The latest issue of the U.S. Partner News was delivered to your inbox on Friday, January 4. The version you received was tailored to your business type and role; all training-related items sent to all partners are published below. We have begun a new role-based training series in the newsletter that highlights a single competency. Below, you’ll find recommendations for the new Collaboration and Content competency (formerly three separate competencies: Portals and Collaboration, Content Management and Search).
Training resources
Schedule Your January Training with Hot Sheet Recommendations
The Hot Sheet is your online guide to live in-person and virtual sales, technical, and business training. From the Hot Sheet, you can go directly to registration information for the courses you are interested in taking. The February Hot Sheet will be published the week of January 15 at http://aka.ms/hotsheetnews.
January Training Incentive Includes the New Office
Get up to speed on the customer opportunity with the new Office. For each featured course you take in January and February, you'll be entered to win a $120 Amazon gift card or a Nikon digital camera kit. Official rules.
January 8 in Chicago, IL: Microsoft Lync 2013 Ignite
Stay ahead of the market with this four-day workshop. Presentations will cover a wide variety of topics for Lync, both on-premises and online, and there will be hands-on labs that create an interactive Lync experience.
January 22–24 in Redmond, WA: Office Partner Launch
Learn about the new technical capabilities of the new Office release and about business opportunities for partners. The event features presentations, demonstrations, and discussions with experts from the Office and Microsoft Partner Network teams.
January 22 in Boston, MA: Windows Server 2012 Technical Ignite
This four-day course will cover new features and functionality in Windows Server 2012 and prepare partners for Exam 70-417: Upgrading Your Skills to MCSA Windows Server 2012.
February 4–6 in New York: Windows 8 Application Development Deep Dive Training
This three-day training event will cover Windows 8 UI design principles and application development with hands-on learning opportunities. You'll learn how to add functionality to your Windows 8 applications by digging into shared libraries and data usage, and sharing data with other applications. To help you add extra polish to your applications, course content will teach you how to make best use of the Start screen tiles, toast messages, and charms.
Microsoft Dynamics AX Technical Conference Recordings
Due to popular demand from the attendees and other partners who couldn't attend in person, Microsoft is offering certain session recordings and presentation content from the conference. Please find links to the materials on PartnerSource, broken out by session type.
January 8–9 in Irvine, CA: Microsoft Dynamics ERP Growth Through Repeatability Clinic
This hands-on workshop explores how rapidly changing buyer behavior is increasingly driving partners to develop volume solutions and repeatable business processes. The session will focus on the roadmap and practical tactics that other partners have implemented to build or expand their volume practices.
January 10 in Irvine, CA: Streamline your Microsoft Dynamics ERP Demo with the Velocity Workshop
The Microsoft Dynamics GP Volume Velocity Workshop is a one-day course that will teach sales and presales consultants in your organization to market and sell more effectively in today's web-enhanced selling environment.
January 10: Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2012 December Service Update Tech Chat Series
The announcement of the next Microsoft Dynamics CRM service update has generated excitement—and questions—from our channel. This Tech Chat Series is an opportunity for ongoing discussion between partners and Microsoft, leading up to the formal readiness courses and materials which will become available closer to the release. Topics covered include flow UI, Lync, Skype, XBrowser, infrastructure and deployment, Activity Feeds and Yammer, and the iPad.
January 14 in Chicago, IL: Microsoft Dynamics CRM Fast-Tracks Enterprise Academy
This two-week intensive training based on the core fundamental of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 offers two tracks: Functional and Developer. These classes are targeted at net new professionals within Microsoft Dynamics partner organizations.
January 14–15 in New York: Microsoft Dynamics ERP Growth Through Repeatability Clinic
This hands-on workshop explores how rapidly changing buyer behavior is increasingly driving partners to develop volume solutions and repeatable business processes. The session will focus on the roadmap and practical tactics that other partners have implemented to build or expand their volume practices.
January 16–17 in Dallas, TX: Microsoft Dynamics ERP Growth Through Repeatability Clinic
This hands-on workshop explores how rapidly changing buyer behavior is increasingly driving partners to develop volume solutions and repeatable business processes. The session will focus on the roadmap and practical tactics that other partners have implemented to build or expand their volume practices.
January 16: Microsoft Dynamics Road to Repeatability Call—Convergence 2013
Join us for the January Road to Repeatability to learn more about Convergence 2013 in New Orleans. Senior Marketing Manager Heather Kulla will discuss what's new this year, offers and tools to help you get your customers to this event, and the training content that's in store for this business-building event.
