Microsoft is expanding its FastTrack service to help partners more rapidly onboard and support Windows 10, Dynamics 365 and Office 365 customers, the company confirmed today.
FastTrack "provides customers and their partners with the essential tools, resources, and guidance needed to help them move to Microsoft technologies like Office 365 and Enterprise Mobility+Security," according to Niamh Coleman, director of partner business strategy at Microsoft. "It simplifies deployment, provides greater opportunities for customer success, and helps generate new business opportunities for partners through value added services."
With those priorities in mind, Microsoft today announced FastTrack for Windows 10 and FastTrack for Dynamics 365. Also, an expanded FastTrack for Office 365 now includes Microsoft Teams support, Office 365 ProPlus best practices, ISO and HIPPA certifications, and more, the company indicated.
Microsoft Office 365, Cloud Partner Momentum
The FastTrack enhancements emerge amid Microsoft's continued cloud momentum. For instance, Office 365 remains the most popular SaaS suite for business, according to a recent Okta report. And Microsoft Azure continues to win its share of business vs. Amazon Web Services, though AWS is still widely considered the IaaS market share leader. Next up, Microsoft hopes to accelerate Dynamics 365's wins against Salesforce.
It's a safe bet Microsoft describe its current cloud momentum during the company's next earnings call on Thursday, January 26, 2017. Over the past year, Microsoft's board has allegedly studied a range of cloud sales strategies. Moreover, Microsoft is carefully monitoring and describing how its cloud profit margins will grow over time -- though there could be turbulence from time to time when the company accelerates infrastructure build-outs.
Still, Microsoft has focused heavily on its cloud partner programs over the past year -- aggressively promoting CSP opportunities to VARs and MSPs.
