More than 500,000 companies are part of the global Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program (MAICPP) community, which is dedicated to enabling digital transformation for customers across all industries with cloud and artificial intelligence-powered solutions.
Nicole Dezen, chief partner officer and corporate vice president of global partner solutions at Microsoft, is leading this initiative with a strong emphasis on the benefits of generative AI tools like Microsoft Copilot on cloud adoption and for partner ecosystems.
You became chief partner officer in 2022. How have your first couple of years been and what are the highlights of your work so far?
The past couple of years have been incredibly rewarding and transformative. Working closely with our diverse and dynamic partner ecosystem, we’ve achieved some remarkable milestones.
One of the highlights has been the evolution of MAICPP. Just as AI is infused throughout Microsoft’s product portfolio, it’s wired throughout the partner programme. This enables our partners to meet customer needs, no matter where they are on their AI transformation journey. MAICPP is the umbrella programme for everything partners need to go to market with Microsoft, including skills, tools, benefits, designations, specialisations and incentives.
We continually introduce new AI capabilities and tools that empower our partners to drive innovation, enhance productivity and create new business opportunities. Additionally, substantial investments in incentives and support – particularly in areas like security, Microsoft Azure and Copilot – enable partners to earn the trust and confidence of customers in this rapidly changing technology landscape.
We view partners as an extension of our sales force. We continue to introduce new ways for partners to gain access to the latest tools and guidance from Microsoft, as well as opportunities for them to engage with Microsoft customers, leaders and other partners. In July 2024, we hosted the Microsoft Customer and Partner Solutions (MCAPS) Start for Partners event to enable our partners to participate in our financial year kick-off readiness events. Additionally, based on their feedback, we integrated partners into Microsoft Ignite in November. This in-person and digital event served as a platform for business and technical decision-makers, and for Microsoft partners, to see all of our new innovations, attend breakout sessions and engage in community discussions.
Dezen onstage with Todd Minor, general manager and global learning leader at Microsoft, at Accelerate, an event hosted by MCAPS Academy to encourage successful adoption and use of Microsoft solutions and products
With the continuing growth of Azure as an infrastructural platform, and more recent innovations such as the voice and vision capabilities in Copilot, how has the general direction of travel changed for Microsoft in the past two years?
Generative AI has introduced significant changes for the world and for our customers, and Microsoft has been at the forefront of these transformations. The growth of Azure as a robust platform has been pivotal in supporting the evolving needs of businesses worldwide. Azure’s scalability, security and comprehensive suite of services have enabled organisations to innovate and adapt to new work patterns seamlessly.
One of the most exciting developments has been the integration of generative AI tools into our offerings. The introduction of voice and vision capabilities to Copilot is a testament to our commitment to enhancing user experiences and increasing productivity. These innovations enable Microsoft and our partners to create more intuitive and interactive services and solutions, empowering users to achieve more with less effort.
Our focus on AI and its transformative potential has been a key driver of our mission to empower every customer and every organisation on the planet to achieve more. AI is being leveraged across various industries to boost productivity, enhance operational efficiencies and improve cybersecurity. Copilots automate repetitive tasks, enable faster decision-making and provide deeper insights through advanced analytics.
In addition, our strategic partnerships and investments in AI have further solidified our position as a leader in this space. Collaborations with companies like Nvidia and ServiceNow have expanded our AI capabilities, bringing innovative solutions to sectors such as healthcare and life sciences. Additionally, initiatives like the Global AI Infrastructure Investment Partnership – with BlackRock, Global Infrastructure Partners and MGX – are driving the development of new data centres and energy infrastructure to meet the growing demand for computing power.
In June 2024, we launched Copilot+ PCs in collaboration with many of our silicon and device partners. This new category of AI-powered PCs represents a significant advancement in computing power and user experience. Copilot+ PCs deliver new AI experiences, enabling users to get more done in less time and transform the way they work, play and communicate. As highlighted in our 2024 Modern Work Asset Performance Report, ‘AI is reshaping work by enabling new levels of productivity and collaboration, and our investments in AI infrastructure are paving the way for future innovations’.
The International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook predicts global economic growth will reach 3.3 per cent in 2025. How is Microsoft positioning itself to support customers and partners in times of more modest growth and how will the partner ecosystem add value to your activities?
As we look ahead to 2025, Microsoft is committed to supporting our customers and partners by focusing on innovation, efficiency and strategic partnerships. Our approach is centred around leveraging the power of the Microsoft Cloud, AI and our extensive partner ecosystem to drive value and growth.
Microsoft is committed to continually investing in AI to deliver on our promise of customer and partner success. We invest heavily to enable partner success through the MAICPP. This is the vehicle to provide our partners with access to our comprehensive portfolio of tools, skilling, benefits, go-to-market assets and incentives.
This financial year, our partner incentives are at a record high and are designed to support them with delivering solutions across the entire customer lifecycle. This enables Microsoft to leverage the scale, reach and differentiated capabilities of our vast partner ecosystem, in order to serve the unique needs of customers in every segment, globally.
