Partner recruitment · Bilateral network · Give and take
arades is looking for complementary partners for a bilateral network: IT systems houses, consultancies, Microsoft 365 specialists, ERP partners for Business Central and F&O, agencies, associations, and CSPs outside the EU. Six partner setups — white-label, co-selling, referral, F&O/BC complementary, client/sub relationships, and non-EU CSP lead sharing from our public License Cost Calculator. Give and take in both directions, clear domain boundaries, no gradual encroachment on your core competence.
Why arades as a partner
A bilateral partnership only works when the depth of competence is right on both sides. Here are six pieces of evidence that arades delivers seriously as a Microsoft complementary partner — Microsoft trust signals, delivery capability, and what you concretely take away from the cooperation.
Microsoft Partner since 2007, exclusively for mid-market companies with 10–500 employees. Track record in machine building, plant engineering, trade, distribution, consulting, IT services, associations & chambers, and educational institutions. No enterprise baggage — that fits partners who serve the mid-market themselves.
We deliberately do not deliver everything. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance, Supply Chain Management, Commerce (formerly F&O), classic IT infrastructure, security operations centers, web design, and online marketing are handed over to complementary partners. In joint engagements the role split is therefore clear — no gradual encroachment on your core domain.
Six partner promises
If you bring us in as a sub-partner, complementary partner, or co-selling partner, you should be able to count on six things. These six points are the minimum we commit to in every setup — white-label, co-selling, referral, F&O/BC complementary, client/sub, and non-EU CSP.
Our experienced practitioners work daily in the relevant Microsoft disciplines for Dynamics 365 (Sales, Customer Service, Field Service, Business Central), Power Platform, and Microsoft 365. Microsoft refreshes learning content every six months — we keep our knowledge continuously up to date. As a partner you get a sub-supplier whose knowledge is not from 2018.
We have delivered exclusively for mid-market clients since 2007 — machine building, plant engineering, trade, distribution, consulting, IT services, associations, educational institutions. That fits partners who serve the mid-market themselves. No enterprise advisory complexity that is too heavy for your clients’ 50-person companies.
We are a Microsoft CSP partner with an established licensing relationship with Microsoft and our own public License Cost Calculator. When your clients run their licenses through us (or when you are a non-EU CSP receiving leads from our calculator), both sides benefit from market-standard pricing transparency and clean invoicing in euros.
After go-live we work with Application Care on a monthly flat rate, with clear SLAs and a dedicated contact — not on an hourly basis. In white-label or subcontracting setups that means predictable delivery costs for you, with no open-ended hours.
Headquartered in Offenbach am Main, employees in Germany and Switzerland, EU nearshoring for engineering capacity. German accounting, GoBD competence, GDPR-compliant data processing in the EU/EEA. For your clients’ data-sensitive projects a practical advantage — contract language German or English.
Fixed-price packages for advisory formats (Quick Audit, Strategy Workshop, Architecture-as-a-Service), day rates at market level, a public License Cost Calculator. As a partner you can factor our delivery cleanly into your client proposals — without “on request” logic.
Evidence, not claims
Three pieces of evidence that we do not just advise on Power Platform and Dynamics 365, but truly master them — and can also deliver independently of Microsoft.
Evidence 1
Eight applications we built ourselves, all in use at clients: Project & Service Management, Inter-Company Integration, Modular ERP, Teams Integration for Dynamics 365, Educational Institutions App, Associations & Chambers App, License Cost Calculator — plus our own SaaS product Devonso (see evidence 2). Whoever built that can build it for you and your clients too.
Evidence 2
devonso is our customization and compliance analysis software for Dynamics 365 and Power Platform. A standalone product with paying customers and its own brand. Whoever builds such a tool knows the Power Platform inside and out.
For you as a partner, this means: We can understand your clients’ existing Power Platform environments in days instead of weeks — and offer support or a project takeover just as quickly. Even for projects that did not originally come from us.
Evidence 3
Our free license cost calculator with all current Microsoft Cloud SKUs, discounts, and bundle logic. That is licensing expertise in practice, not just claimed — and immediately usable for you as a partner in pre-sales and client conversations. Evidence that you have a serious specialist by your side for licensing questions.
Plus
When Microsoft is not the answer, we develop with modern Java stacks and platform-independent technologies. Custom software, AI integrations, EU hosting. That way you remain capable of delivery even when your clients have sovereignty requirements — without bringing in a second partner.
