October update: What’s new for partners in AI Business Solutions
Stay informed about the latest developments with Microsoft 365 Copilot, AI Business Solutions, and opportunities in agentic AI for partners. Here, you’ll find updates on Microsoft 365 Copilot, partner incentives and promotions, educational resources, job opportunities, announcements from Microsoft Ignite, guidance for market entry, and success stories tailored to help you build your AI practice and speed up customer adoption.
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Explore the Microsoft Ignite session catalog now—build your agenda today
:
Sign up for Microsoft Ignite to take part in hands-on training, technical sessions, certifications, and practical insights. Attending partners can deepen their business expertise and learn directly from Microsoft technology developers. Sessions can fill quickly, so tailor an agenda to fit your objectives and leave equipped with actionable knowledge aimed at winning customers and expanding your business.
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The latest evolution of Copilot is here
: As customers increasingly seek AI solutions for complex tasks, we’re introducing the new Copilot. This integrated experience merges Chat and Cowork for Office, expands solution-building for all knowledge workers, and introduces Autopilot—a proactive cloud-based agent. This new era of Copilot offers partners expanded opportunities to connect AI with customer data and workflows. Learn more by reading the full announcement.
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Show your customers why Microsoft 365 Copilot is the right AI for their work
: Encourage customers to progress beyond AI trials by using a unified platform for developing and managing agents and workflows across Microsoft 365. By showcasing how Microsoft Copilot Studio integrates with Microsoft 365 applications, you can illustrate how organisations are using AI efficiently while scaling operations across various business processes. Check out the pitch deck for additional information.
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Guide every Copilot in 30 trial with a personalised success plan for the month:
The Copilot Success Planner provides personalised prompts and role-specific advice across Microsoft Outlook, Teams, and other Microsoft 365 applications. This guided approach allows users to experience Copilot within their daily work, identify practical use cases, and gather feedback throughout the trial process. There’s no sign-in needed, making it easier to engage customers and encourage meaningful conversations around the tool.
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Simplify upgrades for Dynamics 365 Business Central with the new license key:
Starting from October 1, 2026, all new on-premises versions of Dynamics 365 Business Central will require a single forward-compatible “28+” license key, which will replace the need for several version-specific keys. This update aims to streamline license management while ensuring compatibility with upgrades. As customers transition to the newer versions, remind them to get the updated 28+ license key to unlock the latest features and avoid any compatibility issues.
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Translate Copilot interest into practical customer engagement:
Utilise the ready-to-use Microsoft 365 Copilot + Agents SMB Guided Experience to illustrate how Copilot Chat, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and agents integrate into daily business workflows. Choose from a facilitator-led or hands-on format to guide trials, increase adoption, and demonstrate business value. Access the guided experience and begin applying it with your small and medium-sized business (SMB) customers.
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Enhance savings with Microsoft 365 Copilot Business: Customers want AI that delivers quantifiable value: Utilise a compelling lever to expand Microsoft 365 Copilot Business, enabling employees to optimise daily tasks while cutting costs for customers through a FY27 promotion. Secure up to 15% off on new add-on subscriptions for up to 300 licenses, and benefit from a 25% discount on the Microsoft 365 Business Basic + Copilot Business bundle for up to 300 licenses until December 31, 2026. Find out more on the
CSP offers and promotions site
.
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Provide enhanced Microsoft 365 Copilot savings for eligible nonprofit customers:
New nonprofit-specific CSP promotions for Microsoft 365 Copilot can now be layered on top of the existing 15% nonprofit discount, giving qualifying nonprofit customers access to greater savings than before. Available until December 31, 2026, these promotions offer discounts of up to 40% on yearly subscriptions. Check promotion eligibility criteria, authenticate Promo IDs in Partner Center, and correctly apply the nonprofit promotion during quoting and transactions for nonprofit customers.
