Have Customers & Microsoft Partners Find You!

Customers search for Microsoft Partners solutions on customer-facing Microsoft.com websites hosting
online partner directories, such as Solution Finder. When you profile your solution you are placing your
offering in front of thousands of customers and Microsoft Partners worldwide. In addition, Microsoft
Partners search for partnering and networking opportunities via the online partner community, Partner
Channel Builder.

What Is A Solution?
A solution is unique customer offering that solves a particular customer need. A solution can be a
hardware offering, hosting service, Microsoft volume licensing sales and services, service offering,
software delivered as an online service, software offering or a training offering.

Five Steps to Profile Your Solution

This guide is designed to help you create an effective and compelling solution profile that will appear in
online partner directories. Creating a profile is a simple five step process:
Use our pre-populated writing templates to create an effective solution title and description.

Step 1

Prepare

System Integrator
Independent Software Vendor
Value Added Reseller

Small Business Specialist or General Solution Provider/Reseller

Step 2

Sign In

Sign in to Partner Solution Profiler using your Microsoft Live ID and password.

Step 3

Profile

Complete all six tabs in the profile by following the field descriptions and tips provided in the remaining part of this
guide. You must complete all required fields labeled with a red asterix in order to publish your solution.

Step 4

Review

Review your profile and edit any sections prior to publishing it.

Step 5

Repeat

You may repeat the process for as many solutions as youd like.

Partner Solution Profiler User Guide

To profile your solution you must complete the required fields on the six tabs within Partner Solution
Profiler. The remaining part of this guide details each field with a corresponding example. On the final
page of this guide you will find an example of a complete solution profile.

Tab 1: Basic Information

Description and Tips

Example

Solution name**:
Enter your business solution or product name and a short description.
The solution name will appear when your solution profile is displayed in
the search results of a customer query.
Use a writing template to create your solution name:

System Integrator

RetailView: Enabling more targeted web tracking for mid- market

companies in retail.

Independent Software Vendor

Value Added Reseller

Small Business Specialist or General Solution Provider/Reseller

Short Description Field*:

The short description field is a mandatory field that should provide
customers and partners with executive overview of your solution. This is
your chance to provide a quick and time saving description. You can
enter between 100 and 1000 charecters.

This XYZ solution allows enterprise level consolidation of email and instant
messaging storage and retrieval along with a records management rules
engine.

Solution Description*:
The solution description provides customers with a complete and
accurate understanding of your solution. Describe how your solution
meets the needs of a customer in a specific industry vertical. (Focus on
the solution description rather than your company description.)

XYZ Inc is a leader in business intelligence software development for

retailers of all sizes. The companys product, RetailView, is a business
intelligence data warehouse that offers the user a comprehensive and
unified look at a stores inventory, receipts, and key performance metrics
through a user-friendly dashboard.

Include the following information in your description:

The name of your company and your area of expertise.

The name of your solution and details about that solution.

Explain the benefits customers receive from this solution.
Describe the solution capabilities.
Provide any proven, quantifiable solution benefits.

Increased customer satisfaction a comprehensive view of

inventory will allow your sales associates to respond to
customer inquiries quickly and accurately
Increased sales volume know when to restock merchandise
and shelves so youre never out of product
Improved inventory turn a comprehensive view of inventory
will enable and facilitate efficient product ordering

Explain how your solution is different from the competition.

Tell customers to contact you in your closing statement.

Use a writing template to create your solution description:

Our product offers a number of key benefits to a retailer:

System Integrator
Independent Software Vendor
Value Added Reseller

Small Business Specialist or General Solution Provider/Reseller

Solution description in English:

Your solution description will be visible to customers worldwide. If your
local language is not English, this optional field provides the opportunity
to describe your solution in English. If you have already entered your
solution description in English above, you do not need to re-enter it here.

