If you're an MSP reselling Microsoft CSP or Microsoft NCE products to your clients, you need to always prioritize technological innovation and top-notch service delivery. 

With so many Microsoft partners out there, it's important to not only excel in service delivery but also achieve higher efficiency within your team and organization.

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This comprehensive guide provides you with actionable steps to optimize operations, fortify client relationships, and elevate service standards.

Let's delve right in. 

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Microsoft CSP vs. Microsoft NCE: Understanding the difference

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Microsoft has recently announced that it'll be retiring its legacy CSP, and the users will have to migrate to the New Commerce Experience (NCE). 

If you're a Microsoft partner, it's vital for you to understand the difference between the two to provide the best solutions to your consumers. 

Microsoft NCE was made available to commercial cloud customers in January 2022 and for Education, GCC, and Charity subscription types in November 2023. By January 2024, new subscriptions and renewals for existing CSPs will be to NCE only. 

By December 2024, Microsoft plans to retire all legacy CSP subscriptions and move them to NCE. 

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Best practices to succeed as a Microsoft partner

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Make your life easier as a Microsoft partner by following these tips and best practices. 

Automate license and billing reconciliation

If you resell Microsoft products to different clients, managing all their licenses can be challenging. This could lead to inconsistent billing and lost revenue. 

It's important to streamline and automate license reconciliation, and Zomentum Connect is the easiest way to do it. 

Our dedicated Microsoft NCE Reconciliation solution allows you to import all your Microsoft licenses from various PSAs and track them in a single, intuitive dashboard. 

This can save you valuable time, eliminate billing discrepancies, and increase revenue.

‍Try it now. 

Utilize partner center tools effectively

The Partner Center offers all the pivotal functionalities for managing client relationships and performance metrics. It provides a comprehensive view of your clients, including client engagement, subscription management, and access to vital resources. 

Effectively using the Partner Center allows you to create tailored workflows that automate routine tasks and enhance operational efficiency. 

You can easily integrate the Partner Center into your existing tools for efficient management, ensuring smooth operations and informed decision-making.

Offer packaged solutions and services

It's always better to offer packaged solutions and services than standalone products. 

For instance, you can sell a comprehensive Microsoft 365 package comprising setup, security configurations, and ongoing support to not only create more value for the customer but also simplify the sales process. 

These well-defined solutions streamline decision-making for clients and reduce complexities on your end.

Invest in automation and monitoring tools

Automation and monitoring tools function as vigilant guardians and provide real-time insights into clients' systems. Setting up automated alerts for potential issues, like unusual resource spikes or security vulnerabilities, can help you take proactive measures. 

For instance, you can automate routine maintenance tasks during off-peak hours to ensure uninterrupted services for your clients. 

Automation helps you mitigate manual efforts and bolster reliability and security, ensuring a robust service ecosystem.

Develop expertise in specific Microsoft solutions

Specializing in specific Microsoft solutions like Azure, Microsoft 365, or Dynamics 365 sets you apart in the market. 

Imagine being known for your expertise in implementing custom Azure solutions tailored to specific industries or for providing in-depth knowledge on optimizing Dynamics 365 for sales and customer service. This expertise lets you offer specialized services that precisely match your clients' unique needs. 

For example, you can offer a "Compliance and Security Enhancement" service for healthcare clients using Azure, ensuring HIPAA compliance and robust security measures. 

Specialization builds credibility and attracts clients seeking specialized solutions, leading to stronger partnerships and client loyalty.

Utilize managed services automation platforms

Managing thousands of Microsoft environments for hundreds of different clients can be challenging. It's important to have a centralized console to monitor and manage them all, and here's where a professional services automation (PSA) tool like ConnectWise or Kaseya comes into the picture. 

PSA tools streamline routine tasks across different client setups, such as deploying updates and managing backups. 

For instance, you can configure automated workflows that handle common tasks across multiple client environments, ensuring consistency and reliability. One example could be automating regular security scans or applying patches across Azure environments. 

By adopting these tools, you can improve operational efficiency and ensure consistent service delivery for all your clients.

Prioritize security and compliance

Security remains the linchpin of trust and also an area of concern for many businesses. In fact, research from Cisco suggests that 50% of large enterprises spend over $1 million on security annually. 

Leverage Microsoft's security solutions like Microsoft Defender, Azure Security Center, and Compliance Manager to provide a robust shield against cyber threats to your clients. 

Microsoft partners should provide managed security services like continuous monitoring, threat detection, and compliance audits. 

Establish clear Service Level Agreements (SLAs)

If you want smooth partnerships, you need to set clear expectations. Defining solid SLAs with your clients and outlining support, response times, and service availability sets the groundwork for a transparent relationship. 

Let's say you have an SLA that guarantees a response within a certain timeframe for any Microsoft product-related issue. Similarly, you can have an SLA that promises 99.9% uptime for Azure services.

This commitment and clarity build trust and create peace of mind for the client. That said, make sure to regularly review and update these SLAs to align with evolving client needs.

Run regular assessments and optimize services

Adaptability is the key to staying ahead! Regularly review your service offerings and optimize them based on evolving client needs and changes in Microsoft's products. 

A great way to do this is by conducting regular assessments to identify areas for improvement or new opportunities. For instance, reviewing your Microsoft 365 support services might reveal the need to include additional security training for clients' employees.

That said, manually performing Microsoft assessments is tedious and time-consuming. Automating these assessments can help you save time and effort while also enabling you to conduct error-free assessments. 

Here's where Zomentum Grow comes into the picture. Zomentum Grow comes with a dedicated Cloud Assessments module that helps you run Microsoft assessments in a few clicks. Click here to see it in action. 

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Continuous training and skill development

Invest in continuous training and certification programs to keep your team updated with the latest Microsoft technologies and best practices. 

For example, you can provide certification courses to your team members on Azure migration strategies to empower them to handle complex migration projects efficiently.

Continuous skill development not only boosts your team's confidence but also enhances the quality of service you offer.

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Final thoughts

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With Microsoft products being the preferred choice of business tools for most businesses, being a successful MSP partner can be fruitful for MSPs. 

This guide reveals actionable steps you can take to make your life easier as a Microsoft partner while also improving service delivery and client relationships. 

So, act upon these tips today and position yourself as the go-to partner for your clients. 

And don't forget to check out Zomentum if you want to automate your Microsoft license reconciliation or assessments. 

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