Introduction to Solutions Partner with certified software designations

Article
03/20/2024

Appropriate roles: Global admin | Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program partner admin | Referrals admin | Co-sell Solutions admin

Within the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program, we offer distinct pathways for partners to differentiate themselves and stand out to customers according to their unique business models. These differentiated offerings help partners demonstrate their capabilities so customers can easily find and confidently choose the proven partner solutions that help them go further with Microsoft technology.

Partners who develop software that is interoperable with the Microsoft Cloud and meet specific eligibility criteria set by Microsoft can become a Solutions Partner* with certified software** for solution areas.

Important

Intended for general information purposes only as a high-level overview of planned upcoming certified software designations. Program information herein is subject to change, without notice.

* Solutions Partner refers to a company that is a member of the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program and can offer software, services, and/or solutions to customers. Reference to "Solutions Partner" in any content, materials, resources, web properties, etc. and any associated designation should be not interpreted as an offer, endorsement, guarantee, proof of effectiveness or functionality, a commitment or any other type of representation or warranty on the part of Microsoft. All decisions pertaining and related to your business needs including but not limited to strategies, solutions, partner selection, implementation, etc., rests solely with your business.

** A certification is (a) specific to the solution’s interoperability with Microsoft products and (b) based on the solution owner's self-attestation. Solutions are only certified as of the date the solution is reviewed. The solution owner controls solution functionality and capability, which might be subject to change. The inclusion of a solution in marketplace and any such designations shouldn't be interpreted as an offer, endorsement, guarantee, proof of effectiveness or functionality, a commitment or any other type of representation or warranty on the part of Microsoft. All decisions pertaining and related to your business needs including but not limited to strategies, solutions, partner selection, implementation, etc. rests solely with your business.

Overview

At Microsoft, we recognize that what each partner needs to succeed is unique to their business model, size, and stage of growth. To accommodate this variation in need, our Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program provides offerings such as Founders Hub and ISV Success, which are designed to help partners who develop software build, publish, and grow well-architected software solutions on the Microsoft Cloud. For partners who are ready to differentiate their software solutions in the market, we’re adding Solutions Partner* with certified software** designations.

Becoming a Solutions Partner with certified software signifies that your solution meets technical criteria for interoperability with the Microsoft Cloud and demonstrates a proven track record of customer success. This distinction helps validate the quality, capability, reliability, and relevance of your software solution and drives a positive customer experience by delivering on the value customers expect from solutions built on the Microsoft Cloud.

By becoming a Solutions Partner with certified software, you can validate your software solution's capability in areas of high customer demand, increase your discoverability in the commercial marketplace, connect with more customers, and take advantage of marketing and branding resources designed to help you accelerate your revenue in a rapidly growing market.

There are two prominent pathways for becoming a Solutions Partner with certified software: a pathway for solutions area and a pathway for Industry AI.

Both pathways align to how software solutions are developed and require that your solution demonstrates commercial marketplace readiness, interoperability with the Microsoft Cloud, customer success, and fulfillment of specific technical requirements.

Note

If a partner solution solves challenges for multiple industries and/or integrates with products across multiple solution areas, the partner may attain multiple designations across the applicable industries and/or solution areas.

Qualification

The details of the eligibility criteria are available in the Partner Center Referrals workspace. To view this dashboard, you need to publish an offer to the commercial marketplace. Learn more about the Microsoft commercial marketplace and about publishing offers.

General eligibility criteria

As mentioned previously, there are two pathways for becoming a Solutions Partner with certified software: a pathway for solution areas and a pathway for Industry AI.

Solutions Partner with certified software for solution areas

To become a Solutions Partner with certified software for solution areas, eligibility is based on the following criteria:

Commercial marketplace readiness, which includes having a transactable offer in the marketplace and/or IP co-sell eligibility
A technical review according to the solution area(s) with which the software interoperates with Microsoft products and services
A demonstrated track record of customer success, based on marketplace performance and proven customer outcomes

By fulfilling these requirements, you can attain the following certified software designations for solution areas:

Solutions Partner with certified software for Azure
Solutions Partner with certified software for Business Applications
Solutions Partner with certified software for Modern Work
Solutions Partner with certified software for Security

You can attain multiple certified software designations if your single software solution interoperates with Microsoft products and services in multiple solution areas. You can also attain multiple certified software designations if you developed more than one solution that interoperates with Microsoft products and services.

For more information, see Requirements for becoming a Solutions Partner with certified software for a solution area.

