Xebia’s announcement that it has earned the Microsoft Solutions Partner for Training Services designation in four solution areas—Data & AI, Azure Infrastructure, Digital & App Innovation, and Security—is a deliberate, high‑visibility move that strengthens a fast‑growing axis of the Microsoft partner ecosystem: enterprise skilling tied directly to cloud, AI, and developer tooling adoption.
Xebia, a Netherlands‑headquartered IT consultancy and training provider with a broad global footprint, published its announcement in early October 2025. The company frames the designation as validation of its end‑to‑end skilling capabilities—combining Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs) with consultants who are actively implementing Microsoft solutions in production. Xebia says its instructor bench includes Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs), Regional Directors, and MCTs, and that its Academy has upskilled more than 1.3 million learners across enterprise and public sectors. Microsoft’s formal rollout of the Solutions Partner for Training Services designation (announced in Microsoft partner channels in April 2024) repositions training as a measurable solution area inside the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program. Unlike classical partner badges that emphasize only deployment or software, the Training Services designation evaluates partners on quantifiable skilling metrics—achievement code redemptions, exam voucher purchases, and learner satisfaction as measured by Metrics That Matter (MTM) surveys—then maps those outputs to solution areas such as Data & AI or Security.
For partners, the designation is a play for recurrent revenue and deeper account penetration: successful enterprise skilling often leads to managed services, modernization projects, and further consumption of Microsoft services. The Training Services designation is therefore both a reputation signal and a commercial engine in the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program.
Source: SMEStreet Xebia Strengthens Microsoft Collaboration in Training Services
Background
Xebia, a Netherlands‑headquartered IT consultancy and training provider with a broad global footprint, published its announcement in early October 2025. The company frames the designation as validation of its end‑to‑end skilling capabilities—combining Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs) with consultants who are actively implementing Microsoft solutions in production. Xebia says its instructor bench includes Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs), Regional Directors, and MCTs, and that its Academy has upskilled more than 1.3 million learners across enterprise and public sectors. Microsoft’s formal rollout of the Solutions Partner for Training Services designation (announced in Microsoft partner channels in April 2024) repositions training as a measurable solution area inside the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program. Unlike classical partner badges that emphasize only deployment or software, the Training Services designation evaluates partners on quantifiable skilling metrics—achievement code redemptions, exam voucher purchases, and learner satisfaction as measured by Metrics That Matter (MTM) surveys—then maps those outputs to solution areas such as Data & AI or Security. What Xebia announced — facts and context
- Xebia claims achievement of the Microsoft Solutions Partner for Training Services designation in four solution areas: Data & AI, Azure Infrastructure, Digital & App Innovation, and Security.
- The company emphasizes a blended training model: Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs) delivering structured courseware, combined with consultants who are active implementers of Microsoft technologies—intended to pair theory with real‑world projects.
- Xebia lists its skilling capacity metrics: 27+ Microsoft MVPs, 5 Regional Directors, 20+ MCTs, and 1.3 million learners trained through Xebia Academy and related programs. These are company figures reported in the announcement and corporate pages.
- Xebia highlights training on modern Microsoft technologies and platforms: Microsoft Copilot, GitHub Copilot, Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Power Apps, cloud infrastructure and Agentic AI topics—positioning skilling as a direct accelerator of product adoption and operational outcomes.
Why this matters to enterprises and IT leaders
Training as a commercial lever, not just a checkbox
Partners that can deliver measurable skilling outcomes offer more than classroom hours; they influence adoption curves, reduce time‑to‑value for new services, and reduce operational risk during rollouts. When training programs are aligned to an organization’s production architecture and real use cases, the result is often faster feature adoption and fewer post‑migration incidents. Xebia’s stated model of pairing MCTs with active consultants aims directly at that junction—technical depth plus delivery experience.Why Microsoft cares
Microsoft’s Training Services designation converts training into a competitive, measurement‑driven program within the partner ecosystem. It gives Microsoft a repeatable way to verify that partners are producing learners who earn certification, apply training in business contexts and score highly on quality surveys—metrics that correlate with sustainable product consumption and customer success. The designation is also a co‑sell and GTM lever for Microsoft: partners that train quickly create customers who are ready to consume Azure, Microsoft 365, Fabric, or Copilot subscriptions.How the Training Services designation is measured (technical verification)
Microsoft’s public documentation describes a discrete measurement and qualification system for Training Services partners:- Base criteria include a courseware point threshold, purchase of a minimum number of certification exam vouchers, and completion of training quality surveys using the Metrics That Matter platform. Partners track these KPIs through Partner Center.
- Training Services partners are measured by their training delivery volume (achievement code redemptions and exam vouchers purchased) and training quality (MTM survey averages). The Training Services designation operates outside the classical Partner Capability Score (PCS) model used for core Solutions Partner designations, and has distinct tracking and renewal windows.
- Microsoft requires minimum performance in the prior 12‑month window; designations are renewed annually and KPI dashboards reflect the previous 12 completed months. Partners must maintain or renew their package to retain benefits.
