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Release 115 was rolled out on 17/05/2022

What is new?

In this release, we are focusing on updates to the Subscriptions&orders section, several notification improvements, major updates to Organization management, as well as multiple bugfixes. Organization management updates are available via separate link for our customers to get accustomed to the new changes before it is fully integrated into the platform.

Subscriptions & orders:

We have some exciting news to share with you in this product update! We delve further into the use cases of presently released functionalities while also highlighting the newest features that will help you maximize your login customization, Google Cloud, Software Subscriptions and Perpetual offer transactions, and more.

Featured Use Case articles:

Going forward we want to emphasize different outcomes partners and customers can achieve from using our platform. For that reason, our newsletters will focus to highlight different Use Cases that partners can leverage in the business.

• Use case: Commitment period and billing frequency *
• How to Create a new Microsoft Tenant Domain for a Customer Organization?
• How to do Customer organization self-registration on the platform?
• How to manually create a new Customer Organization?

* Please, sign in to your AppXite Knowledgebase account to read this article. 

Featured platform articles:

• Release Notes 113, 114
• Release Notes 112
• Azure usage report
• What is the Microsoft tenant domain?
• Organization level Login Options
• How to manage users information and permissions?

Secure Profitability of Azure Sales

With the introduction of the Azure Plan in CSP, Microsoft added a new concept - Partner Earned Credit (PEC). PEC replaced the margin that was available for legacy Azure sales. The key difference is that while margin was available for all sales of legacy Azure, PEC gets paid only if the partner has the appropriate RBAC role in the customer resources. In cases the RBAC role does not exist, the Partner does not earn any PEC - that can eliminate any margin earned on Azure sales or even can cause a loss of money.

As PEC is counted daily on a resource level, Partners working with multiple customers require an easy-to-use tool to track PEC status. Or it becomes a cumbersome task that eats margin simply from managing the PEC eligibility. PEC eligibility management is further complicated as customers can have resources with RBAC roles associated with different partners under the same subscription.

Working together with partners, AppXite has released an easy-to-use report that tracks PEC earned across sellers and customers on a daily basis so Microsoft direct bill partners can easily react during the month if PEC gets removed. Using AppXite's dashboard you can select the resources ineligible for PEC and see details as granular as meter level. This helps to save time and effort needed otherwise to identify affected customers and resources. Having identified affected resources, partners can perform the required steps in the Azure portal to restore PEC (Partner Earned Credit explanation).

As Microsoft's ecosystem is highly competitive and with the margin structure changed, leveraging PEC as a competitive advantage enables partners to win new deals and expand their business.

Drive Efficiency in Your Invoicing Process

As subscription-based business models exploded globally to provide greater flexibility for customers, they have created considerable billing and invoicing complexity for the channel (resellers and distributors). Previously, sales were completed with a single annual invoice, now most commonly we see monthly billing with different charges being supported (pro-ration, discounts, credits, cancel, increase, decrease). Getting the necessary data right and issuing invoices fast can be a demanding task for channel partners who support a large number of customers.

AppXite recently announced new industry-leading invoice calculation functionality, which enables AppXite to process Microsoft NCE invoices within hours. To drive operational excellence with partners further, we also released an Azure Usage Report.

The Azure Usage Report, in addition to many different insights, provides partners with an easy-to-use export of Azure usage data on a meter level. The Report includes platform configured mark-ups and can be used by partners to invoice their customers before Microsoft releases its official invoice data. Partners can then compare the open billing data provided by Microsoft with the official invoice data from Microsoft and issue adjustments if there are any deviations.

Important to note: Microsoft typically releases Azure and One Time invoices between the 6th and 8th dates of the month. By using Azure Usage Report, channel partners can shorten the cash cycle by additional 3-5 days which within a multi-tier set-up has a substantial impact.

Custom Properties to Enable Complex Business Processes

Partners have their unique processes crafted over the years to enable the delivery of high-quality services to their customers. When introducing another system to the organization and their partner channel, it is necessary to insert said system within the currently established processes or to be able to design new processes in line with needs.

Powerful tools for this purpose are custom properties for organizations and subscriptions.

Custom properties for organizations:

Partners can define custom organization properties and specify their parameters for child organizations: data type, object type, field name, mandatory/non-mandatory, read-only, and others). By doing so, partners can ensure that organizational information is compatible for use with other internal systems.

A commonly applied use case is to define organization properties required for invoicing. Partners can use our platform's APIs to integrate with their CRM / ERP solution & retract all customer details simply by entering ERP ID / CRM ID in organization form. The organization form is then populated with information from the CRM / ERP and will be available for use with invoice data.

Custom properties for subscriptions:

Partners have the ability to define custom subscription properties. Custom subscription properties can be applied on different channel partner levels (distributors, resellers, customers).

