2007 RCP Partner Survey

If Charles Dickens were to write a Tale of Two Cities on the Microsoft Partner Program, in 2007, he would not be the first sentence of his past. Dickens began his famous work of the masters, "This is the best of times, it was the worst of times", but RCP 2007 readership survey showed that there is no such dichotomy in the Microsoft channel. For you, Microsofts partners, this is the best of times - in most cases.

You would like to cooperate with Microsoft, even if you say that it is not an easy task. Do you think Microsoft treat you fairly, and you are happy with the company how to structure the partnership plan and certification. Do you see a bright future as a Microsoft partner. You do not know the interest is Microsofts biggest competitors, such as Google and Microsoft source code is an important driving force of your business, even if it sometimes is a challenge to adapt your business model to Microsoft pricing strategy.

Also, you have some familiar reasons to complain. Microsoft is still a mystery to many of you - a huge entity, that is, overweight, your information, but does not always provide easy access to achieve, you need to talk, it was in the Fort in Redmond. Licensing is still kind of a mess, and your customers continue to look for Microsoft products expensive. Old problems, you always have negative views on Microsofts security - was still hanging in there, too. Not one of the complaints is a new problem, but everything is still prevalent.

Shiny, happy partnership However, the figures tell the story: This is a great time will be in Microsofts partner community. More than 80 percent of your report was pleased, because Microsofts partners and 30%, you, you said "very happy." You seem content with the way Microsoft has set up its cooperation partners, too. About 60 percent of the respondents said that the plan should not exceed its present divided into three levels: registered members, Certified Partners and gold certified partners.

Two-thirds, and you shook his head: "no" when asked if it is too easily achieved Gold Certified Partner status, and almost 60% of you say that this is not too easy not to become registered members. Therefore, although the partnership plan, as many as 400,000 members expect from Microsofts own, and you do not feel like Microsoft gift membership or certification too easy.

even Gold Certified Partners, which represents almost 28% of the respondents in our survey (compared to 18% of the Certified Partners and 50% of the registered members, while the rest are Microsofts partners, rather than official scheme members), refused to recognize its too easy to achieve its lofty status. More than half of them Gold Certified partner, do not believe that it is too easy to achieve Gold Certified Partner status, and more than half, at the highest level you also said "no" when asked whether the partner program, there should be More levels. You, however, a bit less sure than Shaohuan become registered members sample as a whole - 39% of the Gold Certified Partner said, it is too easy to become a registered member, and 38 percent of the respondents said that it is not.

More than 60 percent, do you think Microsoft will listen to its partners, and 75 percent of you said, Microsoft is a fair with the company. 80 percent more, you feel like Microsofts ability to program an important partner to help distinguish between their professional knowledge, and, while 28% of you say that there are too many competitive projects, 40% of a powerful diversified - say, how many, it seems only right.

You have not even started yet, all interested in Microsofts competitors, despite the fact that they seem more of a threat to all the time. And 48 percent of you say that you will decline somewhat, and Microsoft as a partner to switch to another vendor projects, with only a "quantifiably better market opportunities," a solid 35% respondents said that nothing could convince them to abandon the Microsoft partnership.

And 27%, you should actively support some form of Linux or open-source applications based on the procedures, 58%, you do not have such a requirement. And 43% of you say that you do not want to support Linux, even if you do not have to worry about damage to your Linux support relationship with Microsoft, while only 34 percent of the respondents believe that the Linux you to look at, if Microsoft wouldn t mind.

methodology CPR first aid its reader survey ran from July 11, 2007 through August 13, 2007, readers responded to Investigation through a link in Redmond channel partners of the latest Newsletter, as well as through targeted e-mail responsible for the explosion. Survey results showed that 268 respondents, all of the work Member Companies Registry, a Certified Partner or Gold Certified Partner in the Microsoft Partner Program, or its with Microsoft, but did not formally part of The Partner Program. Percentages may not add up more than 100 chart for Availability more rounded and answer some questions. L-page Google, Interestingly, the results slightly better than the front-line competition. And 41 percent of you say that you are not interested in Google and 30%, and you do not know - a stable, 33% of you say that you would consider with Google, if you had not imagined it would hurt you interpersonal relationships with Microsoft. In contrast, 37 per cent, you are not interested, with Google, Microsoft may even look the other way. Although 47% of the , you identified a negative view, Microsoft, as is the competitiveness of your biggest problem (with the same number of competition grounds, an internal channel as a major problem), a diversified, do you agree Microsoft products more easily sold than they are now 10 years ago, and there is no more difficult to sell now than two or five years ago begun to be implemented. Therefore, even if the cognitive side, Microsoft seems to be income.