Strategic strengths of Xebia’s announcement
1. Alignment with where customers are investing
Microsoft’s product roadmap now centers AI, data, and developer tools (Copilot, Fabric, Azure AI). Xebia’s public emphasis on training for Copilot, GitHub, Fabric, Power Platform, and cloud modernization aligns training services with exactly those enterprise priorities—making skilling a direct enabler of modern workloads.2. Hybrid trainer/consultant model
Combining MCTs (pedagogical expertise and official Microsoft curriculum) with active consultants (project experience and production context) addresses a common gap: classroom training that is too theoretical versus consulting engagements that lack structured skilling. This hybrid model improves the probability of applied learning and measurable business outcomes.3. Measurable scale and market credibility
Xebia’s scale (global presence, internal Microsoft experts, and an Academy framework that claims 1.3 million learners) supports enterprise‑grade delivery and continuous intake for certification and role‑based skilling programs—features that large customers favor when standardizing training across regions.4. Programmatic fit with Microsoft incentives
Partners that deliver measurable skilling unlock co‑selling benefits, Microsoft marketing programs, and access to partner resources—advantages Xebia can leverage to scale enterprise engagements and enter new accounts where time‑to‑value and skilling are gating factors.Risks, gaps, and caveats — what buyers should watch for
1. Company claims vs. independently verifiable proof
Many of the headline figures (number of MVPs, Regional Directors, MCTs, and cumulative learners) are reported by Xebia. While these are consistent across Xebia pages and press materials, buyers seeking procurement‑grade assurances should request Partner Center KPIs or auditable artifacts (named certified individuals, voucher redemption logs, MTM survey rollups) as part of vendor due diligence. Public press announcements do not replace the Partner Center snapshot or contractual verification. Treat vendor figures as useful signals—verify before large procurement commitments.2. Renewal and sustainability burden
Microsoft’s training designation must be renewed annually and is tracked over rolling 12‑month windows. Maintaining volume and quality requires continuous investment: sustained instructor bench, ongoing voucher purchases, and consistent survey processes. Smaller or resource‑constrained partners may struggle to sustain the throughput required for multi‑area designations. Customers should evaluate partner longevity and pipeline health before entering multi‑year training contracts.3. Depth vs breadth tradeoffs
Holding designations across multiple solution areas is advantageous commercially, but depth matters. Buyers should validate that a partner’s courseware and labs map directly to their operational scenarios (e.g., Copilot custom integration, Fabric governance for governed data lakes, or secure Azure landing zones). Not all "solution‑area" training is equal—some partners are broader but shallower; others are narrowly deep. Confirm sample curricula, lab scenarios, and instructor CVs aligned to your environment.4. Vendor lock‑in and skills portability
Intensive training on Microsoft‑native tools (Copilot, Fabric, Power Platform) accelerates adoption but increases organizational reliance on Microsoft stacks. While this is often desirable, organizations should maintain a balance between platform proficiency and architectural portability—ensuring that governance, export, and integration strategies are considered during skilling engagements. Training should include governance, security, and exit‑strategy considerations for cloud and AI workloads.Practical guidance for IT buyers evaluating Xebia or similar Training Services partners
- Request Partner Center evidence that maps training KPIs to the partner’s claimed designations (voucher purchases, achievement code redemptions, MTM scores). Microsoft’s Partner Center is the authoritative system tracking those KPIs.
- Ask for named‑instructor CVs and sample lab itineraries that reflect your environment (tenant configurations, data governance policies, Copilot content controls, and Fabric governance). Ensure instructors are both MCT‑certified and have recent delivery experience in production.
- Define success metrics for skilling programs before contracting: e.g., percentage of staff achieving role‑based certification within 90 days, reduction in incident tickets post‑cutover, or demonstrable time‑savings through Copilot adoption. Tie payment milestones or renewal incentives to those outcomes.
- Verify MTM survey methodologies and sample sizes; a high average score is meaningful only if survey counts meet Microsoft’s minimums for the solution area. Microsoft sets minimum survey volume thresholds for solution‑area validation.
- Include governance and security modules that cover data handling, model management, prompt governance, and Copilot privacy considerations—especially for regulated industries. The depth of these topics differentiates effective enterprise programs from generic training.
The bigger picture: training as part of the Microsoft partner economy
Microsoft’s pivot to quantifying training outcomes signals a maturing market: vendors who can credibly certify and sustain large cohorts of trained workers deliver measurable downstream value. For enterprises, this reduces friction in cloud and AI adoption by ensuring that engineering, operations, security, and data teams are trained using consistent, vendor‑aligned curricula.For partners, the designation is a play for recurrent revenue and deeper account penetration: successful enterprise skilling often leads to managed services, modernization projects, and further consumption of Microsoft services. The Training Services designation is therefore both a reputation signal and a commercial engine in the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program.
Final assessment
Xebia’s multi‑area achievement of the Microsoft Solutions Partner for Training Services designation is a credible strategic milestone that aligns its training portfolio to Microsoft’s highest‑priority platform investments—AI, data, and cloud infrastructure. The company’s hybrid instructor/consultant model, scale claims, and product‑focused curriculum make the announcement notable for enterprise buyers seeking integrated skilling and adoption pathways. That said, the most important next steps for procurement teams are evidence and outcomes: verify Partner Center KPIs, review MTM survey rollups and sample lab materials, and contract to measurable adoption outcomes. When training is delivered as a measurable program and not simply a set of classes, it becomes an accelerator for real business value—reduced time‑to‑value, fewer operational incidents, and higher product consumption. The Xebia announcement signals readiness for that role; the proof will be in audited KPIs and customer results.Quick reference — what to look for in vendor claims
- Partner Center KPIs (vouchers, achievement code redemptions, MTM survey averages).
- Named certified instructors (MCTs with recent production experience).
- Role‑based learning paths mapped to certifications and real workloads (Copilot integration, Fabric pipelines, secure Azure landing zones).
- Outcome metrics (certification rate, reduction in incidents, time‑to‑deploy improvements).
Source: SMEStreet Xebia Strengthens Microsoft Collaboration in Training Services
