Maximize Your Revenue in FY26 Microsoft Commercial Marketplace
Estimated Read Time: 4 minutes
Intended Audience: Microsoft Partners
Get Insights from Microsoft Commercial Marketplace Experts
What is the Microsoft Commercial Marketplace
Microsoft Commercial Marketplace refers to the digital platforms AppSource and Azure Marketplace, where Partners can publish, promote, and sell their solutions to Microsoft customers. While these storefronts have existed for years, Microsoft is making significant changes in FY26 to evolve these platforms into fully transactable sales channels.
What does this mean for you?
- More visibility to attract high-intent customers.
- Less friction in transactions with Microsoft handling payment, compliance, and deployment.
- Greater flexibility through customizable offers, public or private, to match customer needs.
With Microsoft continuously rolling out updates to streamline the transacting processes, the push for transactability is quickly becoming the new standard for Partners who want to thrive.
Why Listing a Solution on Microsoft Commercial Marketplace is Important
Listing your solution in Microsoft Commercial Marketplace opens doors to new opportunities, whether it’s deepening your partnership with Microsoft or increasing your pipeline of qualified leads. On top of that, having a transactable offer positions your solution for deeper engagement across the Microsoft ecosystem. In fact, findings from the Microsoft Partner Benchmark Report identified that 46% of Partners leverage Microsoft Commercial Marketplace to drive leads.
Here are just a few of the key benefits:
- Build Credibility and Trust: Customers are more likely to trust your solution when it’s listed in Microsoft’s official storefronts. Your presence on AppSource or Azure Marketplace signals that your offering has passed Microsoft’s quality and security standards, enhancing buyer confidence.
- Connect with High-Intent Buyers: AppSource and Azure Marketplace are curated platforms designed to attract high-intent buyers actively searching for business solutions. Azure Marketplace, for instance, is the go-to platform for IT professionals and developers looking for Azure-compatible solutions. Listing your product in the right place helps you attract high-intent leads already within Microsoft’s ecosystem.
- Unlock Microsoft Support and Resources: According to our Microsoft Partner Benchmark Report, 89% of Partners listed in Microsoft Commercial Marketplaces receive at least one form of support from Microsoft in these key areas: lead generation, monetary funding, marketing resources, or technical assistance.
- Qualify for Co-Sell Opportunities: For organizations seeking Azure IP co-sell eligibility, having a transactable offer listed in the Azure Marketplace is a key requirement.
How do Paid Media Audits Help Microsoft Partners Maximize ROI?
It’s easy to overlook the need for regular paid media audits. But without them, you risk spending money on underperforming campaigns, missing out on valuable lead opportunities, or falling behind to more agile competitors.
For Microsoft Partners, paid media audits are especially important. They help ensure your ads are still aligned with your goals, your content is relevant, and your bidding strategies are competitive.
A paid media audit helps Microsoft Partners:
- Ensure messaging consistency across co-marketing materials
- Maximize budget efficiency
- Uncover cross-platform redundancies
- Improve reporting transparency for performance reviews
What’s the Difference Between Public and Private Offers in Microsoft Commercial Marketplace?
Understanding how to transact through the Microsoft Commercial Marketplace starts with recognizing the two primary methods: public offers and private offers. While both enable customers to purchase your solutions through Microsoft’s platform, they serve different purposes and use cases, and understanding the distinction is essential for building a flexible, scalable sales strategy.
Public offers are available directly through AppSource or Azure Marketplace. Customers can browse, trial, and buy with a few clicks. These listings are great for supporting try-before-you-buy experiences, reaching SMBs and mid-market buyers, and offering simple pricing and deployment models.
Private offers allow you to tailor pricing, terms, and scope to specific customers, making them especially effective for securing larger deals and enterprise-level engagements. Private offers are optimal when you’re closing large enterprise deals, offering exclusive discounts or bundled services that require negotiation. These scenarios often involve more complexity and customization than a public offer can accommodate.
One important caveat is that you would only be able to create a private offer if you already have a public offer published on Microsoft Commercial Marketplace. In that sense, think of private offers as an advanced step that builds upon your existing public offer, enabling a more personalized sales experience
Both options can be leveraged strategically, for example, you may use public offers for inbound sales and private offers for outbound enterprise opportunities or tailored enterprise procurement engagements.
Start Strong in FY26 with the Right Microsoft Commercial Marketplace Strategy
If driving revenue through Microsoft Commercial Marketplace is a priority for FY26, this is the moment to act. While this blog lays the foundation, our webinar goes deeper, covering updates, requirements, and tips to succeed in Microsoft Commercial Marketplace.
In the session, you’ll learn how to:
- Navigate the technical, business, and compliance requirements to transact successfully.
- Activate sales motions and align with Microsoft sellers.
- Build a tailored Microsoft Commercial Marketplace FY26 roadmap that fits your offer.
Join two leaders in the Microsoft Commercial Marketplace ecosystem for a strategic, insight-packed session built to help you drive real revenue in FY26.
Erica Hakonson – CEO of Maven Collective™ Marketing
Microsoft Partner marketing expert with a proven track record of driving visibility, demand generation, and AppSource and Azure Marketplace growth.
Juhi Saha – CEO of Partner1® and former Microsoft executive
Brings insider expertise on co-sell programs, Partner strategy, and optimizing Microsoft Marketplace performance from within the Microsoft ecosystem.
Bonus for attendees: Get a free post-session checklist outlining the essential steps, requirements, and tips to succeed in Microsoft Commercial Marketplace.
By understanding the requirements, optimizing your listings, and aligning with Microsoft sellers, you’ll be ready to make Microsoft Commercial Marketplace a core revenue stream in FY26. RSVP to the webinar now.
