Microsoft Technical Presales & Deployment Services: The Hidden Partnership Goldmine
TL;DR
Every year, Microsoft partners collectively leave thousands of unused Technical Presales and Deployment Services hours untouched. Hours that could accelerate deals, unblock AI projects, and drive millions in untapped revenue.
Your organisation already pays for one of Microsoft’s most powerful partnership benefits: Technical Presales and Deployment Services (TPD). TPD provides up to 50 hours of one-to-one consultation from Microsoft Partner Technical Consultants (PTCs) who validate architectures, remove sales blockers, and help partners close complex deals faster.
Competitors who use TPD report shorter deal cycles, higher win rates, and faster practice growth. Yet, most partners never activate it. For practice leaders navigating cloud and AI complexity, TPD isn’t support; it’s a strategic edge hiding in plain sight.
Why This Matters Now
With AI reshaping customer expectations and cloud architecture evolving faster than most teams can upskill, partners can’t afford slow learning curves.
TPD compresses months of capability-building into hours, giving your team direct access to Microsoft engineers who’ve seen hundreds of similar deployments and know exactly what works.
What is Technical Presales and Deployment Services?
Technical Presales and Deployment Services (TPD) provides Microsoft partners with personalised, one-to-one consultations from Partner Technical Consultants (PTCs) who deliver deep expertise across Microsoft's cloud and AI portfolio. Unlike generic support channels, TPD offers tailored assistance for planning, building, selling, and growing Microsoft-based solutions.
Despite being included in Solutions Partner designations and legacy competencies, TPD represents one of the most underutilised benefits in the Microsoft partner ecosystem. Industry observations suggest many partners fail to leverage their allocated advisory hours, leaving substantial value unrealised. One Microsoft Partner noted this represents "a huge lost opportunity" for partners who don't use it.
Core TPD Service Areas
Plan Your Business Strategy
Partner Technical Consultants assess organisational technical capabilities and identify growth opportunities, including:
- Technical capability assessment and skills evaluation
- Service and application development roadmaps
- Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) enrollment planning
- Technical architecture design for CSP programs
Build Solutions and Applications
TPD supports the entire development lifecycle from initial vision to marketplace publication:
- Azure Infrastructure: Migration planning, application modernisation, SAP on Azure, IoT implementations
- Business Applications: Dynamics 365, Power Platform, Microsoft 365 Copilot for Sales
- Data and AI Solutions: Data Platform Modernisation, Advanced Analytics, Artificial Intelligence
- Modern Workplace and Security: Microsoft 365 cloud productivity, device management, security implementations
- CSP Technical Architecture: Partner Center API integration, GDAP security management, automation development
Accelerate Sales Opportunities
Partner Technical Consultants help close deals by:
- Creating compelling demos and proof-of-concepts
- Removing technical sales blockers
- Providing technical validation for customer presentations
- Assisting with competitive positioning
- Articulating value propositions for complex Azure, AI, and security opportunities
Grow and Support Post-Sale
TPD continues supporting partners after deal closure with:
- Implementation guidance and best practices
- Customer footprint expansion strategies
- Ongoing solution deployment support
- Technical optimisation recommendations
TPD Advisory Hours by Benefit Package
| Benefit Package | Advisory Hours Included | Technical Presales Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Solutions Partner Designations | 50 | Unlimited |
| Legacy Gold Competencies | 50 | Unlimited |
| Legacy Silver Competencies | 20 | Unlimited |
| Partner Success Expanded Benefits | 10 | Unlimited |
| Partner Success Core Benefits | 5 (deducts from allocation) | Unlimited |
| Microsoft Action Pack | 5 (deducts from allocation) | Unlimited |
Strategic Value for Practice Leaders
De-Risk Complex Opportunities
High-value deals often carry technical complexity that can stall progress or derail proposals. Access to Microsoft technical expertise at critical junctures, without depleting billable resources, provides competitive advantage. Partner success stories demonstrate how engagement with Microsoft specialists helped close six-figure infrastructure migration deals at risk to competitors by providing architectural validation and positioning within 48 hours.
Accelerate Capability Development
TPD consultations provide fast-tracked knowledge transfer rather than requiring months of internal expertise development. Teams gain insights from consultants who have seen hundreds of similar implementations, avoiding common pitfalls and adopting proven patterns immediately.
Maximise Partnership Return on Investment
Solutions Partner organisations already pay for these benefits through designation requirements. Leaving advisory hours unused equals leaving money on the table, particularly when competitors may leverage this advantage to close deals faster.
Bridge Sales and Technical Team Gaps
Partner Technical Consultants can join customer calls, provide technical validation, and address architecture concerns that sales teams aren't equipped to handle, strengthening credibility and deal momentum.
