FastTrack Ready Partner Program
Heads Up!
February 22, 2021
PROGRAM UPDATES & RESOURCES
FRP Insights/Feedback Forum Rolling Out
Watch your email next week for an invitation to access the FRP Insights/Feedback Forum. You will be sent an access code that is required to enter the site. You can share insights/feedback directly with FRP Program, FastTrack and Product Groups, and upvote items from other partners to help emphasize importance.
FRP Incentive Processing Updates
We strive to ensure your incentives are paid with the most accurate and up-to-date information. Over the last week, our teams have been working hard to incorporate updated Edge primary browser usage data into the source used for the FRP Edge incentive. We hoped to include Edge payments in February statements, but need to defer payments until March to provide enough time for thorough testing.
February statement processing officially started February 19th and given the shortened month, we anticipate statements will be available on the
FastTrackReady Support Site by the middle of the week beginning March 1st.
Usage Data and Reporting Update
In November 2020 and January 2021, we provided an update on usage data and reporting including an overview of the plan to standardize on the “partner” or CPOR usage data stream i.e., as used by Partner Center rather than the one used by FastTrack.
While we are moving forward with these plans, key points outlined below, the schedule has shifted to delivery in early Q4. When implemented,
- Incentive calculations, payments, and statements that are paid through the FRP incentives platform will rely on the updated “partner” (CPOR) usage data stream.
- OSU M365 EDU incentives (paid through FRP incentives platform) will be consistent with Partner Center.
- Usage data and reporting in the FRP Dashboard will align with Partner Center.
- EDU incentives earned since October 1, 2020 (including new FY21 workloads) will be paid retroactively.
- Only PAID entitlements will be included.
- Discontinuing Manual Override Process (effective immediately) as it is no longer needed.
- Will remove existing manual overrides from FTOP to allow the updated data stream to reflect achieved incentives.
New: Partner Success Stories
We're pleased to share with you two new partner success stories that originated on the APJ Partner Success call. Hear from Alfa Connections on how they drove Edge adoption, leveraged App assure, and worked with a FastTrack SME to upsell M365 E5. Also listen to CnThoth share how they leveraged IE11’s EOS to create urgency on Edge and led training sessions to drive end user awareness, resulting in significant increase in Edge browser share.
Do you have a story to share? Submit here: http://aka.ms/FRPStories.
Reminder: New POE Template Available in Partner Center
If you were unable to attend, or need a refresher on the recent OSU office hours call, access the recording for an overview of the changes. As outlined in the January 22, 2021 Yammer announcement, this is an existing encouraged method to submit POE in lieu or in support of an SOW or other documentation.
- Use of the template is NOT required
- You may continue to use the previous template or your own POE if that is working well for you
- You may modify the template as desired
- For example, edit the document to include Edge as a workload.
Access the new template on the Create Claims page in Partner Center.
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WORKLOAD UPDATES & RESOURCES
Introducing Microsoft Viva
This month, Microsoft Viva was introduced, the first employee experience platform built for the digital era. Viva brings together communications, knowledge, learning, resources, and insights into an integrated experience that empowers people and teams to be their best, from anywhere. Powered by the full breadth and depth of Microsoft 365, it is available through Microsoft Teams and other Microsoft 365 apps that people use every day. Check out the Microsoft 365 Blog to learn more.
While in scope for FastTrack, only parts of Viva are currently generally available. For now, if a customer asks for any Viva-specific FastTrack support, please feel free to file a SME request and we'll be happy to offer resources to help.
Blog: Microsoft Intune Enhancements to Noncompliance Email Notifications
A new article was published to help IT Pros and Mobile Device Administrators understand the new enhancements to the noncompliance notification feature of Microsoft Intune.
Please follow these links to learn more:
iPad OS iOS Home Screen via Microsoft Endpoint Manager
IT admins can now configure iPad home screens in Microsoft Endpoint Manager. This is a great feature for education where teachers and students expect apps to be located in a specific place and rapidly accessible.
Please watch the following video for more information: https://youtu.be/TqY2ksD-CPM.
Edge: Latest Partner News
Topics included in FRP Edge news in the February newsletter:
- Special announcements - Microsoft Edge Legacy (Spartan) End of Support Update
- Automation in M365 Admin Center
- Demos
- M365 Support Deprecation for IE11 and Legacy Edge End of Support Announcements + Campaigns
- Clarification around POE submission requirements
- Customer Success Stories
- Product Awareness for Business and Consumer
Edge Email Template Expansion – new this week:
Help your customers achieve a smooth transition and assist with communications as they rollout Microsoft Edge to end users. We've packaged up new emails for customers to use as an internal Edge Adoption campaign. These new email templates are fully customizable and available for download in 5 different languages in the Microsoft Edge Adoption Kit or customers can leverage the updated Microsoft Edge training wizard through the M365 Admin Center https://aka.ms/AdminEmailTemplates.
Clarification on POE Process:
- Based on your feedback we wanted to clarify details behind the POE submission process for Edge. Partners are welcome to use their own templates OR the latest POE Template from Partner Center (New POE Template Now Available in Partner Center) Our goal is to simplify the communication with your customers.
- Modify template to include Edge as a workload
- Obtain customer signature as per your normal Customer POE approval process (i.e., customer may be signing off on multiple workloads, including Edge for example)
- Follows Registration steps (below) without needing the customer to separately reply just to approve Edge
- To qualify for Incentives
- Tenants MUST be registered via the form available at https://aka.ms/frpedgeincentive AND
- Proof of Execution submitted to within 5 days of Registration to RegPOE@microsoft.com
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Terms and Conditions Updates
The Terms and Conditions will be published on February 26, 2021. The only revisions made at this time are:
- MDATP has been replaced with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE), formerly MDATP
- AATP has been replaced with Microsoft Defender for Identity (MDI), formerly AATP
Operations Guide Updates
The Operations Guide updates include:
- Migration Benefit Service, Process, and Roles and Responsibilities
- Manage Required Customer Data process change
- Localized content: German, Japanese, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Spanish
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Upcoming FRP Events
Click on the links below to register for upcoming events:
Curated Webinars
Click on the links below to register for upcoming events:
On Demand FRP Webinars & Learning
Click on the links below to learn more:
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