Steve Mordue on ISVs, Power Platform, Teams, and IP

The Microsoft channel is ever-changing, and ISVs can spend considerable time optimizing their approach according to the latest incentives, rules, restrictions, and opportunities. Microsoft MVP Steve Mordue returns to talk about some of the latest updates in the channel. Steve is the founder of the ISV business RapidStartCRM. He's also a popular blogger for channel pros. He has also started a new site, ISVConnectED, a private community for ISVs who want to talk channel strategy and tactics, ask their peers questions, and otherwise compare notes. We discuss Microsoft's current partner programs that impact the Dynamics channel, opportunities around Power Platform, including Dataverse, the risks ISVs face when Microsoft builds similar IP, and what the Salesforce Slack deal means for Microsoft. Show Notes: 1:30 - Microsoft's ISV programs and why Steve started ISVConnectED 3:45 - Why Steve writes about the state of the Microsoft channel and why it continues to create complexity 6:30 - The complexities of Microsoft programs like Direct CSP, and the importance of large CSPs  today 15:30 - Power Platform  - the business model and special offers 20:00 - Microsoft's efforts on industry solutions and what it means for vertical-focused ISVs 24:00 - Working in Microsoft's shadow as an ISV - searching for white space 28:45 - Encouraging news on AppSource 33:00 - Dataverse rollout 36:30 - Why Dataverse is so important to Teams and Microsoft 365 43:00 - New opportunities for custom Power Platform development and the importance of governance 46:00 - The Slack acquisition by Salesforce 48:30 - How Microsoft competes with Salesforce 54:00 - Microsoft's current approach to business applications acquisitions