CSP by its nature is designed to provide different licensing and support options for the channel. In this post, I want to highlight a couple of those options and how you can partner with other CSP providers to satisfy your end customer.
According to the Microsoft Cloud Solution Program Guide, the CSP direct partner must invoice the licenses directly to the end-user. That’s fine in many instances, but what happens if you have customers globally, but only authorized in the USA? In other words, if you are authorized in US, but have a customer in Australia, how can you resell CSP to that end user? In walks our friend ‘Multi-Channel”.
Option 1: The end customer in Australia could set up shop in the US and use an US address to receive licenses leveraging your CSP USA authorization . The problem with this (especially in Australia) is latency issues and billing. The address on the invoice is where the datacenter location will be but the users will still be in Australia.
Option 2: The CSP authorized reseller in the USA could partner with a CSP reseller in Australia to procure the licenses. In this model, the USA CSP partner would provide all the support for their Australian customer, but another partner would provide the licenses.
I like option two the best. Most MSP’s and other solution providers do not make money from the licensing, they make money from supporting the solution. Leveraging another partner will take care of the customer and both parties will be happy. What do you think? Is Multi-Channel a good idea?
Thanks for reading,
CSP Man
The Microsoft CSP Program 