Solutions Partner with certified software for Industry AI

To become a Solutions Partner with certified software for Industry AI, eligibility is based on the following criteria:

Commercial marketplace readiness, which includes having a transactable offer in the marketplace and/or IP co-sell eligibility

Note

If your software solution solves an industry-specific challenge for a Microsoft Industry Cloud customer scenario but does not include an AI component, you may become a Solutions Partner with certified software for solution area and submit evidence of customer success. Providing this evidence will help connect Microsoft customers and sellers to relevant solutions for their industry-specific challenges.
A technical review according to the solution areas with which the software interoperates with Microsoft products and services
A demonstrated track record of customer success, based on the solution’s proven customer outcomes
Alignment to one or more Microsoft Industry Cloud customer scenarios
Fulfillment of technical requirements focused on the industry-specific AI components of your solution

Currently, you can attain the following certified software designations for Industry AI:

Solutions Partner with certified software for Healthcare AI
Solutions Partner with certified software for Retail AI
Solutions Partner with certified software for Financial Services AI
Solutions Partner with certified software for Manufacturing AI
Solutions Partner with certified software for Sustainability AI

You can attain multiple certified software for Industry AI designations for your solution if your single software solution with an AI component solves challenges for multiple Microsoft Industry Cloud customer scenarios. You can also attain multiple certified software for Industry AI designations if you developed more than one software solution with an AI component that solves Microsoft Industry Cloud customer scenarios.

Note

If your software solution solves an industry-specific challenge for a Microsoft Industry Cloud customer scenario but does not include an AI component, you may become a Solutions Partner with certified software for solution area and submit evidence of customer success. Providing this evidence will help connect Microsoft customers and sellers to relevant solutions for their industry-specific challenges.

For more information, see Requirements for becoming a Solutions Partner with certified software for a Industry AI.

Benefits

Attaining a certified software designation for your solution also unlocks go-to-market, sales, and marketing benefits designed to help propel your growth and fuel greater demand for your solutions. Because the marketplace is the essential platform for co-sell opportunities, maximizing the full benefits of becoming a Solutions Partner with certified software helps Microsoft sellers more quickly, and confidently identify your solution for co-sell opportunities.

Some of the go-to-market, sales, and marketing benefits are listed here:

Customer-facing badging: When you become a Solutions Partner with certified software, a digital badge for your solution appears on the Microsoft commercial marketplace, including Azure Marketplace and Microsoft AppSource, which includes Industry Cloud Gallery. You can also download the badge for use in your marketing collateral. This badge matters - 68% of customers searching for software solutions evaluate vendor certifications and badging when making purchasing decisions.
Microsoft solution play cards: Designed to facilitate relevant and easy discovery by Microsoft sellers, use these cards to highlight the scenarios your software solution addresses.
Nurture assets, emails, and call scripts: Use these assets to go-to-market more quickly and help drive demand for your certified solution.
Customer-facing solution briefs: Outline use cases and value propositions tailored to your target audience for use in various go-to-market strategies, which can be customized to reflect your unique brand.
Marketing concierge: Access subject matter experts who can provide assistance with available marketing benefits and guidance with the fulfillment process - helping ensure partners experience the full benefits of becoming a Solutions Partner with certified software.
Enhanced Microsoft seller discoverability: A solution shows as a certified software in Microsoft seller platforms to help when the sellers are searching for solutions.

Enroll in a Solutions Partner with certified software designation

The list view of the solutions will now have the following columns:

(1) Solutions alias
(2) Solution ID
(3) A new column to show the current designations for the offer

When opening a solution, you see more detailed information.

Label (1) in this image shows the Certified Software designations for Solution areas.
Label (2) in this image shows the Certified Software designations for industry AI.

Selecting a certification name from the section labeled (1) displays a panel on the right.

Label (2) in this image shows the subway stop that shows the progress for each certification on the respective page.
Label (3) in this image shows the three stages of attaining the Certification, as divided into the following tabs:
- The Qualification tab shows the various metrics needed to qualify for the program.
- The Audit tab enables the partners to apply for technical audit once they qualify.
- The Benefits tab shows the benefits the partner gets upon enrollment.

Once you meet the initial qualification criteria, the Schedule audit button is available in the Audit tab. When using this button:

Schedule a technical audit with a third-party vendor, as explained for Azure.
Audits on Security and Modern Work give you the real-time results.
Audits for Business Applications require you to fill a form, based on which your offer will be audited for interoperability.

Once the audit is completed, the appropriate status can be seen.

Status on the main page	Meaning
Not qualified	The Qualification metrics for this program based on the Solution aren't met.
Qualified	The Qualification metrics for this program based on the Solution are met, and you can now apply for the technical audit.
Enrolled	Technical audit is passed, and the app now is certified; you can now have the benefits provisioned for the partners to redeem.

Based on the designation for which you're applying, you have different audit requirements, as mentioned in Requirements for becoming a Solutions Partner with certified software for a solution area and Requirements for becoming a Solutions Partner with certified software for a Industry AI.

Upon successful audit completion, you can see the list of benefits available to you under the Benefits tab.

Redeem benefits links to the Benefits workspace to redeem those benefits.

Similarly, you can go to the Logo Builder workspace to activate and download a badge for use in your marketing collateral. Learn more about how to create a partner logo, award logo, or certified letter with Logo Builder.