Microsoft tells partners to make more of programme perks

Resellers gathered at LA summit told they are not taking full advantage of MPN, including Pinpoint

Microsoft has urged partners to make better use of the resources available to them within the vendor's partner programme.

At the software giant's Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) in Los Angeles this week, Jon Roskill, corporate vice president of the firm's worldwide partner group, said some partners were failing to make the most of being part of the Microsoft channel.

"MPN [the Microsoft Partner Network] is a great resource, but some of you are not taking full advantage of it today," he said.

In particular, he said partners were missing out on major cost savings by not using the firm's internal usage rights programme, which gives them access to free Microsoft products.

"This benefit is unmatched in the industry," he said. "[You should] use it to run your business while getting practical, hands-on experience using Microsoft software and take those hard costs out of your own business."

He also called on partners to use the MPN Learning Centre to train their sales and technical teams, as well as make sure their company is listed on the firm's online partner directory, Pinpoint.

"Each of these benefits adds substantially to your business," explained Roskill. "So I encourage you to get out there and take full advantage of them."

This sentiment was echoed by Janet Gibbons, director of partner strategy and programmes at Microsoft, during yesterday's UK keynote.

In an address to about 400 partners, she said that considering the amount of time and money partners have spent on gaining competencies through MPN, they should be using Pinpoint to shout about them.

"It is a portal that you can use to demonstrate to customers in the UK who you are, where you are and what you can do," said Gibbons.

However, citing figures from a survey carried out at this year's WPC, she said a third of partners have no listing on the site.

"Out of the two thirds of you who are on Pinpoint, half of you have only very basic information and are not telling customers exactly what your specialisms are," she said.

She also listed the technical support service offered to partners, which is staffed by Microsoft employees in Bangalore and offered to UK partners via MPN, as another under-used resource.

"They are Microsoft employees, this is not being outsourced," she said. "It really is a great benefit."