SBSC & MSP Buzz

Hey Microsoft, Don’t Forget About the Right Hand!

With all the hub-bub surrounding the recent announcement by Microsoft to offer hosted Exchange and SharePoint services directly to end users I’ve remained quiet.  In waiting for the dust to settle I’ve heard a voice from down under offer some VERY wise advise to Microsoft and I want to parrot it here in the US.  Wayne Small wrote:

Microsoft have spent lots of time invested in the SBSC, and Certified Partner programs and they want US to value the partner program. The only way it has value to US is if our customers know and understand it as valuable in the first place.  In every correspondence that Microsoft has with our customers they should be referring them back to US as the source of more information.  That shows the customer that Microsoft values us as partners.

While I believe giving customers a choice on how to get the services they need is the right thing to do for the customers and ultimately for Microsoft, I also believe that making sure the customers are aware of all their choices.  Buying a service directly from a big company comes with its risks and rewards such as lower costs and lower quality of advice and support.  Buying through a partner or distributor has it’s pros and cons too.  Neither one is right or wrong as everyone has different needs but what is absolutely wrong is to not make sure the customer knows there are other options that come with different prices and greater value.  Help the customer make the right choice for themselves and point them to a trusted advisor that can help.  Hey left hand, don’t forget about the right hand!