Microsoft kicks off SPLA reseller reshuffle

RFP issued to SPLA resellers

Microsoft is looking to rejig its line-up of Service Provider Licensing Agreement (SPLA) resellers after issuing partners with a request for proposal [RFP].

The software giant said "changing market conditions" were behind the move, which will see it analyse its current line-up of SPLA resellers and possibly add new ones.

Microsoft last tweaked its SPLA channel in 2012 when Westcoast and Ingram Micro were handed rights to push the licences. The likes of Softcat, Insight and Bytes are listed as SPLA resellers on their websites.

Microsoft said its current line-up has served it well but it is time for change.

"Our current UK SPLA resellers have proved more than able to meet the demands of the service provider hosting market for the last 13 years. However, the definition and requirements from users and service providers for cloud services has now broadened out to be a full range of public, private and hybrid scenarios," it said.

"As a result of these changing market conditions, Microsoft UK are going through a process of evaluating the needs and capability of existing SPLA resellers, alongside a limited recruitment opportunity for new SPLA resellers, to accelerate market adoption of the Microsoft cloud across public, service provider and end-customer private cloud."

It said the RFP will help it work out which partners are right for its future SPLA plans.

"The purpose of issuing an RFP is for Microsoft UK to determine which partners are best positioned with respect to third-party hosting, market expertise and growth capability, supported by advanced sales, marketing, licensing, and compliance competencies.

"The evolving IT channel worldwide requires Microsoft to ensure we have full capability to offer partner hosted, public cloud and emerging hybrid models to lead and support the transition to cloud with end customers and resellers."