If there was more proof needed that a partner could change how people felt about them by working with the right person then Susanne and Westcoast have done it.  I had several people say that without Susanne's guidance Westcoast would not have come onto their radar, which is a resounding vote of confidence.  However, the event showed that there is still more work to do in terms of building trust and having the right people in the right places.

Some of the questions asked at the forum and answered on Partner Questions from the Small Business Forum show that some people don't understand how this segment of the market works.  Oh, and some people is in all companies - Westcoast, Microsoft and some of the partners.  I'm not going to "name names", but it is good for everyone to grow together and give a little.

I thought I would add some more information to that already given by Susanne.

Small Business Accounting; why only direct sales? Volume licensing? Will there be a programme to connect accountants to SBSCs?

We are at the beginning of the licensing around this product and other options will become available over time.  Bear in mind that while the product is available, the retail launch and "noise" is still some time away.  There is already a UK programme for accounts and more information on this can be found on the blog at What is in Office Accounting for accountants... well, multiple account views, sharing, customisation and more, but it is not an practice management solution

 

How do you get license sales recognition even though you’re not one who resells (as in deals with the disti)?

I'm going to give you a personal opinion here (like I don't normally), but this is simple.  Buying through disti ensures legal software distribution, distribution of marketing materials and funds.  Can you imagine someone rewarding people who buy through a set of channels known to have a very significant piracy rate (UK piracy is something like 33%) and for which there is no way to track the sales.  Now, there may be many reasons why the disti channel is not for you and the feedback is always welcome and leaded to changes (eg appointing Westcoast), but I can't see Microsoft rewarding that with points for a long time.

 

Communications from Microsoft into SBSC Partners seems to have dropped off lately. Are MS pulling back from the programme in the UK?

I decided it was time to move roles, as did others.  I guess Microsoft could just throw any technical old person into the role, but personally I'd rather see someone with as much or more passion as I have for small business and their partners.  I know the team are working on how to move this forward, but they don't have an answer yet.

 

I would be interested to hear of any plans Microsoft have to bring Unified Comms, espeically IM presence to SBS/Cougar customers (other than buy the full Office Comms Server product!)

Expect this to come via partners or via Live in the UK

 

The DemoShowcase does not seem to address small business needs - I’d be interested to know what solutions the people who do use it are proposing to their clients and what scenarios are considered appropriate?

Microsoft sells plenty of other things besides SBS into small business.  I think the Demo Showcase as is helps with all of those.

 

ttfn

David