January 28 in Fargo, ND: Microsoft Dynamics AX Fast TrAX Workshops—Consultant and Developer Certification Training
Come to the Microsoft office in Fargo, North Dakota, for 18 days of intensive training based on the fundamentals of Microsoft Dynamics AX. You will get training for certification based on real-world examples that reinforce learning. Next session is in April.
January 28–February 2 in Dallas, TX: Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 Web Client Workshops for Consultants
These courses help consultants understand the foundation of Microsoft Dynamics GP Web Client, how it functions, the necessary security requirements, and how to properly and effectively troubleshoot Microsoft Dynamics GP 2013 on Web Client.
February 7–8 in Dallas, TX: Accelerated Sales Workshop for Microsoft Dynamics Sales Professionals
The Accelerated Sales Workshop is for sales professionals focused on cloud and on-premises ERP and CRM opportunities who want to increase their win ratios and decrease the duration of their sales cycles. This intense two-day workshop covers the strategies and skills required to address the rapid and recent changes in buying behavior.
February 11–14 in Phoenix, AZ: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Industry Summit 2.0
The Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Industry Summit 2.0 will bring you up to speed on Microsoft Dynamics AX industry solutions, enable you to professionally market, sell, and deploy industry solutions, and connect you with Microsoft, Microsoft ISVs, and industry peers. Building on the momentum and feedback from last year's industry summit, we are adding role-based training by industry.
February 11–14 in Redmond, WA: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Enterprise Academy Level 300 Workshops
These workshops consist of up to five days of in-person training targeted at IT professionals, Presales staff, and Developers. They are designed as in-depth interactive sessions that focus on how to implement Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 and address specific customer business needs.
Microsoft Dynamics CRM December 2012 Service Update and Beyond Partner Training Blitz
Listen to our training session on the upcoming release of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM December 2012 service update. Find out about key investments made in the sales and service process, social integration, updated user experience, and platform capabilities. You'll learn about our competitive position, changes to licensing, and the Microsoft Dynamics CRM roadmap for the upcoming two releases.
March 4–8 in Fargo, ND: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Upgrade Workshop for Consultants and Developers
The goal of this workshop is to help technical resources understand how to upgrade an existing Microsoft Dynamics AX implementation to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. The workshop will focus on upgrading code elements and the data dictionary for customizations, focusing on the major changes introduced with the Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 data model.
Featured training – Focus on Collaboration and Content
Training for Business Decision Makers
In November, Microsoft merged three Microsoft SharePoint–focused competencies (Portals and Collaboration, Content Management, and Search) into one competency, Collaboration and Content. Completing the training and passing the certification exams and assessments listed in the learning plan can help your company demonstrate expertise with products like Microsoft SharePoint.
- New Collaboration and Content learning path
- Competency benefits
- Silver competency requirements
- Gold competency requirements
Training for IT Professionals
- Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Enterprise Search IT Professional Training
- Exam Cram on SharePoint Server 2010 Technology Specialist Series: Exam 70-667
- Exam Coaching Session: Preparing for Your Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010, Configuring & SharePoint Server 2010, Administrator Exams (70-667/668)
- New Collaboration and Content learning path
Training for Developers
- Course 10175A: Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Application Development
- Collection 10276: Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Application Development
- Exam 70-573: Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Application Development
- Course 10232A: Designing and Developing Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 Applications
- Exam 70-576: Designing and Developing Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Applications
- Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Enterprise Search Developer Training
- New Collaboration and Content learning path
Training for Sales and Marketing Roles
- Licensing for Sales Specialists and Licensing Overview Assessment
- Microsoft Partner Network Sales Assessment—Microsoft SharePoint (Enterprise)
- Microsoft Partner Network Sales Assessment—Microsoft SharePoint (SMB)
- Microsoft Partner Network Sales Assessment—Enterprise Search
- New Collaboration and Content learning path
Training for Training Roles
In November, Microsoft merged three Microsoft SharePoint–focused competencies (Portals and Collaboration, Content Management, and Search) into one competency, Collaboration and Content. Training for sales, IT pro, and developer roles are all included in the new Collaboration and Content learning path. Completing the training and passing the certification exams and assessments listed in the learning plan can help your company demonstrate expertise with products like Microsoft SharePoint.