How to Activate TPD Benefits
Step 1: Access Partner Center
Navigate to Partner Center Benefits section and select "Technical pre-sales & deployment"
Step 2: Choose Benefit Package
Select the benefit package you want to utilise for the engagement
Step 3: Provide Case Details
Submit case title, description, and relevant product information with technical scenario context
Step 4: Include Contact Preferences
Provide full international dial code and time zone preferences for consultation scheduling
Step 5: Select Regional Preferences
Choose country/region and preferred language for proper routing to appropriate Partner Technical Consultant
Response Timeline
Microsoft commits to Partner Technical Consultant response within two business days, with consultation delivery timelines mutually agreed upon based on technical scenario complexity.
Real-World TPD Application Scenarios
Azure Infrastructure Projects
Migration planning, application modernisation, SAP on Azure deployments, analytics, and IoT implementations receive dedicated infrastructure specialist support.
Data and AI Initiatives
Consultants eliminate technical blockers in Data Platform Modernisation, Advanced Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence scenarios, critical as organisations implement AI capabilities.
CSP Business Development
Direct bill CSP partners receive guidance on tenant architecture, security requirements, Partner Center automation using APIs and SDKs, and GDAP implementation, operational foundations determining CSP program success.
Marketplace Publishing
ISVs and solution builders receive end-to-end guidance from solution architecture through marketplace listing and co-sell submission, navigating processes that often confound first-time publishers.
Modern Workplace and Security Sales
Assistance closing Microsoft 365, device management, and security solutions helps partners articulate business value and technical implementation paths resonating with decision-makers.
Integration Strategies for Practice Leaders
Integrate TPD Into Sales Processes
Build TPD engagement into standard opportunity qualification processes. When pursuing deals above specific thresholds or involving unfamiliar technologies, proactively schedule Partner Technical Consultant consultations before customer presentations, not after technical objections emerge.
Enable Technical Teams
Encourage solution architects and technical leads to use advisory hours for architecture validation before customer proposals. This peer review from Microsoft experts catches design flaws early and strengthens technical credibility.
Support Practice Development Initiatives
When building new service offerings or entering unfamiliar solution areas, leverage TPD for capability assessment and development roadmaps. Partner Technical Consultants identify skill gaps, recommend training paths, and provide technical foundations accelerating time-to-market.
Optimise CSP Operations
CSP partners should schedule regular consultations on automation, security architecture, and customer management optimisation to ensure Microsoft best practices and maximise operational efficiency.
Competitive Advantages from using TPD
Organisations that systematically leverage TPD services gain advantages competitors may not realise exist:
- Faster deal cycles through immediate technical validation access
- Higher win rates when competing against partners without this support
- Reduced implementation risk through architecture review
- Stronger customer relationships built on technical confidence
- Accelerated capability development without proportional training time investment
Supported Products and Technologies
All cloud and cloud-hybrid solutions are supported across the Microsoft technology stack, including:
- Microsoft Azure (infrastructure, platform services, data, AI)
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform
- Microsoft 365 (productivity, collaboration, security)
- Cloud Solution Provider program technical architecture
- Microsoft commercial marketplace solutions
Products in private or public preview receive best-effort support for non-production environments with no guarantee on information availability or response time.
Why Senior Leaders Should Prioritise TPD
Technical Presales and Deployment Services represents a strategic asset requiring active management, not passive acknowledgment. For practice leaders responsible for revenue growth, margin protection, and capability development, TPD provides direct access to Microsoft expertise accelerating all three objectives.
TPD Does Not Replace Internal Capabilities, It Amplifies Them
The service validates and strengthens customer-facing expertise rather than substituting for it. No additional budget is required, it's already included in benefits earned through partnership investments.
The Critical Question for Decision Makers
Can your organisation afford to leave this advantage unused while competitors potentially leverage it to close deals faster, build capabilities more efficiently, and grow Microsoft practices more effectively?
Summary: Activating Your Partnership Investment
Your partnership investment has already secured TPD access. The only remaining step is activation. Log into Partner Center, navigate to Benefits > Technical pre-sales & deployment, and submit your first request to begin leveraging Partner Technical Consultant expertise for planning, building, selling, and growing your Microsoft practice.
Frequently Asked Questions About TPD
Who is eligible for Technical Presales and Deployment Services?
Partners with Solutions Partner designations, legacy Gold/Silver competencies, Partner Success benefits packages, or Microsoft Action Pack subscriptions can access TPD services.
How many advisory hours are included with Solutions Partner designations?
Solutions Partner organisations receive 50 advisory hours with unlimited technical presales sessions.
What is the response time for TPD requests?
Microsoft commits to Partner Technical Consultant response within two business days of case submission.
Can TPD consultants join customer calls?
Yes, Partner Technical Consultants can participate in customer engagements to provide technical validation and address architecture concerns.
What technologies does TPD support?
All cloud and cloud-hybrid Microsoft solutions are supported, including Azure, Dynamics 365, Power Platform, Microsoft 365, and CSP technical architecture.
How does TPD differ from standard Microsoft support?
TPD provides personalised consultations focused on partner business growth, sales enablement, and solution development rather than break-fix technical support.
Can I use TPD hours for CSP technical architecture?
Yes, direct bill CSP partners receive dedicated support for tenant architecture, Partner Center API development, GDAP implementation, and customer management automation.