partner devices powered by Microsoft AI.
“As Satya Nadella announced today, the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program brings together everything across the entire partner lifecycle, including onboarding, skilling, go-to-market, incentives, and co-selling. Partners get all the value and benefits of the previous program, plus access to new offerings and benefits specific to AI. And there is no action for a partner to take to move to the new program — we’ve moved all our existing partners into the new program effective immediately and partners will maintain their existing benefits and designations.”