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FY27 incentive updates—earn more for Copilot developments through consumption: Starting October 1, 2026, Microsoft has made strategic adjustments to the FY27 partner incentives portfolio launched in July. The total investment commitment for partners remains unchanged, but how these investments are distributed has evolved to ensure availability throughout the year and align with key customer opportunities. For AI Business Solutions partners, Microsoft 365 Copilot rewards will now be based on actual consumption verified by partners, with increased focus on results within individual client accounts. Eligible partners can also qualify for the Copilot Cowork activation incentive and the newly refreshed Business Applications Pre-Sales Advisor incentive, which is now accessible to CSP customers. Claims submitted before September 30, 2026, will be reviewed under prior terms. Refer to the
incentives guide
for comprehensive information and attend an upcoming
community call
to learn more.
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Develop your AI Workforce skills:
Keep updated with this month’s AI Workforce training opportunities, including online sessions, learning paths, workshops, and on-demand training focused on Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot Cowork, Work IQ, agents, and secure productivity with AI. Help customers transition from experimenting with AI to achieving structured business outcomes while expanding service opportunities and enhancing customer discussions. Check out the latest offerings in the AI Business Solutions Skilling Hub and share them among your team to boost registrations and foster AI expertise.
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Transform co-selling into a scalable growth engine:
Co-selling can enhance collaboration, speed up deal closures, and improve sales outcomes, but achieving success requires more than just occasional effort. The new Co-sell Execution Engine video series on the Microsoft Partner Skilling Hub provides insights into developing a sustainable co-sell strategy that yields longer-term results. In five on-demand sessions, learn from Microsoft co-sell leaders and seasoned partners who share effective frameworks and strategies for better collaboration with Microsoft, increasing deal velocity, and securing more opportunities.
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Gain enhanced visibility into customer signals with ASPX FY27 updates:
ASPX is evolving from just a reporting tool into a proactive engine that highlights signals linked to customer readiness, adoption, and monetisation opportunities. The new FY27 updates—like free-to-paid signals, Microsoft 365 E7 targeting, Microsoft 365 Copilot Cowork usage, Frontier account targeting, and API v1.5—enhance visibility into customer purchasing intent, adoption signals, AI readiness, and potential integration chances. For more details, head to
Microsoft Learn.
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Discover a tailored portfolio of ready-to-use marketing materials:
Show your clients how Microsoft AI enhances productivity, simplifies processes, and generates measurable business results. Access pre-made messaging, materials, and partner guidance specifically crafted for speeding up the adoption of Microsoft 365,
Microsoft 365 Copilot,
Agent 365,
and Dynamics 365. Partners with
Partner Marketing Center Pro
access (via a partner benefits package, Solutions Partner designation, or ISV Success enrollment) can explore and run the full campaign end-to-end, while those using
Partner Marketing Center
can download a limited range of assets to assist with execution.
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Obtain a badge showcasing your Frontier AI skills
:
With customers seeking partners capable of confidently delivering Frontier Transformation, the Frontier Transformation Engineer badge allows your team to showcase validated skills, foster customer trust, and distinguish your offering in the fast-paced AI landscape. This structured journey involves certifications, project readiness, and Frontier engineering training to equip your team with the necessary capabilities to design, implement, and deliver Microsoft Frontier AI solutions. Secure your badge and demonstrate your team’s readiness for the future.
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Initiate discussions about digital sovereignty that lead to larger deals:
Digital sovereignty is becoming increasingly important in technology investments, offering the chance to move beyond basic implementations and engage in larger, higher-value customer interactions. With Microsoft’s differentiated offerings such as Sovereign Public and Private Cloud and the Sovereign Partner Ecosystem, you can address a wider array of customer needs. Read our recent blog to learn how to broaden your advisory role and earn a Digital Sovereignty specialisation to showcase your expertise, differentiate your business, and position yourself for more strategic engagements.
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Discover how Pamarco Technologies is utilising AI agents:
In their finance operations, Pamarco has deployed autonomous agents to free up their lean team for more analytical tasks and decision-making. Leveraging Microsoft Copilot Studio alongside Dynamics 365, Pamarco is automating repetitive tasks throughout financial processes, including about 40% of the financial closing activities. This case illustrates how governed, purpose-built agents can handle routine tasks while humans concentrate on decisions requiring insight and judgement.
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Submit your partner and customer success stories:
Demonstrate your impact, showcase your expertise, and illustrate the tangible success you’re providing to customers. Visit the Partner Success story submission form to begin.
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