Similarly, as with custom organization properties partners can define custom subscription properties and specify different parameters: data type, object type, field name, mandatory/non-mandatory, read-only, and others.

A commonly applied use case is to define custom subscription properties, which capture information such as payment terms, product code, part number, department ID, invoicing entity, and others.

• Example #1 is to specify that one subscription belongs to a specific department of a customer organization, has payments terms of 30 days, and will be invoiced by an Australian entity while another subscription belongs to different departments, has payment terms of 45 days, and will be invoiced by a Norwegian entity.
  
  
• Example #2 is to specify in custom subscription properties a revenue recognition rule, i.e. recognize revenue over a fixed period, immediately or at the end date of subscription.
 
• Example #3 is to specify in custom subscription properties an internal department or account manager to track their performance.

Above are listed just a few examples of different use cases that can be enabled with custom offer properties available on the AppXite Platform.

Custom offer properties are visible in the full reconciliation file under the Invoices section (How to get full reconciliation data?) and are available using APIs (Reporting API).

Release highlights:

Streamline your user’s database maintenance with our latest Users Tab update. With the extended records information, you can now easily find irregularities like inactive users, outdated login options, etc. Learn all about the new update’s use cases here.

Enable or disable identity providers without affecting these on a distributor level or other reseller levels. The login options you configure as a direct reseller now apply to the platforms of your indirect partners. Read more about providers' availability here.

Apply markup for the current billing period. Changes to subscription markups now apply in the current billing cycle and its respective invoice. In comparison, markup changes used to affect the price only starting from the next billing cycle. All about the subscription level mark-up, read here.

Latest news from your vendors:

Legacy offer availability end date changed: from 01/07 to 11/07

CSP partners wanting to have their customers' commercial seat-based legacy subscriptions renewed on the legacy platform will now have until July 11, 2022, for those renewals to be completed.

End-of-sale products will be in the June price list preview

On May 1, 2022, end-of-sale product retirement addition to the CSP price list preview will be available to help you identify products that will no longer be available for purchase in the new commerce experience.

The new column in the price list is EndofSaleDate.

When looking at the product catalogue, you can easily distinguish NCE offers from non NCE by looking at the icon. All NCE offers have "NCE" written on the upper left corner of Microsoft icon. See the examples below.

NCE offer: 

non NCE offer:

How to distinguish between offers by contract type?

Open Invoice section and look at the contract type. "Azure Plan & One time"  contracts are for NCE offers.

How to distinguish between offers in Invoices?

Open Invoice section and choose any invoice you would like to verify

Once you have the invoice details, slide the ruler to the right side till "Vendor offer ID". For NCE offers the vendor reference number starts with capital or lower case "CFQ". 

!Note if you do not see "Vendor offer ID" tab, it can be enabled on the upper right corner of invoice view

How to distinguish NCE offers in Subscription report?

Subscription report contains filters to distinguish NCE offers from non-NCE. If "Is NCE" tab record displays "true", the selected offer is NCE. You can filter the subscriptions on the left side in "Microsoft NCE" section.

How to distinguish between offers while using "Search" in catalogue?

At the moment there are situations where duplicate offer names appear in the search results as one of them is NCE and the other is non-NCE. This is because the product names are imported from Microsoft directly and the titles are not distinguishable. This situation is going to solve itself in few months once the all the legacy offers will be discontinued. In meantime we are preparing a workaround to amend the situation - tags will be added to the product names. Follow the product releases to not to miss this update!

This article will describe Microsoft 365 Business offer Promotion, basics, and Terms & Conditions.

Note! Microsoft 365 Business promotion is valid only until 30.06.2020

If you plan to offer promotional pricing to government and state-owned entities, you’ll need to first ensure that the price you offer to these customers doesn’t exceed the maximum resale price. The maximum resale price is the applicable ERP minus the promotional discount.

Learn more on how to add a Special price tag, and how to change markup/discount.                        

Offer basics:

What is the Microsoft 365 Business Offer?
The Microsoft 365 Business offer is a 1-year discount of 20% for Microsoft 365 Business with an annual commitment, for up to 300 licenses. New and existing customers are eligible for this offer.

This offer is available through the Cloud Solution Provider program only.

This offer is available in Germany, France, Austria, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland & Portugal.

What is the purpose of the offer?
Given the prevalence of cybersecurity concerns for SMB customers, it’s critical that SMB customers have the right tools to protect themselves. With Microsoft 365 Business, customers can get access to tools to help fight against threats, protect data and secure devices today.

What partner incentives are available to complement this to-customer offer?
If eligible*, partners can continue to qualify for standard CSP incentives through transacting this offer, including base rebates, global accelerators, and local accelerators.

