Controversy reigned in 2022 as the channel was subjected to contentious vendor takeovers, unpopular partner programme overhauls and the introduction of polarising new working practices such as the four-day week.
Here we count down, in order of magnitude, the seven most controversial stories that ruffled feathers in the UK channel over the last 12 months.
7) Microsoft binning MPN
What happened?
The world waved farewell to the Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) on 3 October as the shiny new Microsoft Cloud Partner Program went live.
In what is arguably the biggest partner programme shake up by any vendor in recent history, Microsoft ditched MPN - along with its historic Gold and Silver badges - amid a flurry of changes to how it categorises and rewards its 400,000 partners globally. The move was first announced in March.
Why was it controversial?
Microsoft claimed the change would align its partners' "go-to-market motions" with the way customers buy in today's market. And after a 15-year run, MPN did seem a tad stale.
But it wasn't a universally popular move, with some partners even signing a petition campaigning against its introduction.
Becoming a Solutions Partner in the new regime would be "impossible" for most partners to achieve because the new points-based scoring system is unduly biased towards new sales, the petition claimed.
"Microsoft's objective is and always will be to cut down the 400,000 loyal partners," it stated.
Others felt that the programme overhaul came to soon on the heels of the launch of Microsoft's New Commerce Experience, which left partners taking on the financial risk of their customers if they were no longer to pay the rest of their Office 365 subscription.
