Microsoft Partners Optimistic About Revenue Growth

A Microsoft-commissioned study by SoftwareMinds, a business operations research and publishing venture, has revealed that 95% of Microsoft's Certified Business Partners in the United States expect revenue growth in the next 12 months. The study, which involves over 1,000 survey participants, highlights the importance of adding new products or services as a key contributing factor to revenue growth. The typical respondent is a small firm with less than $5 million in annual revenues, primarily engaged in IT consulting services.

Key Takeaways:

• 95% of Microsoft's Certified Business Partners in the United States expect revenue growth in the next 12 months.
• Adding new products or services is the most important contributing factor to revenue growth, with over half of the respondents reporting an increase in revenues.
• The typical respondent is a nine-year-old firm with less than $5 million in annual revenues and more than half of its revenues coming from IT consulting services.
• The study covers business performance and outlook, consultant and trainer utilization, sales organization and compensation, marketing, and recruiting and retention.
• Microsoft's Certified Partner program aims to help partners develop successful businesses and contribute to the fundamental health of the IT industry.
• The study suggests that future business growth for Microsoft business partners is favorable, with a high level of participation indicating that partners are concerned about improving business operations.

Statistics:

• 95% of Microsoft's Certified Business Partners expect revenue growth in the next 12 months.
• Over half of the respondents reported that adding new products or services had increased revenues.
• The typical respondent has been in business for nine years and has annual revenues of less than $5 million.
• More than half of the respondents' revenues come from the sale of IT consulting services.

Sources:

• SoftwareMinds, LLC
• Microsoft Corporation
• Christina Hart, Microsoft's manager of U.S. Certified Partners program
• Kirsten Chapman, SoftwareMinds' marketing vice president
• Jennifer Schwegman of KC Associates for SoftwareMinds, LLC