Note! You must be eligible to receive CSP incentives. Learn more about CSP incentives: aka.ms/partnerincentives

What materials and training are available for me to leverage?
Updated sales and technical training materials are available on aka.ms/m365bpartners. These materials will outline how to approach the security opportunity in SMB, how to deal with common objections and how to overcome technical blockers.

Offer details:    
What are the offer terms and conditions?

By transacting this discounted offer, partners agree to abide by the below offer terms.

Terms and Conditions:

• The offer: 20% off one year of Microsoft 365 Business subscription for up to 300 licenses when purchased through a Microsoft Authorized Cloud Solution Provider. The discount requires a 12-month commitment but can be billed monthly or annually.
• Offer valid between December 1, 2019, and June 30th, 2020.
• Eligible customers: Both new and existing customers are eligible.
• At the conclusion of the 12-month promotional term, the customer will be billed at then-current market prices every year. The subscription will continue until the customer cancels with their Microsoft Seller.
• May not be combined with other offers for the same product.
• Microsoft 365 Business is subject to the Microsoft Cloud Agreement.
• Partner-specific conditions.
• Transacting partner is a Microsoft Authorized Cloud Solution Provider. 

PRICE PROMOTION PASS-THROUGH REQUIREMENTS
Microsoft is pleased to offer you this promotional price on Microsoft Products and Services, which represents a discount on your standard price (“Promotional Discount”). Please note that this Promotional Discount is intended to benefit end customers. For Government and State-Owned Entities, you must ensure that the customer price for Microsoft Products and Services does not exceed the Maximum Resell Price, including if you are selling as a distributor. “Maximum  Resell Price” means the applicable ERP less the Promotional Discount.

What happens at renewal?
The billing for these subscriptions will continue beyond the promotional 12-month term unless the customer cancels the subscription through their seller. At the conclusion of the offer term, the customer will be billed the current market price every year. Microsoft will make this pricing adjustment automatically. There is no action for partners.

What does annual commitment mean?
Annual commitment means that by purchasing this SKU, the customer commits to a twelve-month term. This includes monthly and annual billing options and is standard for all CSP offers.

Customer examples:
The customer currently owns 50 Office 365 Business Premium seats and wants to move to Microsoft 365 Business in the promotional period. The customer would be eligible for the 20% discount on Microsoft 365 Business for all 50 seats in their subscription.

The customer adds 10 seats at the start of the promotion, however, want to add additional seats in the promotion time period. This is allowed if the seats are purchased in the promotional period. These additional seats will be eligible for the 20% discount and subject to the terms of the offer.

The customer then wants to add seats out of the promotion period to a tenant created in the promotion period. The seats purchased in the promotion period will be eligible for the 20% discount. The seats purchased outside of the promotional period are not eligible for this discount and will be priced at the current market rate.

The customer wants to renew the subscription after 12 months.

The subscription will continue until customer cancels with their Microsoft Seller. However, at the end of the 12-month promotional period, the discount will no longer apply, and the customer will be moved to the current market price automatically by Microsoft. There will be no action for the partner or the customer.

Offer ID
Microsoft 365 Business: Secure Productive Business Buy CSP_61795cab-2abd-43f6-88e9-c9adae5746e0 

On June 28 Microsoft has sent a non-renewal notice to all Indirect Sellers, that are onboarded to Partner Center, informing of the expiration of the existing seller terms (“Terms and Conditions Governing Indirect Sellers” (the “Indirect Seller Terms”)) which will be replaced with the Microsoft Partner Agreement starting September 1, 2019.

Q: What does it mean?
A: Starting September 1, 2019, the new Microsoft Partner Agreement will be available for all partners in the CSP program including indirect sellers. The existing seller terms and conditions governing indirect sellers will be replaced by the Microsoft Partner Agreement when it is becoming available on September 1, 2019. The expiring existing seller terms will be replaced with the Microsoft Partner Agreement.

Q: Where can I sign the new MPA?
A: Microsoft Partner Agreement will be available on Partner Center starting September 1st, 2019.

• Review Microsoft Partner Agreement (starting July 31, 2019).
• Accept Microsoft Partner Agreement on Partner Center (between Sep 1, 2019 Jan 31, 2020).

Q: Will that impact the way of working with AppXite?
A: No. 

Microsoft Partner Agreement Term Enforcement Timeline:

• September 1, 2019 – January 31, 2020: Indirect Sellers must accept the terms of the Microsoft Partner Agreement.
• After January 31, 2020: Indirect Sellers who have not accepted the Microsoft Partner Agreement will have their CSP transactions blocked.
• From August 31, 2020: Indirect Sellers who have not Accepted Microsoft Partner Agreement will be off-boarded from the CSP Program.

Read more here.

This article outlines the main questions that arise while reviewing the Cloud Commerce Platform as-a-Service Agreement.

