Creating a thriving ISV ecosystem is critical to supporting our shared customers. By 2025, 80 percent of sales interactions are expected to happen through digital channels and IDC estimates that the cloud services market will surpass one trillion US dollars by 2026. Those combined growth trends create an enormous opportunity for partners to connect with customers through the Microsoft commercial marketplace. We’ve invested heavily in this channel with dedicated programs, benefits, and resources. Now, we are excited to bring you the first ever Marketplace Summit on November 15, 2022.

Marketplace Summit for ISVs

Attendees will get a holistic understanding of commercial marketplace opportunities through a content-rich, half-day event that covers topics that will energize and activate ISVs regardless of size, maturity, or relationship with Microsoft. We will share updates on resources and announcements on the ISV Success Program (currently in private preview), and you’ll hear from other customers, peers, and Microsoft leaders. The Marketplace Summit has something for every ISV, from start-ups finding product-market fit to established ISVs looking to enter new markets faster and at lower cost. Some of the discussions and sessions will cover:

• The future of commercial commerce and B2B procurement 
• The fundamentals and how to maximize growth with the Microsoft commercial marketplace as a cloud go-to-market channel
• Landing and simplifying enterprise deals with enhanced marketplace features like private offers and multi-year SaaS billing to unlock access to the Fortune 5000

The Microsoft commercial marketplace is the center of gravity propelling ISV success. This past year, we have seen a 153 percent growth in sales to enterprise customers and a nearly 300 percent year-over-year increase in SaaS billed sales. As we expand our marketplace programs and roll out more support with marketplace-first strategies for customers, this opportunity will only grow.

The ISV Success Program: the pathway to success for ISVs

One of the most exciting recent initiatives is the ISV Success Program, the pathway to success for ISVs within the recently launched Microsoft Cloud Partner Program. Over one-thousand ISVs from around the world participated in the private preview that offers a combination of technical and business resources and services to innovate rapidly, build across the Microsoft Cloud, and create a cloud go-to-market strategy leveraging the commercial marketplace. The marketplace is at the heart of the ISV Success program, and it is one way we are making real and significant improvements to the most comprehensive B2B marketplace on the planet. The power behind it lies in the depth and breadth of the channel with direct access to one billion Microsoft customers, scaling through 90,000 partners in the Cloud Solution Provider program, and selling with over 35,000 global Microsoft field sellers. We are continually striving to strengthen the trifecta of helping ISVs reach customers, simplifying sales, and unlocking growth.

Harnessing marketplace momentum

Our focus on marketplace is deeply rooted in understanding and responding to our customers’ needs as they look to spend smarter and move with more agility in tough economic conditions. For ISVs, the opportunity is immense, but it’s a crowded market and this freedom of choice for customers can make it harder to differentiate your offerings. With marketplace, ISVs can activate a global cloud go-to-market, streamline the overhead of entering new markets, and sell via the channels that customers prefer to use. For ISVs, the marketplace is truly the center of gravity helping you break through the noise and connect with customers at global scale.

Join us November 15 and learn how you can get the most out of the marketplace and capitalize on marketplace momentum. For more event information and to register, please visit marketplacesummit.microsoft.com. Registration is completely free and open to all. For event questions, contact the team at marketplacesummitFAQ@microsoft.com.

We hope to see you there.