The global Premier/Unified Support market is worth $4-6B to Microsoft in 2023 and growing aggressively. The fastest growing and top priorities for Microsoft sales teams are: 1) Azure 2) Dynamics 365 3) Microsoft 365 E5 4) Unified Support.
Microsoft Unified Support revenue growth is accelerating as existing Unified customers are upgraded from Core, Advanced and Performance levels to the one-size does not fit all Unified Enterprise. MS Unified revenue growth should continue to accelerate rapidly beyond 2026 as Government and Education entities join the Unified masses July 1, 2024 when Premier for public sector is retired.
Microsoft wants to increase enterprise lock-in, reduce your discounts, sell premium bundles, drive Unified Support growth, and promote indirect access. Enterprises want to optimize their Microsoft spend, reduce complexity, maintain competitive vendor relationship, increase contact flexibility, minimize licensing risk, reduce long term Microsoft agreement costs, and align their Enterprise IT roadmap to their Microsoft spend.
There are 4 steps enterprises should follow in order to maximize their negotiating leverage with Microsoft.