What Replaced Silver Microsoft Partner Status?
At a Glance
Microsoft’s Silver and Gold Partner statuses have been replaced by the Solutions Partner Designations framework, which measures technical expertise, customer success and business performance. While the certification model has evolved, working with an accredited Microsoft partner remains important for reducing implementation risk, accessing specialist knowledge and maximising the value of Dynamics 365 Business Central.
If you’re looking for a Microsoft-accredited Solutions partner who specialises in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, book a consultation with Brookland Solutions today.
Evolution of Microsoft Partner Certifications
Choosing software for your business often means being doubly sure that the software’s features, compatibility, price and warranty fit your organisation. An ERP like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is an even bigger investment decision that provides a powerful platform for managing finance, operations, sales, supply chain and customer relationships. But the success of an ERP system greatly depends on the expertise of the partner delivering it.
Earlier, there were two main qualified partner levels, Silver and Gold. However, as of October 2022, Microsoft has replaced Silver and Gold partner designations with a capability-based framework called Solution Partner Designations, which assesses partners based on performance, skills and customer success metrics within specific solution areas.
Before choosing a Microsoft Partner to work with, it helps to know their certification history and current partnership status. By knowing both, your business can be confident that you’re working with a certified provider known for its technical capabilities, customer success and commitment to maintaining specialist expertise.
In this guide, we explain what a Microsoft Silver partner status was, what replaced it, and why these certifications still matter when choosing a partner for Business Central ERP.
What Was a Microsoft Silver Partner?
Microsoft partners are official facilitators of Microsoft products and services. This means these partners are certified by Microsoft to offer a certain standard of sales and support services.
Microsoft followed strict standards for awarding a partner agency silver or gold partnership status. To achieve Silver status, businesses had to demonstrate strong technical expertise, provide evidence of successful client projects and employ professionals with relevant Microsoft certifications.
What Has Replaced Microsoft Silver and Gold Partner Status?
Microsoft retired its longstanding Silver and Gold Partner competencies to introduce the Microsoft Cloud Partner Program, which uses Solutions Partner Designations to recognise partner performance and capabilities.
Under this new model, partners are assessed on these key areas:
- Solution partner designations: Partners can earn designations in specific solution areas, such as Business Applications, Infrastructure, Data and AI, Digital & App Innovation and Security.
- Performance metrics: Moving away from the earlier Silver and Gold models, Microsoft now evaluates partners based on measurable business performance, including customer growth, deployment success and overall adoption of Microsoft technologies.
- Skill-based assessments: This new framework places more emphasis on technical capabilities. Partners must employ certified professionals with Microsoft certifications.
- Customer success requirements: Microsoft also assesses how effectively partners help organisations deploy, use and gain value from Microsoft solutions.
- Continuous accreditation model: The current framework is not a one-time achievement but an ongoing accreditation process. To maintain their designation, partners must continually demonstrate technical competence, customer success and business performance.
What Does a Microsoft Solutions Partner Do?
Microsoft Solutions Partners demonstrate expertise through Microsoft’s accreditation framework and provide businesses with Microsoft Technology services such as consulting, implementation, migration, customisation, training and support.
For organisations using Dynamics 365 Business Central, a Microsoft Solutions Partner can help ensure successful implementation, provide ongoing support and offer long-term guidance.
Following Microsoft’s partner programme changes, Brookland Solutions continues to maintain Microsoft accreditation and specialist expertise in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, providing software licenses, off-the-shelf solutions, fully integrated solutions, product extensions and add-ons.
Why Microsoft Certifications Still Matter When Choosing a Business Central Partner
Even though the Microsoft partner programme has changed, certifications still remain a strong factor when choosing a Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central partner.
- Demonstrated technical expertise: A Microsoft certification is an indication that a partner has undergone formal training and assessment. As a business, you gain greater confidence in the partner’s ability to configure, customise and optimise Business Central to your needs.
- Reduced implementation risk: When you work with a certified Business Central partner, you reduce the risk of implementation through proven methodologies and project experience.
- Proven delivery capabilities: More often than not, certified partners have a track record of delivering Business Central projects across industries and business sizes. Their experience can be invaluable for niche projects as well as to improve return on ERP investment.
Benefits of Working with an Experienced Microsoft Solutions Partner
Faster Implementations
Improper and delayed implementations can increase project costs and disrupt operations. Microsoft partners rely on proven implementation approaches that accelerate delivery while keeping risks in check.
Expect a structured approach to project planning, established migration processes, faster issue resolution, and reduced downtime during go-live.
Access to Ongoing Support and Optimisation
Implementing Business Central is the first step. The real progress often takes place after. Working with an experienced partner means receiving ongoing support that helps your business resolve technical issues, expand system functionality, adopt new features and improve user adoption. Businesses tend to get the most benefit from their investment.
Stronger Integration Across Wider Microsoft Technologies
Another benefit of working with a Microsoft Business Partner is a clear understanding of various Microsoft products and services that can be integrated with Business Central. If your organisation already uses Microsoft 365, Power BI, Power Automate, Teams, Excel and SharePoint, they can integrate them to create a connected business system.
For example, your partner can integrate Power BI with Business Central to help your finance teams gain greater visibility into cash flow, revenue performance, departmental spending and profitability without relying on consolidated spreadsheets.
4 Tips to Evaluate a Microsoft Business Central Partner Today
- Review certifications and accreditations held by the partner and the consultants
- Choose a partner with prior experience in your sector with a clear understanding of your operational challenges and compliance requirements.
- Look for evidence of successful Business Central implementations in the form of testimonials, feedback or reviews.
- Not all Microsoft partners are Business Central specialists. Assess the depth of their Business Central knowledge, from implementation to customisations to ongoing support.
How Brookland Solutions Helps Your Business Build Business Central Success
At Brookland Solutions, we believe successful business relationships are built on more than technology and software. It’s built on trust and a commitment to helping businesses achieve long-term growth.
Our team combines the benefits of working as an expert Microsoft Silver partner with practical business experience to help organisations maximise the value of Dynamics 365 Business Central.
When you partner with us, you can look forward to:
- Microsoft Accreditation to deliver high-quality Microsoft business applications
- Business Central specialists
- Industry knowledge across sectors
- Proven and tailored Business Central implementation expertise that puts your business first
- End-to-end project delivery
- Partnership and support for the long term
If you’re looking to work with a partner with proven Microsoft Solutions credentials, contact us today. Book a consultation with our team today.