How we work
Whether we work directly for an end client or together with you as a partner: the client’s satisfaction is our benchmark. We do not think in hour quotas, but in results that reach the client. Even in white-label and subcontracting setups, where arades is never visible to the end client, we carry the same responsibility for quality and outcome as in our own engagements.
Transparency is not just a buzzword for us; depending on the type of cooperation, it is ensured through concrete mechanisms during project and service delivery: joint status routines, shared tickets and backlogs, traceable time tracking, clear escalation paths. As a partner you always know what we are working on — the end client always knows what you are working on. No black box, no surprises when the invoice arrives.
Three models
Three classic models for cooperation between Microsoft partners and specialists. In all three, exchange works both ways — you give us inquiries, we give you inquiries back. Which model fits depends on how visible we should be and how your client relationship is set up.
You invoice the client as primary contractor; we invoice you. Your client relationship is protected and we are never visible to the client.
You hand over inquiries that do not fit your focus — we take on the project with fair, transparent commission to you. Conversely, we pass to you inquiries that do not fit us: web design, online marketing, ERP outside Business Central, IT infrastructure, security operations.
We present ourselves jointly to the client — you as lead partner, we as specialists in the team. Both brands visible, clear division of tasks, separate or joint contracts possible.
Three further partner types
Some partnerships have a different character: strategic complementary specialists, classic client/sub relationships, or cross-border license resellers. Three setups we cultivate explicitly.
We focus on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement and Power Platform — deliberately not on the ERP heavyweights. For the world formerly known as Dynamics F&O (now Finance, Supply Chain Management, Commerce, Project Operations as an ERP variant) and for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, we are looking for strategic complementary partners who genuinely deliver in that world — and with whom we serve joint engagements where CE plus ERP are needed.
Classic client/sub setup within our subject area: You as an IT systems house, consultancy, or software firm engage us for Microsoft CE and Power Platform specialist work as a subcontractor. Conversely, we engage you for topics we deliberately do not cover ourselves — hardware, IT infrastructure operations, security operations centers, special migrations.
As a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider (CSP), we serve the license business only for clients domiciled in the EU/EEA. Outside the EU — in the UK, USA, Switzerland (outside EU tenant logic), Türkiye, MENA, Asia-Pacific — we are not allowed or able to bill Microsoft subscriptions directly. We close exactly this gap together: arades regularly receives CSP lead inquiries from these markets — via our website, via our SaaS product devonso, and above all via our publicly used Microsoft License Cost Calculator (licenses.arades.de). We pass these leads to local CSP partners in the target markets.
Bilateral, plainly: You receive our leads for license sales in your country. In return, we receive from you engagements for Microsoft advisory depth that you do not cover yourself — or the opportunity to appear together at the client.
Partner promise · Value preservation
When we work on an engagement together, the role split is clear. Both sides keep their client relationship, their margin, and their visibility. We do not take anything away from you — and we expect in return that you will not turn us, with our specialist depth, into generalists.
Concretely: The hours that accrue in the client relationship largely remain with you.
Concretely: Specialized depth topics that you do not cover yourself (or do not want to cover).
Our position on this: We state this promise explicitly on purpose. It would be tempting to pull “our own clients” out of a referral — we deliberately do not. Twenty-plus years tell us: sustainable partnerships pay off more than short-term revenue gains.
Enablement
We do not see ourselves as a supplier who makes you dependent. On the contrary: in implementation projects we build up your competence in parallel, as far as you want — and hand over responsibility where it makes sense for your client relationship.
By default, in every implementation project we enable you to the point where you can take on first-level support toward your client yourself after go-live — if you want. Documentation, training, knowledge transfer, and a clearly defined escalation model to us as second/third level are part of the delivery.
If you bring your own resources, we go further: we also enable your staff in the requirements-development and project-management phases, so they can take on these roles fully or partially themselves. This creates a collaboration that becomes more valuable with every joint project — for you, for us, and for the client.
The result: With every project you grow in your Microsoft Business Applications competence, without having to build your own specialist team.
Concrete benefits
Eight concrete benefits from the cooperation. Seven of them you get from us — including lead handover for non-EU CSP partners. The last and, for us, most important one goes in both directions anyway.
In existing Power Platform and Dynamics environments — thanks to devonso, we get the overview in days that others need weeks for.
