More partner access to cutting-edge artificial intelligence, new partner designations and improvements to the commercial marketplace were among the biggest announcements from Microsoft on Wednesday as part of its annual “state of the partner ecosystem.”

The announcements come about 10 months into the tenure of Nicole Dezen as Microsoft’s first-ever chief partner officer. Dezen also holds the title of corporate vice president of the Global Partner Solutions organization.

“We have a very rich roadmap ahead,” Dezen told CRN in an interview Wednesday. “What partners will continue to hear from us is more innovation, more capability, more skilling. More resources to help them go to market with us.”

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Microsoft Updates Partners On AI, Marketplace, Designations

Dezen said during Wednesday’s event that the vendor is investing more “partner growth and profitability.” For every $1 of Microsoft revenue, services-lead partners make $7.63 and software partners make $10.11, she said.

She also advocated for partners to explore co-selling opportunities with the vendor. In 2021, Microsoft co-selling partners achieved nearly double the revenue growth of partners that didn’t co-sell with Microsoft. Partners who co-sell with Microsoft grow faster and generate higher margin, she said.

“Now more than ever, partnership with Microsoft is making it possible to grow businesses faster,” she said.

Here’s what you need to know.