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What the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program is
The Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program is the umbrella under which Microsoft works with the firms that build on, sell and implement its products. It was previously called the Microsoft Partner Network. Joining the program is open to almost any business, so membership on its own tells a buyer very little.
What carries more weight are the designations and specializations inside the program. Microsoft awards these when a firm meets measured thresholds across performance, staff skilling and customer success in a solution area. They replaced the older Gold and Silver competencies, which Microsoft retired, so an old gold badge on a website describes a program that no longer exists.
The Solutions Partner areas at a glance
Designations, specializations and what they tell you
Solutions Partner designation
Shows a firm has met Microsoft's scoring threshold in one solution area. For an ERP buyer, the relevant one is Business Applications.
- ✓Scored on performance, skilling and customer success
- ✓Reviewed by Microsoft on a recurring basis
Specialization
A deeper validation in a specific workload inside a solution area, with its own requirements on top of the designation.
- ✓Fewer firms hold them
- ✓Worth asking about if a workload is central to your project
What neither proves
Neither badge tells you whether the consultants on your project know your industry, or whether the firm finishes projects on budget.
- ✓Ask for references in a sales conversation
- ✓Ask who will actually be on your calls
How to verify any partner in Microsoft's directory
- 1
Open Microsoft's partner finder
Go to Microsoft AppSource and choose the partners section, which lists firms registered in the program.
- 2
Search the firm's legal name
Search the company name, not a product name. Many firms trade under a brand that differs from their registered name, so try both.
- 3
Read the profile badges
The profile shows the designations and specializations Microsoft has recorded for that firm, along with the products and industries it lists.
- 4
Compare with the sales pitch
If a proposal claims a designation the directory does not show, ask the firm to explain. Legitimate firms can point you to it.
- 5
Look beyond the badge
Use the directory as one input. References, a written scope and a conversation with the delivery team tell you more about fit.
AppSource and the add-on ecosystem
AppSource is Microsoft's marketplace for business applications. For Business Central, it is where independent software vendors, known as ISVs, list extensions that add capability Microsoft does not ship: advanced shipping, EDI, industry-specific features, document capture and many more. Apps listed for Business Central go through Microsoft's technical validation before they appear.
Validation checks that an app installs and behaves correctly alongside Business Central. It does not mean the app suits your processes, that its support is responsive or that its licence terms fit your budget. Those are questions for a trial, a reference and the vendor's own documentation.
How we work with add-on vendors and licence resellers
- ✓We check first whether standard Business Central already covers the need before recommending any paid add-on
- ✓When an ISV app is the right answer, we compare a shortlist on fit, support model and update history
- ✓Your contract and licence for an ISV app are with that vendor, so you keep the relationship if partners change
- ✓If you already buy Microsoft licences through a Cloud Solution Provider reseller, we work alongside them
- ✓If you need a reseller, we explain how CSP licensing works so you can choose one on clear terms
- ✓We set up and configure add-ons inside the project scope and test them with your real data before go-live
Partner program questions buyers ask
Does a Solutions Partner designation mean a firm is good at Business Central?
It means the firm met Microsoft's measured threshold in the Business Applications area, which is useful but broad. The area spans Dynamics 365 products and the Power Platform, so a firm can qualify largely on work unrelated to Business Central. Ask which products drive their practice and talk to the consultants who would do your work. References from similar companies are the best evidence.
What is a CSP and do I need one?
A Cloud Solution Provider is a firm authorized by Microsoft to sell and bill Microsoft cloud licences, including Business Central subscriptions. Most Business Central customers buy their licences through a CSP, which handles monthly or annual billing and licence changes. Your CSP and your implementation consultant can be the same firm or different firms. What matters is that roles and support contacts are clear.
Should I trust partner logos on a website?
Treat them as a claim to check, not as proof. Microsoft's directory shows the designations it has actually recorded for a firm, and it takes a couple of minutes to look up. Logos from the retired Gold and Silver program are a sign the page has not been updated in some time.
Are AppSource apps safe to install?
Apps for Business Central must pass Microsoft's technical validation before listing, which lowers the risk of an app breaking your environment. Validation is not an endorsement of the vendor's support or pricing. Install new apps in a sandbox first, test them with your own data, and read the vendor's update and support terms.
Can we switch implementation partners later?
Yes, your Business Central tenant, data and licences belong to your company, not to the firm that set them up. Changing partners involves updating who has administrative access and, if relevant, who is recorded as your partner in Microsoft's systems. Keeping your own documentation of setups and extensions makes a handover much easier.
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