With RetailView, you can manage and follow the movement of inventory
from receiving through shipping, eliminate most paperwork, and track
merchandise performance. Our products retail-focused business
intelligence solution allows you to dramatically cut warehouse costs,
improve staff productivity, provide accurate inventory levels to all store
departments, lower shrinkage levels, improve supplier relationships, and
reduce administrative costs.
XYZ Inc is different from other firms in that it specializes in business
intelligence solutions for retailers. Our firm is made up solely of individuals
with extensive experience in both the retail space and in business
intelligence/data warehousing. Our company was even awarded Retail ISV
of 2004 by ISV Magazine. Find out what RetailView can do for your store
by trying a free 30-day trial of our software. To see how you can take
advantage of this offer contact us today. This trial is only available until
December 1, 2007.
XYZ Inc is a leader in business intelligence software development for
retailers of all sizes. The companys product, RetailView, is a business
intelligence data warehouse that offers the user a comprehensive and
unified look at a stores inventory, receipts, and key performance metrics
through a user-friendly dashboard.
Our product offers a number of key benefits to a retailer:

Increased customer satisfaction a comprehensive view of

inventory will allow your sales associates to respond to
customer inquiries quickly and accurately
Increased sales volume know when to restock merchandise
and shelves so youre never out of product
Improved inventory turn a comprehensive view of inventory
will enable and facilitate efficient product ordering

With RetailView, you can manage and follow the movement of inventory
from receiving through shipping, eliminate most paperwork, and track
merchandise performance. Our products retail-focused business
intelligence solution allows you to dramatically cut warehouse costs,
improve staff productivity, provide accurate inventory levels to all store
departments, lower shrinkage levels, improve supplier relationships, and
reduce administrative costs.
XYZ Inc is different from other firms in that it specializes in business
intelligence solutions for retailers. Our firm is made up solely of individuals
with extensive experience in both the retail space and in business
intelligence/data warehousing. Our company was even awarded Retail ISV
of 2004 by ISV Magazine. Find out what RetailView can do for your store
by trying a free 30-day trial of our software. To see how you can take
advantage of this offer contact us today. This trial is only available until
December 1, 2007.
Solution webpage URL*:
List the URL for additional information about the solution you are
profiling. In addition, you can select what type of information the user
will find at the site.

www.xyz.com/retailview

Solution Image/Logo*:
{You will have the opportunity to upload the solution here.}
You are allowed one image per solution in either .jpeg, .jpg or .gif format
and should be 50 Kb or less. Please select whether the uploaded image
is Solution image or Solution logo. It is recommended that this image be
300x300 resolution for best results.

Tab 2: Solution Overview

Description and Tips
Solution type*:
Check the type of solution you are profiling. You may select up to 2

Example
Hardware offering
Service offering

types. Be sure to classify the solution type you are profiling, not your
company type.

Software delivered as an Online Service

Tested products:
Check all the tested products that apply to the solution.

{This information is prepopulated from the data you entered into the
Partner Marketing Center.}

Products*:
Select the platforms or applications that are supported by this solution.
You must select a minimum of 1 product group and 1 product per group
and a maximum of 3 product groups, with a maximum of 2 products per
group. To expand each product group, click on the + button to the left of
the product family name.
Your company likely focuses on multiple products and solutions, however,
its important that you limit your answers to the solution you are
profiling.

Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft Business Network
Windows Server System
Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006
Microsoft Operations Manager 2005
Windows Vista
Windows Vista Business

Product Development Phases*:

This field is only required if your solution type is either "software
delivered as an online service" or "software offering."

Plan and Learn, Develop, Test, Market and Sell

Software is not malicious*:

This field is only required if your solution type is either "software
delivered as an online service" or "software offering."

I verify that our software is not malicious (SpyWare, AdWare, or any other
malicious type of software)

Hardware detail*:
Select up to 5 types of hardware that make up your solution.
This field is only required if your solution type is a "hardware offering."

