Managing Special Pricing and Trial SKUs in Work 365

Modified on Wed, Feb 26 at 11:10 AM

Applies to: Work 365, Microsoft Partner Center
Audience: Administrators, CSP Partners, Billing Teams

Overview

Managing special pricing and trial Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) in Work 365 requires careful oversight to ensure accurate billing and seamless service transitions. This guide provides detailed steps to effectively manage these SKUs within the Work 365 platform.

Managing Special Pricing Subscriptions

1. Monitor Commitment End Dates

✅ Regularly review the Commitment End Date on special pricing subscriptions to determine when the special pricing period concludes.

2. Transition to Standard Pricing

✅ Upon reaching the commitment end date:

✔ Create a New Subscription: Set up a new subscription for the standard (full-price) SKU to continue service without interruption.
✔ Deactivate the Old Subscription: Deactivate the previous special pricing subscription to prevent overlap or billing discrepancies.

For detailed instructions on deactivating subscriptions, refer to: Work 365 Knowledge Base.

Handling Trial Subscriptions

1. Track Trial Periods

✅ The Commitment End Date indicates when the trial period ends.
✅ Regularly monitor this date to plan for the transition.

2. Post-Trial Actions

✅ At the conclusion of the trial:

✔ Convert to Paid Subscription: If the customer wishes to continue, create a new subscription for the corresponding paid SKU.
✔ Deactivate the Trial Subscription: Depending on the provider setup:

Provider Type	Action Required
Manual Providers	Manually deactivate the trial subscription in Work 365.
Automatic Providers (e.g., Microsoft Partner Center)	The provider may automatically suspend the trial license, which will sync with Work 365 and deactivate the trial subscription accordingly.

Best Practices

Utilize Views for Monitoring
✔ Create custom views in Work 365 to monitor subscriptions nearing their commitment end dates.
✔ This proactive approach ensures timely actions for renewals or transitions.

Stay Informed on Pricing Updates
✔ Regularly consult the Microsoft Partner Center Pricing and Offers to stay updated on any changes to SKUs, pricing, or trial offerings.

Additional Resources

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can effectively manage special pricing and trial SKUs in Work 365, ensuring accurate billing, seamless transitions, and optimized customer experiences.