FPC Program ideas/suggestions

The RFA notes feedback - It would be great if carriage returns are retained in the notes as they are entered into the RFA... It comes across as a blob of text all in one paragraph and makes it challenging to read and reformat.

We shared with our Fasttrack PDM the issue with FPC Referrals just wanting us to solve their problem and not interested in new projects.  We have not garnered a single new project this year from FPC referrals.   Therefore, the ROI on the FPC Referrals has been poor.  Our FPC PDM asked if we were holding firm with FPC Referrals to the 2-3 hours of free services only.  We do try, but if the customer's issue takes longer than 2-3 hours the customer still expects it will be free regardless of how long it takes.  If we try to charge them, they just complain about us. ASK - We need Microsoft to truly partner with us and help set the boundaries and expectations of what a FPC Referral should expect from a partner - for free.   There is nothing in the original communication from MSFT to the customer to set any time boundary expectations.  Given this is a MSFT program. MSFT should be setting the clear expectations to customers.  

Partners who were offboarded from the Program, did not receive automatically the T&Cs for Deployment Vouchers to be signed so that they could continue to redeem the Vouchers. I was contacted by different partners who did not continue in the Program, to provide the guidance on the next steps (reach out to the PXPartner Onboarding team, to check eligibility for the Deployment Voucher Program and to send the T&Cs to the partner to be signed).The same scenario could happen for Global partners, where some other subsidiaries that are not in the Program, may want to start redeeming vouchers and there is no process shared with them. Ask: Please publish the official guidance for partners that are no longer FastTrack Ready on how to redeem deployment vouchers. 

In FY26, SharePoint and Exchange workloads have been removed from the scope of the FastTrack benefit. As a result, partners are no longer expected to support customers with migration prerequisites, such as readiness assessments. To ensure clarity around the updated requirements, it would be great to develop a concise OnePager or a formal Knowledge Base article. This resource should outline the FY26 changes, include visual aids, and guide partners on how to position their value-added services (VAS) and assist customers in initiating their migration projects.

Context:SoftwareONE has highlighted both the opportunity and challenge of expanding Microsoft program impact through indirect (Tier 2) partners, particularly those working with Crayon. As the business seeks to drive greater usage and adoption in the SMB segment, leveraging the Tier 2 channel becomes increasingly important. However, there is uncertainty around how best to engage, enable, and support these partners to ensure consistent delivery and alignment with Microsoft programs. Expanded Insight:SoftwareONE proposed sharing internal templates, playbooks, and best practices with Tier 2 partners to help replicate successful strategies for driving usage and maximizing Microsoft program value. Providing structured guidance—such as partner playbooks outlining how to drive usage, utilize incentives, and deliver services—could help scale delivery capacity and improve program effectiveness in the SMB space.SoftwareONE also expressed interest in contributing ideas and support for initiatives aimed at enabling indirect partners, recognizing that this approach could help both Crayon and Microsoft achieve broader reach and impact. There was openness to collaborating on new partner engagement models, such as enablement sessions or peer exchanges, to foster knowledge sharing and accelerate results.

Type: QTM Voucher Program Rule LimitationMeeting: Secure AI Productivity Feedback (Aug 27, 2025)Summary: Vouchers must be requested pre-contract, but customer needs often arise post-purchase.Recommendation: Allow voucher requests within 30–60 days post-purchase.

Type: GTM Program Feedback: Partner PerformanceMeeting: Secure AI Productivity Feedback (Aug 27, 2025)Summary: Lack of visibility into performance metrics leads to partner disengagement. High performance bar makes it risky to begin MCI engagement because clock starts tickingRecommendation: Provide real-time dashboards and clarify win rate metrics.