Kevin Machayya is a 15-year veteran of Microsoft and Great Plains Software. He has held various roles in technical support, customer service, and sales operations. For the last 11 years, Kevin has focused on the Microsoft Dynamics partner channel through partner account management, readiness, marketing, resourcing/staffing and development programs.
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We spent a considerable amount of time in January during the Business Leadership Roadshow discussing Microsoft and the Cloud, and how to assess a transition to the cloud.
Whether you have an existing Microsoft Dynamics ERP or Microsoft Dynamics CRM practice, or are investing in your first, now is the time to make strategic business decisions on your transition. You don’t have to do this alone; Microsoft has released the Dynamics Cloud Partner Profitability Guide.
With over 1,000 hours of research, interviews and analysis and more than 200 partners testing the content. This is the most comprehensive cloud business guide to date.
As Kim Smith, Director, Dynamics Cloud & CRM Partner Strategy, Microsoft Business Solutions explains, this guide will help Microsoft partners understand the key success factors for their transition to the cloud, in particular, when selling or delivering business application services and solutions. Every partner’s journey will be unique. While we cannot describe every possible issue and its solution; our goal is to provide some of the most relevant tools to develop a solid business plan.
The Microsoft Dynamics Cloud Partner Profitability Guide will help partners to:
Access the guide through either PartnerSource or the Microsoft Partner Network portal.
--Kevin
Take advantage of these upcoming technical web seminars to learn more about Microsoft Dynamics solutions, and best practices.
Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 Partner Technical Services (PTS) Series: Analysis Cubes – Analytical Accounting and Open Framework
April 5, 2011 at 8:30 AM PST
This session will cover enhancements to Analysis Cubes with the Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 release. Specifically, the new Analytical Accounting cube will be covered. Additionally, the removal of the passwords from the SQL Integration Services packages will be covered including an overview and quick example.
Prerequisites
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Partner Technical Services (PTS) Series: Install/Upgrade Troubleshooting and Best Practices
April 19, 2011 at 8:30 AM PST
This session will provide you with the best practices and troubleshooting techniques used by our support engineers. Learn about the current issues the support team is facing and how you can avoid them in your new installations and upgrades to Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011.
Microsoft Dynamics SL Partner Technical Services (PTS) Series: Best practices in resolving differences between the Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable sub-modules and the General Ledger
April 26, 2011 at 8:30 AM PST
This session will provide partners with techniques for helping their customers try to resolve out-of-balance issues between the General Ledger and the Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable modules. We’ll discuss the various reasons that cause the out-of-balance situations and work together in a database to demonstrate finding the data that’s causing the out-of-balance problem.
Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 Partner Technical Services (PTS) Series: SharePoint and Microsoft Dynamics GP
May 3, 2011 at 8:30 AM PST
How to utilize SharePoint BI to get benefits of SharePoint with your Microsoft Dynamics GP data.
Additional PTS on demand web seminars can be found on PartnerSource.
The Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace is designed to help prospects and customers find and adopt the latest, most innovative solutions to extend the value, reach and functionality of their Microsoft Dynamics systems. In contrast to more traditional lead generation and marketing processes, the Marketplace gives you the option to engage with prospects in a relatively passive, "low touch" and cost-effective manner.
Because the Marketplace helps enable partners to list solutions with a granular, ratings-based search, the Marketplace becomes a valuable catalyst for business growth. We are building off of great momentum from Microsoft Pinpoint (the Marketplace engine) which since September 2010 has had over 1.4M visitors, with over 355,000 opportunities generated for partner solutions. Many of which are visiting partner's solutions on the Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace.
Register today for a 1-hour webcast to learn more.
Visit the new Microsoft Dynamics Marketplace.
3/30/2011 - Edited Microsoft Pinpoint web site traffic metrics.
As we wrap up the month of March, I cannot help myself thinking of the world of sports and Microsoft Dynamics. I can honestly admit I’m a huge sports fanatic, and if you are based in the United States, you have to love the month of March for college athletics!
Unpredictable. It is the first word I think of when looking at how the college basketball season is wrapping up. With three games to go to determine the national champion, the final game is guaranteed include both a storied franchise and a big underdog. (Human nature tells us to root for the little guy, right?) But, regardless of past history, all of these teams will be focused on one huge thing – Winning. Well, to me winning is the end goal, but solid execution is required to reach that goal.
As a Microsoft Dynamics partner, you can bring this winning attitude to your business by executing great marketing and sales efforts now through the end of June. You also may face competitive situations where a winning attitude may prove to be a very valuable asset. To help you win, don’t forget about the great offers and promotions we have available for both prospective and existing customers.
Take some time to review all current offers listed within the FY11 Offer Summary Sheets on PartnerSource, and visit Facebook to vote for the offer you think will help you the most to close business.
Finally, on a related note, a huge congratulations to my alma mater, the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux, on their advancement to the college hockey championship series!
The next release of Microsoft Dynamics AX is planned for the third quarter of 2011 and promises to deliver significant features and enhancements. We will continue to add content around learning opportunities on this exciting release as event and training opportunities roll out!
You can jumpstart your product and technology learning and planning by attending three days of deep technical content delivered by Microsoft leaders and technology experts. This is your chance to learn, get inspired, and see how Microsoft Dynamics AX can help you provide innovative solutions for your business.