Networking

Service detail*:
Select the services that make up your solution. You must select a
minimum of 1 primary category and 1 secondary category per group and
Provide IT Strategy Consulting
a maximum of up to 5 primary and 3 secondary categories per group. To
Strategic Planning Processes
view secondary categories, click on the + button to the left of the
IT Roadmap
vertical name.
This field is only required if your solution type is a "hosting services," or
"Microsoft Volume Licensing Sales and Services," or "service offering."
Sales channel*:
Describe the way(s) that you sell your solution.
This field is only required if your solution type is either "software
delivered as an online service" or "software offering."

Direct from organization

Implementations*:
Select the number of successful implementations of this solution since its 101 - 500
availability.
Relevance to Microsoft technologies*:
Check up to 3 ways that customers would use your solution with relevant Increases productivity for Microsoft solution users
Microsoft technologies.
Solution price*:
Enter the retail price of your solution, or the price of a typical
installation.

$15,001 to $30,000

Tab 3: Customer and Capabilities

Description and Tips
Horizontal solution areas *:
Select the customer needs that your solution addresses. This will help
customers understand the specific capabilities of your solution. You must
select a minimum of 1 primary category and 1 secondary category and a
maximum of up to 2 primary and 5 secondary categories per group. To
view the secondary categories, click on the + button to the left of the
horizontal.
A horizontal solution area refers to a customer need that your solution
solves regardless of market.
Industry & vertical target market and solution areas*:
Describe the vertical markets that your solution serves. If your solution
provides functionality specific to that vertical market, indicate that in the 2
levels below industry and vertical. If your solution is applicable to all
verticals and industries, then click General. You must select a minimum of
1 primary category and 1 secondary category and a maximum of up to 5
primary and 3 secondary categories per group. To view secondary
categories, click on the + button to the left of the vertical name.
A vertical solution refers to a product that is designed for a specific
market.

Example

Commerce Solutions
Business to Business
Customer Relationship Management
Account Management

Manufacturing
Consumer Packaged Goods
Customer Service
Customer Care Framework

SIC or NAICS Code:

If applicable, enter the SIC or NAICS code for the solution you are
profiling. What is a SIC or NAICS code?

SIC Code:
7371 Computer Programming Services
NAICS Code:
44 - 45 Retail Trade

Size of customer organization*:

Select the type of customer organization that would be appropriate for
the solution you are profiling. You may select a maximum of 3

Mid-market
Enterprise
Consumer

categories.

Tab 4: Countries and Regions Served

Description and Tips

Example

Country/Region availability*:
Select the countries and regions in which your company is able to
provide this solution. Check all that apply. This information matches the
customers geographic preferences to the preferences of the solution you
are profiling.

United States
Canada
Mexico

Languages supported*:
Select the language(s) in which your solution is available. Check all that
apply.

English
Spanish
French

Tab 5: Contact Information and References

Description and Tips

Example

Solution contact*:
The primary contact name for customers interested in your solution.
Customers are more likely to contact a company if they have a name
they can refer to in the e-mail or phone call.

John Smith

Solution contact e-mail*:

The primary contact e-mail address for customers interested in your
solution. This is the e-mail that will be listed on the website for
customers to contact your company, so check it regularly.
Choose an email account that is not linked to a particular employee.
Since staff turnover can result in the termination of an email account,
choose an account that is linked to a long-term employee or a generic
alias.

retailviewsales@xyzinc.com

Solution contact phone*:

The primary contact phone number for customers interested in your
solution (including area code and country/region code). Some customers
prefer to talk with someone over the phone, rather than e-mail, so it is
recommended that you add a reliable phone number and extension,
where customers can reach you.

(555) 555-5555 Ext.555

Associated Customer References:

Check the box beside those references you would like to associate with
this solution.
Note: Associated references may be audited/validated by
Microsoft at any time. Solutions found with inaccurate reference
associations may be unpublished. By selecting a named customer
from the list below, you are certifying that your company
delivered the associated solution to the named customer.