The Cloud Commerce Platform as a Service Agreement describes:

1. How AppXite provides users with the Platform
2. The rights and obligations of involved parties

1. When will the Platform become available?

AppXite Platform will be available right after a user (1) completes the onboarding step and (2) confirms that the Platform is configured according to their preferences.

2. What is White-Label Branding? 

This means that a user's Platform is branded under their logo, name, and other relevant designs accessible via URL.

3. What is White-Label billing?

When a Platform is set up and begins scaling sales, users often consider reducing administrative workloads by having AppXite take over customer billing. This means they utilize AppXite's White-Label Billing as-a-Service. This service generates invoices on behalf of the data generated in your Platform and sends it to customers. 

4. What is the Platform's availability?

AppXite's ultimate goal is providing full platform functionality 24/7/365.

This means effecting updates in a manner that affects business using the platform as little as possible. Now, the platform may have downtime consisting of two service windows per month - for a total of 4 hours. AppXite will notify sellers 2 (two) business days in advance of such service windows via e-mail. Additionally, AppXite takes commercially reasonable efforts to minimize everyone's risk exposure by making these service windows Saturday mornings 8:00 - 10:00 GMT +3. 

5. My business collects customer data, including personal data. What should I do to ensure compliance with data protection laws, including GDPR?

First, ensure there is a valid legal basis for processing. Then, maintain an appropriate level of information security within your company. This means that processing activities must be transparent; sufficient information is regularly provided to customers regarding the processing of their data. For further information visit our Privacy Hub.

This way, we ensure that we can collect payments from resellers.

6. Can I sell my own solutions via the AppXite platform?

Yes. Additional offers can be added to the Platform by using Platform functionalities for configuring offers. You can also appoint AppXite to act as your distributor; launching your products through our network of resellers connected to the Platform.

7. What happens to my customer data when I end the agreement?

Your data will be returned in a reasonably requested format. If the law requires, we will keep records of this data.

8. I want my own terms and conditions to govern my marketplace. Can I use my own terms on the Platform?

Platform functionalities allow users to upload and update terms and conditions related to its white-labeled capabilities.

9. What is the subscription term?

The standard term is 1 (one) calendar year. However, users have the ability to choose their own subscription terms.

10. Can I make modifications to the Platform?

No. However, you can request that AppXite carry out some modifications that will improve functionality.

11. Can AppXite make modifications to the Platform?

Yes. AppXite may change the functionality of the Platform by adding new features and improving various capabilities. AppXite will make its best efforts to notify users of any modifications before such modifications are implemented.

12. What happens if a customer changes information in the Microsoft Partner Center?

There is a 2-way synchronization between the Microsoft Partner Center and the AppXite Platform. Therefore, certain information can be edited in either location with both being updated. However, it is important to understand that once customer information has been synchronized with the platform, the only Billing information should be updated in Microsoft Partner Center. All other information must be updated on the platform to avoid problems with synchronization.  

13. Can I have my Platform support different currencies?

Yes. The platform does support different currencies. However, the settlement between a seller and AppXite should be consistent in one of the currencies provided below:

• Euro (EUR)
• Norwegian Krone (NOK)
• Swedish Krona (SEK)
• Danish Krone (DKK)
• Swiss Franc (CHF)
• Polish Zloty (PLN)
• British Pound (GBP)
• US Dollar (USD)

16. Who to contact regarding legal issues?
E-mail: appxite.legal@appxite.com

17. Who to contact regarding financial issues?
E-mail: fa@appxite.com

18. Who to contact regarding data protection?
E-mail: dpo@appxite.com

This article will describe, how to accept Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCuA) through the platform. Microsoft Customer Agreement in CSP program will replace Microsoft Cloud Agreement starting from January 31st, 2020. Read more here.

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Q: What is the new process for confirming customer acceptance of the Microsoft Customer Agreement?

We have enabled function for sellers and their customers to accept new terms of MCuA.

When purchasing new MS subscription or renewing existing, or adding additional licenses for existing subscriptions seller and/or customer will have to accept terms, there will be pop-up window in the portal where one will enter their contact details – email, name, surname, phone number (optional) and click on "I Agree":

NOTE! We do not provide these terms on the platform. The platform acts only as a place of acceptance, therefore, terms should be read before they are accepted in our platform. To find region-specific Microsoft Customer Agreement customer templates in all supported languages, see Microsoft Customer Agreements by region and language.

The first step is to log in to the platform and starts purchasing and/or renewal. Before BUY, a pop-up will appear where one will need to accept the terms. If terms have not been accepted in the platform, sellers and/or customers will not be able to purchase, renew and add licenses.

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Things to keep in mind:

1. MCuA should be accepted in the portal by end-customer;
2. MCuA can be accepted on behalf of the customer only when a customer has given his acceptance to do so;

To see more information about the MCuA, click here and here.