Squeaky wheels However, even if the partners have so much development is pleased to find room for improvement. The partners plan itself leads to the complaint, much less you happy with Microsofts licensing policies. Nearly 62 percent of you say that Microsofts licensing scheme, it is difficult to sell Microsoft products.

Ken Chafer said, the current owner and sole employee of charity, registered members and small enterprises specialized in Salem, Oregon, said that the Microsoft licensing can be a reserve force, and his customers, they are want to spend more money, since it might lead. The concept of a software license tied up with the hardware, for instance, is often a stumbling block.

"If my computer is dead, I want to buy the software," Xie said. "Small business owners], just do not get it, you start talking about all these [license agreement, and officially began a blank, which they have gone astray, you can not enhanced, and the only way to permit you can be raised, through retail boxes, their mentality is the most correct output Hong Kong dollar, now they can go to the upgrade, but do not understand an OEM license, I understand how the system is operating, but mainly to let small businesses know it [is difficult]. " . Speaking Ric is the manager of Insight Group, Inc., Gold Certified Partners in conshohocken, Pennsylvania, voices similar concerns. "I was not even able to map [licence] for themselves," Paul Henri Ravier said. "We must be firm, you would think that they would know how to do, and even then, they considerable confusion." and 46%, and you said: Microsofts licensing policy is fair, 30% , and you say that they in fact is not the case. But the problem is not reached, and the end of the licensing of trouble. And 34%, and you told us that you do so by the main complaints by the customers and licensing, 37% of the respondents think that the main complaints is that Microsoft products too expensive.

Xie said, customers often could not believe how much an omnipresent products, such as the cost of Microsoft Office, and even funded programs like Microsoft, to help customers affordable investment only go so far in helping partners Sales suffer. "They see value, then you are what they, this will increase their implementation of this and you just watch the blood loss, and leave his face, small-business owners still can not grasp how soon they will be satisfactory returns, and how much to pay for running it, "he said.

Addition to licensing and pricing, and the other old problems still hanging around and not as a partner, but this point seems to be improving. This, of course, is safety, or more specifically, the negative perceptions of the safety of Microsoft products. Fully 70% of you said that security is a problem, your ability to sell Microsoft software, but only 27% of you say that this is a big problem, to 3% listed it as the biggest problem .

And 59%, and you said: Your customer satisfaction with the job seekers Microsoft is doing in addressing security issues. They are not interested in how, though Microsofts own home-grown security applications - only 21%, you reported that your customers are interested in applications such as a suite or in the forefront of Microsoft Windows Live OneCare will.

Navigation Redmond One of the main challenges facing the partners, in particular the smaller partners, in the face of increasing the entrance to the fortress is Microsoft. More than two-thirds, and you are satisfied with the level of communication you have with Microsoft, but Microsofts sometimes a two-way communication can overwhelm all, 31% of the respondents said, in dealing with information overload is the biggest One of the challenges they face their own with Microsoft.

Another 24% of you reported that to find suitable contacts, Microsoft is a big challenge. Nearly 40 percent of you said it, it is difficult to find the right people in Microsoft, you want to discuss things. Peter vanrysdam knows the feeling. Vanrysdam is vice president of marketing at 352 Media Group, newberry, based in Florida registered members. He said, and started to partners plan is not easy.

"For someone to listen programmes reading of the interests and decision, we should participate in it is very difficult, from the beginning to the end, we need to head about it is, we have not got a lot of support when we find it by Microsoft, "vanrysdam said. "After registration, I half expected to call or someone to help us there." But nobody called, so vanrysdam to the Microsoft Partner Program Web site - has not been proved to be very helpful to end.

"We really tried to figure out our own experience Partner Program web site, and more confusion, we have not, because it is not a very simple thing to control," vanrysdam said. 352 has finally broken through the media, although he said that, when the staff of the company have worked with Microsoft to provide other jobs in the name of contact person. Vanrysdam decided to take the initiative to contact strategy, and ultimately to help him make some progress. However, at this point, he said, vanrysdam see more from Microsoft in the way of communication, more cyclical e-mail communications.

