Microsoft Earmarks $500M For Partners

Microsoft announced it would invest $500 million in its 810,000-member
partner network over the next two years, with most of the money to be
invested in the next year.

The company said the investment, roughly double the total plowed into
partner initiatives last year, would begin this month. It is designed to
help partners beef up their field staff; increase training; and access more
technical support.

“We are investing in people, marketing, support, tools and programs on a new
level,” Microsoft VP of worldwide partner sales and marketing Allison Watson
said in a statement. “As a company we can be successful only if all our
partner segments are successful.”

Microsoft’s partner network includes resellers, system integrators, software
vendors, and developers.

First up is an investment to increase partners’ field staff, including
accounting managers, technical specialists, and phone sales reps. Last
month, Microsoft announced it would undertake
the largest increase in its sales force in a decade, while overhauling
the sales team to focus on vertical industries.

Also, Microsoft’s money will go toward enhancing the eLearning Center, a Web
site for sales and technical training from Microsoft. The company plans to
introduce an “online concierge,” which will actually be Microsoft technical
support members directing partners to troubleshooting resources.