Welcome to A Comprehensive Guide to Partner Center for Microsoft ISVs! This guide is your key to mastering the Partner Center platform, providing a structured approach from fundamental concepts to advanced strategies for optimizing and growing your Microsoft partnership. 

What to Expect

• Comprehensive Coverage: Detailed insights into every aspect of Partner Center.
• Actionable Steps: Clear, step-by-step instructions for setting up, publishing, and optimizing your presence.
• Strategic Guidance: Tips and best practices for maximizing your partnership and achieving top-tier benefits.
• Ongoing Support: Access to FAQs and additional resources for continuous learning and support.

Explore each chapter to get a complete understanding of how to leverage Partner Center effectively.

Chapter 1: Educate

Start by building a solid foundation with essential knowledge and concepts.

• Chapter 1 Overview: Get an overview of the core principles and objectives of Partner Center.
• Co-sell Basics for ISVs: Learn the basics of Co-sell, including how it benefits ISVs like you.
• Understanding the Azure IP Co-sell Benefit: Discover the specific benefits and opportunities of Azure IP Co-sell.

Chapter 2: Action

Take actionable steps to set up and optimize your Partner Center account.

• Chapter 2 Overview: Overview of the actionable steps to get started.

Milestone 1: Join Partner Center & Enroll in MCPP

• Milestone 1 Overview: Introduction to joining Partner Center and enrolling in the Microsoft Commercial Marketplace Program (MCPP).
• Create a Partner Center Account: Step-by-step instructions for creating your account.
• Get to Know the Partner Center UI: Familiarize yourself with the Partner Center user interface.
• Confirm the MCPP Agreement: Learn how to confirm your MCPP agreement.
• Verify Partner Center Account: Process for verifying your Partner Center account.
• Note Down Your Partner ID: How to locate and note down your Partner ID.
• Manage Users: Guide to managing users within Partner Center.
• Assign Permissions & Roles: Setting up roles and permissions for users.
• Navigate the Support Feature: How to utilize the support features available in Partner Center.

Milestone 2: Publish Your Solution & Get Co-sell Ready

• Milestone 2 Overview: Overview of publishing and Co-sell readiness.
• Enroll in Commercial Marketplace: Steps for enrolling your solution in the Commercial Marketplace.
• Set Up Your Publisher ID: Guide to setting up your Publisher ID.
• User Permissions for Developer Account: Configuring user permissions for your developer account.
• Create & Publish a New Offer: Instructions for creating and publishing your offer.
• Upload Co-sell Collateral: How to upload Co-sell collateral to get Co-sell ready.

Milestone 3: Become Transactable

• Milestone 3 Overview: Overview of becoming transactable.
• Eligible Offer Types: Types of offers that are eligible for transactions.
• Set Up Your Tax & Payout Profile: Setting up your tax and payout profiles.
• Configure Your Technical Requirements: Configuration of technical requirements for solution listing.

Milestone 4: Share Leads with Microsoft

• Milestone 4 Overview: Overview of sharing leads with Microsoft.
• Referrals Workspace UI: Learn about the referrals workspace interface.
• Add a Referral Manually: Instructions for adding referrals manually.
• Get Acquainted with Bulk Feature: Managing referrals in bulk.
• Manage Existing Referral Details: How to manage and edit referral details.
• Close Referrals: Process for closing referrals.

Chapter 3: Optimize & Grow

Take your partnership to the next level with advanced strategies and best practices.

• Chapter 3 Overview: Strategies for optimizing and growing your partnership.
• Meet Co-sell Eligible & Top Tier Requirements: Criteria for achieving Co-sell eligibility and top-tier benefits.
• Additional Criteria to Unlock Top Tier Benefits: Further criteria for unlocking top-tier benefits.
• When Does Microsoft Review Performance Criteria?: Important dates for performance reviews.
• Follow Best Practices to Grow Your Partnership: Best practices for maximizing your engagement with Microsoft.
• Create Your Business Profile: Creating an effective business profile.
• Templates for Communicating Value Prop: Templates for communicating your value proposition.
• Leverage Additional Resources: Access additional resources to support your growth.