May Wrap-Up, June Momentum, and July in Full Swing

Hey Partners,

The Microsoft ecosystem has been moving fast, and we’ve been right in the thick of it. May brought real clarity and some long-awaited changes. June kept up the pace, and July kicked off with the usual burst of announcements as Microsoft opened FY26. From dual recognition to AI strategy and go-to-market shifts, we’ve been helping partners stay sharp, focused and aligned.

Here’s our take at looking back at what’s been going on.

In May, we unpacked Microsoft’s new approach to dual revenue recognition for Business Applications partners. It’s a huge step forward, giving both licensing and implementing partners the recognition they deserve.

Big thanks to Ian Bourne (Cloud2020) and Mat Batterbee (Apex Channel Consultants) for joining us and sharing how this change helps partners in the SMB space build stronger P2P models, unlock MCI funding and finally qualify for solution designations.

Ewan Dalton walked through the practical side of submitting claims in Partner Center and reminded everyone to act quickly - claims can be backdated to 1 January 2025, but strong proof and timing still matter.

🎥 Catch the replay

Lucy Bourne joined Tenth Revolution Group's Tech Success podcast for a no-nonsense conversation on what it really takes to grow as a Microsoft partner right now.

Highlights:

• Why AI isn’t optional anymore
• How retained, strategic relationships are replacing project-based delivery
• Why focus beats flexibility in today’s market
• What makes a partner truly valuable to customers and Microsoft

🎤 Listen on Spotify

🎥 Watch on YouTube

We were proud to sponsor the awards and even prouder to see Lucy Bourne on stage presenting the final award of the night. A brilliant reminder that tech is always about people and why celebrating true achievements really matters.

If you’re interested in learning how to nominate for an award or get involved next year, DM us.

In June, we joined Microsoft, Arrow ECS EMEA, and a brilliant mix of partners in London to talk real strategies for growth.

Sessions covered:

• Copilot and AI agents
• Azure migrations and AMM
• Sales plays that actually work
• ArrowSphere in practice

Thanks to everyone who joined us in person - the energy in the room said it all. Kudos to the cloud team Oliver Harvey-Jones, Havey Brown, and Apay Obang-Oyway for pulling together such valuable content into such a great event.

June’s Partner Insights session was our most attended yet. Positioned as pre-season training for Microsoft’s new FY, we focused on what’s changing, where to invest and how to stay aligned early.

Lucy Bourne, Nigel Ridpath, Tamara Phelan and Ewan Dalton were joined by Microsoft’s Shelley Gardiner to cover:

• Funded engagements and the latest rules
• Sales plays and incentive alignment
• Strategic partner planning for FY26

🎥 Catch the replay

2 July, Microsoft London 

We brought together a brilliant community of Microsoft partners to get match-fit for FY26. The day kicked off with a keynote from Paul McPherson on AI and agentic thinking, followed by:

• Chris Parkes (Companial) on Microsoft’s AI direction.
• Lucy Bourne, Lee Baker, and Nigel Ridpath (Oaka Studio) on leading for scalable growth.
• Sophy Gray (7Demand) on modern demand generation.
• Eric Hall (Seer 365) on sales excellence across SMB, SMC and Enterprise.

We wrapped up with a drink at The Union and a catch-up with friends old and new.

The date for our next Partner Pulse is October 8th. Drop us a DM to make sure you get the invite.

The sun came out just in time for our annual Summer Social at Bondi Green. Hosted with Seer 365 and sponsored by our friends at TrueCommerce, iDynamics Business Solutions, Yavrio - Open Banking, Vertex Inc., Xe.com, Formpipe, Revolent Group, and Binary Stream Software - Microsoft ERP Solutions, the aim was, as always, to keep things simple - no slides. no presentations or pitches - just great conversation and a few cocktails, all enhanced by the gorgeous backdrop of the canal, thanks to Bondi Green's superb location.

These kinds of nights are a reminder that real community matters. Thanks to everyone who joined us - if you'd like to join us next year, please just let us know at info@oaka.studio.

MCAPS Starts for Partners – 15 July

Microsoft’s official FY26 kickoff covered:

• AI Cloud Partner Program updates
• Co-sell, marketplace and skilling plans
• FY26 strategy from Nicole Dezen and Microsoft leadership

If you missed it, you can catch up here.

You’ll also find resources from the Microsoft Partner GTM Kickoff, which took place yesterday and offered deeper insight into how partners can activate and accelerate their go-to-market efforts in FY26.

We also got the full Oaka Studio team together to digest Microsoft’s latest updates. From new GTM motions and FY26 priorities to AI-led sales enablement and co-sell changes, we spent the day testing ideas and sharpening our support methodology for our partners.

If you want a summary of the key takeaways, you’ll find everything you need on the site here.

Whether you’re:

• Aligning to the dual recognition model to support your recognition
• Strengthening your Microsoft partner profile
• Navigating Solution Partner Designation or Specialisation
• Unsure how to access Coop funding
• Looking to hire into key roles and scale the team

We’ve helped dozens of partners build smarter strategies and stay in sync with Microsoft. If you're facing similar questions or opportunities, we'd love to help you explore what's next.

📅 Book a 1:1 strategy call

Let’s make FY26 count.

Team Oaka

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