Visit the Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 partner readiness page for United States partners on PartnerSource for complete details. The page includes:
With the release of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 the primary readiness objective is to prepare you, the partner community, to successfully sell, implement, support and upgrade customers to this new release.
Whether you are a new Microsoft Dynamics partner organization or a new employee within an existing practice, this recently refreshed Getting Started with Microsoft Dynamics page on PartnerSource is designed to ensure you have the essential resources to set you off on the right foot.
We have provided you with a step by step outline broken down through a timeline to help you and your organization get started with Microsoft Dynamics.
Here is a summary of all the sections within the Getting Started page:
The page houses a downloadable Microsoft Dynamics Getting Started Guide which includes instructions to help you complete each section. Also, you’ll find a variety of on-demand web seminars providing great tips to learn more about numerous resources available to you.
Keep in mind, this "getting started" guidance is not designed to train you how to use Microsoft Dynamics from a product/technology perspective, but instead delivers information regarding how you set up your Microsoft Dynamics partner practice and get connected to tools, training, collateral, etc.
Take a quick 30 minutes to either review the page or guidebook in its entirety, then follow the step by step instructions to get started!
WPC Registration is now officially open! Register today for the 2011 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, July 10-14, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. This five-day, must-attend partner event of the year offers you the opportunity to learn about Microsoft’s roadmap and best practices, gain exclusive access to Microsoft executives, and network with other partners, analysts and press. Explore inspired opportunities around Microsoft’s cloud offerings, Windows 7 and Windows Phone. Take your business to the next level and win against the competition. With 15,000-plus attendees expected, WPC 2011 is going to be big. Ideas. Imagination. Impact. Collaboration. All inspired! Don’t miss out! Register today and get a US$300 discount! Early-bird pricing is in effect now through April 25!
Get the recognition you deserve at WPC 2011! Enter Today to Win a Microsoft Partner Award!
It’s time to gain the recognition you deserve for the creative solutions you have built on Microsoft technologies and to differentiate your company from the competition. This year, we will showcase more partner solutions than ever before at the 2011 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, July 10-14, in Los Angeles. Microsoft’s global Partner Awards program is now open for submissions.
Winning an award – or placing as a finalist – can generate new business and customer opportunities, increase your press coverage and provide market recognition. Receive onsite acknowledgement at WPC 2011 and a comprehensive marketing and press kit to help you leverage this honor and attract new customers. Click here for more information and submit your entry today to become a Microsoft Partner Award winner at WPC 2011! Nominations close April 15, 2011 April 29, 2011.
Watch this blog for more Microsoft Dynamics specific content announcements for WPC over the next several weeks!
UPDATED 4/12/2011 - Award nomination deadline extended to April 29, 2011.
The Microsoft Dynamics Community team is seeking your participation in two separate usability studies at Convergence Atlanta 2011. The first will focus on the existing Microsoft Dynamics Community Website and the second will focus on the future experience of PartnerSource and CustomerSource.
On the PartnerSource side of our business, we’ve made several updates to the website including the introduction of PartnerSource North America roughly 18 months ago. I hope many of our United States and Canadian partners are taking advantage of this country specific version of PartnerSource.
Your feedback is greatly appreciated to help with the design and future of the Microsoft Dynamics online communities. The time commitment ranges from 45 to 90 minutes depending on the study, and you will receive a $150 check when completed.
The usability studies will be conducted in conjunction with Convergence, at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta, GA. The Community study has slots available Sunday and Monday and the future PartnerSource and CustomerSource study runs Tuesday and Wednesday.
To schedule a usability session please contact Ashley Johnson at Usability Sciences at ajohnson@usabilitysciences.com or by phone at 214-445-0255. After she receives your email or phone call, she will work with you to reserve a time for the appropriate study.
For more information, check out Andy Leapaldt’s blog posting on the Microsoft Dynamics Community website.
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you probably know a thing or two about social media. Perhaps you sit at your desk (or at home) wondering how the heck someone can become a YouTube sensation overnight with 25 million views! Or maybe you have a tough time believing that partners are finding opportunities, leads and sales by blogging.
Now is the time to speak up. Let Microsoft know how you currently use social media in your marketing efforts, or if you are just stratching the surface, provide some general thoughts on the topic.
Social media is playing an increasing role in partners’ marketing strategies and partners across the US are clamoring for more information!
Whether you’re still evaluating using social media to promote your business or are already using it as a strategic marketing vehicle, the US Dynamics Marketing and Social Media teams needs to know how to best support you!
In exchange for a few minutes of your time, partners who complete this simple 15 question survey will receive two things:
This information will be used to help shape partner marketing offerings and social media strategies for FY12. Please help us help you and take the time to fill it out today!
Click here to access the survey.
Convergence 2011 is less than one month away, and there are many reasons why you should attend, so I’ve attempted to narrow the lists down to eleven. Eleven?! Yes, eleven. Everyone else is doing top ten lists, so I decided to be different. :-)
If you still haven’t registered, click here for more information.
Since the conference was in Atlanta last year and it is again this year, here’s reason #1 to attend – If you enjoyed the great hospitality in Atlanta last year, then you’ll enjoy it even more this year. Now, on to the other ten…
Now that you know the Top 11 (yes, eleven) reasons to attend Convergence, make sure your customers are registered! We have made it easy for you to invite them by creating Demand Generation Materials that you can utilize on PartnerSource.