ABC Company
EFG Company
{This information is prepopulated from the data you entered into the
Partner Marketing Center.}

Tab 6: Preview and Publish

Description and Tips
The Preview and publish tab allows you to:
(1) Review your solution profile by section
(2) Edit your solution profile by section.
(3) Publish your completed solution profile to the Partner Solution Profiler directory.
Items displayed with red asterix are required fields and if not completed correctly, will prevent you from publishing your solution.
To ensure that customers are receiving the most up-to-date information for each of the solutions you profile, please update your information at least
once a year. Customers will use the Microsoft.com search engines to find partners to serve their needs. We will monitor partner solution profile
submissions and may contact you with some helpful information that could improve your profiles quality and increase your opportunities to connect
with customers.

Example: Customers View of Your Completed Profile

Customers search for Microsoft Partners solutions on customer-facing Microsoft.com websites hosting
online partner directories, such as Solution Finder. Below you will find an example of what a profile
solution looks liketo a customer searching in Solution Finder.
Solution Image

RetailView: Enabling more targeted web tracking for mid-market companies in retail.
Provided by: XYZ Inc

Short description (Local language)

This XYZ solution allows enterprise level consolidation of email and instant messaging storage and
retrieval along with a records management rules engine.
Solution description (Local language)
XYZ Inc is a leader in business intelligence software development for retailers of all sizes. The companys
product, RetailView, is a business intelligence data warehouse that offers the user a comprehensive and

unified look at a stores inventory, receipts, and key performance metrics through a user-friendly
dashboard.
Our product offers a number of key benefits to a retailer:
Increased customer satisfaction a comprehensive view of inventory will allow your sales associates to
respond to customer inquiries quickly and accurately
Increased sales volume know when to restock merchandise and shelves so youre never out of product
Improved inventory turn a comprehensive view of inventory will enable and facilitate efficient product
ordering
With RetailView, you can manage and follow the movement of inventory from receiving through shipping,
eliminate most paperwork, and track merchandise performance. Our products retail-focused business
intelligence solution allows you to dramatically cut warehouse costs, improve staff productivity, provide
accurate inventory levels to all store departments, lower shrinkage levels, improve supplier relationships,
and reduce administrative costs.
XYZ Inc is different from other firms in that it specializes in business intelligence solutions for retailers.
Our firm is made up solely of individuals with extensive experience in both the retail space and in
business intelligence/data warehousing. Our company was even awarded Retail ISV of 2004 by ISV
Magazine. Find out what RetailView can do for your store by trying a free 30-day trial of our software. To
see how you can take advantage of this offer contact us today. This trial is only available until December
1, 2007.
Solution details
Solution type

Product

Hardware detail
Service detail

Sales channel
Implementations
Relevance to
Microsoft
technologies
Horizontal
classification

Hardware offering
Service offering
Software delivered as an Online Service
Microsoft Dynamics
Microsoft Business Network
Windows Server System
Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006
Microsoft Operations Manager 2005
Windows Vista
Windows Vista Business
Networking
Provide IT Strategy Consulting
Strategic Planning Processes
IT Roadmap
Direct from organization
101 - 500

Contact
information
Solution contact
Solution contact
phone
Partner
More information

John Smith
ViewPhone
(555) 555-5555x555
XYZ Inc.
http://www.xyz.com/retailview
This link will provide additional information
on white papers, demos

References
This partner has associated a total of 2 customers with this solution. The
references apply to the following Microsoft competencies:
Web Solutions

Increases productivity for Microsoft solution users

Commerce Solutions
Business to Business
Customer Relationship Management
Account Management
Industry classification Manufacturing
Consumer Packaged Goods
Customer Service
Customer Care Framework
Country/Region
United States
availability
Canada
Mexico
Languages supported English
Spanish
French

Thank you for investing your time and efforts to help customers and other partners reach their potential.