Since launching Copilot for Microsoft 365 for in January partners have been supporting customers to define, activate, and deliver their AI strategy. Building on this momentum, we are taking the next step, expanding access to more customers, and creating more opportunities for the partners who serve those customers. The demand for Copilot presents a meaningful opportunity for partners to help customers, regardless of their size, to become AI-powered organizations.
Today, we are announcing that as of March 1, 2024, Copilot for Microsoft 365 will be generally available for education customers to purchase through the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program.
- Education customers with Microsoft 365 A3/A5 or Office 365 A3/A5 prerequisite base SKUs will be able to purchase the Copilot for Microsoft 365 add-on SKU through CSP.
- The minimum seat purchase requirement has been removed for Copilot for Microsoft 365 across all channels and segments; however, customers must have a product license of one of the prerequisite base SKUs for each seat of Copilot for Microsoft 365 they purchase.
- Partners can refer to the original CSP announcement in Partner Center from January for more information on how they can transact Copilot for Microsoft 365 today.
- All new CSP SKUs will need to utilize the new commerce experience (NCE) moving forward.
Next steps: what you can do today
The first step is to introduce your customers to Microsoft Copilot. Copilot with commercial data protection is available at no additional cost to eligible Entra ID users. The Copilot adoption starter kit and the Copilot for Microsoft 365 partner page provide helpful guidance and resources to use with customers and explain the difference between Microsoft Copilot and Copilot for Microsoft 365.
Next is ensuring your customers are eligible for Copilot for Microsoft 365 by getting them onto the prerequisite base SKUs. Keep in mind that Microsoft 365 offers comprehensive security and management features across identities, endpoints, information protection, and threat protection, which are crucial for a secure AI rollout.
Additionally, there are great new resources and training offerings to get AI ready and build your Copilot for Microsoft 365 practice and sales pipeline. This is your chance to expand your business portfolio to include AI advisory, data governance, user adoption and change management services customers can leverage to benefit from Copilot for Microsoft 365.
If you are not using Copilot internally, now is the time. Embracing Copilot not only enhances your development capabilities but also allows you to share the value of your experience with customers. It reinforces your commitment to innovation and excellence, setting you apart in the competitive Microsoft partner landscape.
For the latest announcements from Microsoft Education, read the blog about unlocking productivity and personalizing learning with AI.about unlocking productivity and personalizing learning with AI.
Get started
Copilot for Microsoft 365 is a major opportunity for partners in this new era of AI. To help you get started on defining your strategy, developing your skills, and operationalizing your sales engine, I recommend you follow these steps:
- Build your practice and develop your customer offerings. Visit the AI-Powered Future of Work site for guidance and resources to help you define your strategy, develop your skills, and prepare to go to market.
- Learn more about the Copilot for Microsoft 365 services and solution opportunities.
- Help your technical and sales teams build their Copilot for Microsoft 365 skills by signing up for a Microsoft 365 Product Bootcamp to build foundational skills and the upcoming CSP Masters Sales and Technical Bootcamps to learn about how to build a successful practice, land your first Copilot for Microsoft 365 sale, and manage and deploy your first Copilot for Microsoft 365 customer in CSP.
- Tap into key marketing resources, including the new “Era of AI” marketing campaign in a box, and a suite of ready-to-go marketing assets, designed for whether you are looking for a ready-to share marketing campaign in a box or want to customize your own demand-gen marketing campaign.
The path to success involves more than just selling a new solution; it’s about business transformation, responsible AI use, and delivering value through high-value scenarios. Explore our advisory, readiness, deployment, adoption, and change management resources to elevate your Copilot for Microsoft 365 practice.
We are excited to have partners contribute to this milestone moment that will help redefine the future with AI.