Microsoft Pinpoint to get major overhaul

Partners received an email with the updates this week

Microsoft has announced major changes to its Pinpoint partner directory service which it claims will make it "more integrated and comprehensive".

The online tool aims to put customers in touch with relevant partners, but it has come under fire a number of times in recent years, with some partners criticising the way it ranks partners and its falling victim to a scam back in 2012.

In an email sent to partners, seen by CRN, Microsoft said it is making some big changes to the site in a bid to ensure partners get better leads and customers are better supported.

Keyword matches will remain the highest priority for its search ranking algorithm, but from now on, Gold competency status is the next highest factor, followed by Silver competencies, said the email. The total number of both Gold and Silver competencies will not be weighted in the algorithm and cloud competencies will now be weighted equally with all others as part of the changes.

The way Pinpoint ranks partners by location has been a bugbear for some partners in the past, with some claiming that partners from far-away locations appear top of a search ranking despite the customer wanting one locally.

The way location is interpreted will change in the new-look Pinpoint, with customers required to specify their desired location. A new auto-detect feature is also being built and will be available by this year's Worldwide Partner Conference in July.

Further changes are on the cards too: customer reviews will be removed by 30 June and will be replaced with "a more comprehensive" offering which "will give prospects a broader picture of a partner's customer experience".

Microsoft partner TSG's chief operating office Steeve Cox welcomed the changes.

"We put a huge amount of effort and investment in achieving Gold status - we've got seven now," he said. "It's a huge investment in training and education and working with Microsoft. From a location perspective, one of our challenges is the fact we are a national business. We're got offices in several locations and we don't want to be managing multiple entries [on Pinpoint].

"Anything they can do that is going to help emphasis the partners making a commitment to them can only be welcomed."

Kelvin Kirby, chief executive of Technology Associates also welcomed the changes.

"I am encouraged by the changes and there's good progress there - it's all good," he said. "They've listened to what partners have had to say and taken it on board."