An excellent example of the scale that our partner ecosystem generates is Vodafone, one of our largest direct Cloud Solutions Provider partners. In order to deliver value-added services to its customers, Vodafone developed a new managed service to support them in transitioning to Microsoft 365 and realise the productivity benefits of the cloud and Microsoft’s platform. Our partner ecosystem drives innovation and delivers exceptional value to customers, extending Microsoft’s reach and impact. By fostering strong partnerships and investing in AI and cloud technologies, Microsoft is committed to supporting our customers and partners in achieving their goals.
Vodafone has transitioned to Microsoft 365 to improve productivity across its stores
In November 2024, Microsoft hosted thousands of partners and customers at Microsoft Ignite in Chicago, USA. What is the relevance of events like this and how do the messages shared there impact the broader customer community?
Events like Ignite are meaningful for showcasing our latest innovations, sharing strategic insights and providing direct learning opportunities. They bring together partners and customers to engage with Microsoft experts, network with peers and gain valuable knowledge.
Ignite demonstrates Microsoft’s leadership and industry innovation, particularly in areas like AI with Copilot, Copilot Agents and the Copilot Stack. The messages shared help our partners and customers stay ahead of the curve and make informed decisions about their technology investments.
The event also offers extensive education and training, driving greater adoption, more efficient paths to innovation and effective use of our solutions. By fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing, Ignite contributes to the success of our partners and customers.
How is generative AI driving the adoption of cloud computing? What has the real uptake from business communities and civic organisations looked like in 2024, and how has Copilot impacted the adoption of Microsoft’s Azure Clouds for Industry family?
Generative AI drives cloud adoption by offering tools that foster innovation and efficiency across industries. Copilot integrates seamlessly into Microsoft platforms, including Azure, and provides AI-powered insights that all users can rely on for data-driven decision-making.
IDC’s Microsoft Partners: Driving Economic Value and AI Maturity report revealed that software organisations are recognising the immense business value of generative AI. One of the key findings is that for every $1 of Microsoft revenue, partners who provide services generate $8.45, and those who develop software make $10.93. AI is a huge growth opportunity, and we see the excitement from many partners in our ecosystem who are taking advantage of the MAICPP tools and resources to help customers transform and migrate to Azure.
For partners, generative AI tools are more than just technological advancements; they serve as solutions that enable customers to address real business challenges. This translates into significant growth and economic opportunities for partners.
Microsoft Azure Clouds for Industry is a collection of tailored solutions designed to meet the specific needs of industries by combining the power of Azure, Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Microsoft Fabric and Power Platform.
In 2024, we have seen significant uptake. One example is with Żabka Group, Poland’s leading modern convenience store chain. Like many retailers, Żabka is dedicated to understanding the needs of its customers by offering products and services designed to simplify their lives. With this mission in mind, it launched Nano Stores, which provide autonomous, unmanned retail experiences to maximise customer convenience. Żabka combined AI-powered, real-time computer vision technology to monitor customer behaviour and product selection with the Microsoft Cloud for Retail to centralise data, analysis and solution scalability. Żabka’s personalised customer journeys have garnered high satisfaction ratings and attracted more customers. With added enhanced operational efficiencies, the retailer is able to pass on cost savings to its customers.
Industries with the longest histories can be the most challenging to modernise, yet they can have the biggest benefits from our industry clouds. The banking industry, for example, often struggles to update outdated systems. At the same time, the sector is highly competitive and banks face obstacles to adapt to market demands for personalised products. Microsoft partner Zafin, based in Canada, leverages Microsoft Cloud for Financial Services to transform banking. Zafin has collaborated extensively with Microsoft to help financial institutions transform core modernisation efforts. Its enterprise product platform is built on the Microsoft Financial Services Cloud and helps banks modernise core systems and achieve faster returns on business transformation projects.
As we anticipate a busy year ahead, what new innovations are you particularly looking forward to exploring in 2025?
We announced incredible innovations at Ignite, including new AI agents across Microsoft 365 Copilot to help organisations better manage daily tasks. I am particularly looking forward to exploring the agentic world, which will be defined by a tapestry of AI agents that act on our behalf. It will be exciting to explore the connection between Copilot Studio and building customised agents, and it’s fascinating to see how software developers are already creating value with Copilot Agents.
I’ve personally experienced the productivity benefits of Copilot as it has become familiar with me and how I work, and learned to curate the content I need. There has been so much positive impact with our recent Wave 2 Copilot release with the new features like Copilot in Excel and Outlook. I especially appreciate the prompt for Copilot to ‘Prioritise my inbox’. It’s been a game-changer for how I start my days. Customers are experiencing how Copilot enriches employee experiences, reinvents customer engagement and reshapes business processes. This is an exciting time for innovation at Microsoft and I’m eager to see how these advancements will drive growth and create new opportunities for our customers and partners.
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