Nevertheless, vanrysdam said that the media will stick to a 352 to become certified partners, and hopes to strengthen and Microsoft in the process.

"We will think more actively involved in once we reach that level," he said. "I think the pros outweigh the obstacles." in their own words the reader survey asked a number of open issues, and prompted some interesting responses. Here is a sample of what partners say, about several key issues: Q: What is your biggest challenge in dealing with Microsoft as a partner? Replied: findings or access to the right information, whether it is by one person, the data from the site, or find out what you as a partner in order to do a .

Very often, and when you call, you have to return from person to person. I have an incident occurred more than nine months to resolve.

Such a broad spectrum of Microsoft products, it sometimes may lead partner do not even know solution can be found Microsoft. In addition, Microsofts Web site can find nightmare, MSN Search while a search for better results, but do not say that I said.

Q: Is there a better future, as Microsofts partner? Replied: If you stand, their rights, if you team up with the right people, if you have the right tools and knowledge, you need to do so, do you have, as a Microsoft The partners will work great for you.

Microsoft is obviously a dominant player and will continue to do so for as long as they can adapt to the continuous development of the market. Some of the new partner program, it appears to be Microsofts response. I am looking forward to finishing some competency to see how Microsoft response and support.

When Napoleon declared war, Russia does not seem to care about him, in 95 per cent of his troops died. I have a similar view of those in power Microsoft.

Seriously, is there another option? Q: How would you change, the Microsoft Partner Program? Replied: the level of support provided by Microsoft is indispensable. Its difficult to find the support we need to support our customers. Its too much, it is difficult to find the right people for their support and incredible, it is difficult to find people to discuss technical theories to understand how a product should be implemented.

Back to the comprehensive plan. Allow big box retailers become Gold Certified Partner greatly reduce the value of the program, as a partner with more technical knowledge.

I need one person is my Microsoft gatekeepers - a phone call to find anything or anyone, I need.

Nothing.

almost half, you say, it is very easy to get access to the right contact at Microsoft Once you have established contacts with the people, therefore, the nut of a blow to Microsoft, it seems to become the worlds biggest obstacle to the development of a relationship with the company. You do not know little Partners Customer Manager (PAMS), though perhaps due to the fact that many respondents from smaller companies do not Mobility System. (More than 60 percent of the companies interviewed only less than 500 million dollars in revenue), nearly 45 per cent, and you do not know how to enter your PAM is, but just over half, and you evaluate your polyacrylamide the effectiveness of a "neither effective nor ineffective." To restore Ruiz, channel manager netpro computer company is a Gold Certified Partners, based in Phoenix, one of the PAM criticized his companys Microsoft relationship.

"We have recently been asked by the bank in Brazil we asked our Microsoft relationship, and China polyacrylamide immediately sent an e-mail [banks] said, we are a partner, in good reputation," Ruiz said. Ruiz, the company has about 200 employees, size matters less than the strategy, and formed a relationship with Microsoft. That you will be a great strategic and cooperative partnership, he said, Microsoft will offer more of your attention, even if you are not a big company. Time and help to open up the bonds, also said: "When we have established cooperative relations with Microsoft, we increase the credibility," Ruiz said.

Bright future At this time, it has become popular analysts and other observers predict the imminent dark day for Microsoft, partners see a bright future, work with the company . In fact, more than 80 per cent, you said, there is a very good future, as a Microsoft partner. And the other based on your reaction, is a good thing. Microsofts most recent earnings, which in essence, the companys latest quarter was its best in nearly a decade, it seems to return to the survey.

However, as always, nothing is perfect. Licensing and pricing still is a headache, and Microsoft is not getting any smaller, an either-it can still is a monster here. And customers still have some negative impression of Microsoft roadblocks could lead to sales, the sale of Microsoft in general seems to be much easier, double what it was 10 years ago. In most cases, things are great and will be getting better and better, for Microsofts partners, the trend of the respondents indicated that will continue.

Ruiz said: "In the long term, [customers] have a lot of confidence in Microsofts ongoing, we have benefited from this conviction." It seems that this is the situation now more than ever.