For existing clients of your choice — with clear response times and a direct line to the practitioners.
Via our License Cost Calculator — free for you and your clients. For CSP partners outside the EU/EEA region, we specifically forward qualified calculation leads from these markets.
As time-to-value accelerators in your offerings — directly usable in pre-sales and demos.
Modern Java stacks, AI integrations, EU hosting for sovereignty cases.
You speak with those who also develop. No message filtering, no delay.
From first-level support to project management — you grow with every project.
We also give back what does not fit us — web design, marketing, ERP, security.
Partner archetypes
We have experienced each of these setups — and in each, the same applies: your client relationship remains your client relationship.
You ensure that servers, networks, end devices, and Microsoft 365 run as the foundation — the most demanding discipline in the stack. We build on top, with Dynamics 365, Power Platform, Copilot, and custom apps. That way your clients get additional application value, without you having to leave your area of competence.
You have the business understanding, the strategic framework, the board’s trust. We take care of clean implementation — either on the Microsoft stack or platform-independent, when sovereignty requirements (BSI, NIS2) demand a different answer. You remain the architect of the solution, we are the builder in the background.
You are deep in Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint, Exchange. We complement exactly where your clients need applications that go beyond Microsoft 365: Dynamics 365, Power Platform, Copilot Studio, custom applications. The foundation stays with you. No gradual encroachment on your core domain.
You manage the ERP — a discipline of its own. We deliver CRM, Customer Service, Field Service, Customer Insights Journeys, and Power Platform extensions to go with it. We know the interfaces from practice — live reference with Oxaion and SAP via our Inter-Company Integration. You remain master of the accounting and logistics stack.
You have a good client base and deliver software, web, or marketing — but you currently cannot serve inquiries around Power Platform, Dynamics 365, or Microsoft licensing yourself. We become your Microsoft arm, without touching your client relationship.
Getting started
No obligation, a mutual introduction, no NDA required. We clarify whether model, focus, and target markets match.
White-label, referral, co-selling, or a mix. You decide how visible we should be.
Framework agreement for ongoing cooperation or a case-by-case agreement. Both are possible and both work.
On a real case, see whether the chemistry and the process fit. This is how lasting partnerships emerge.
Frequently asked questions on the arades partner program
Six defined setups for IT systems houses, consultancies, ERP partners, agencies, associations, and CSPs: white-label/subcontracting (we deliver in the background), handover/referral with commission on both sides, co-selling with both brands visible, strategic complementary partners for F&O/Business Central, client/sub relationships in both directions, and non-EU CSP partners with lead handover from our License Cost Calculator. Entry via a 30-minute initial conversation with no NDA requirement.
The public arades License Cost Calculator regularly generates qualified license calculation inquiries. We forward inquiries from markets we cannot bill ourselves as an EU CSP (UK, USA, Switzerland, Türkiye, MENA, APAC, LATAM) to local CSP partners. In return, partners bring us engagements for Microsoft advisory depth in Customer Engagement, Power Platform, and AI. The regulatory separation is clear: you remain the contracting partner of your clients in local currency and jurisdiction, arades remains the contracting partner of EU clients.
Three contract forms, depending on the model: (1) Framework agreement with purchase-order logic for ongoing white-label, subcontracting, and client/sub setups. (2) Referral/commission agreement with commission creditable in writing for handed-over engagements. (3) Case-by-case agreement per engagement, when no ongoing cooperation is wanted. For the first round of getting to know each other, no NDA is needed — we sign one only once concrete client or engagement information is exchanged. In the white-label model, code rights rest with the client.
Lead distribution works in both directions. arades passes on to partners: License Cost Calculator leads from markets we do not serve as an EU CSP, plus inquiries from the sales funnel on topics we deliberately do not cover ourselves — web design, online marketing, classic ERP outside Business Central, IT infrastructure, security operations centers. Partners pass on to arades: Microsoft CE, Power Platform, and AI inquiries they cannot serve themselves with the necessary depth. In referral setups the commission is at market rate and creditable in writing.
The three models differ in how visible arades is to the end client. White-label/subcontracting: you invoice the client as primary contractor, arades invoices you — arades is never visible to the end client; suitable for long-term advisory and implementation engagements. Co-selling: both brands visible to the client, clear role split — you as lead partner, arades as specialist in the team, separate or joint contracts possible. Referral/handover: you pass on inquiries, arades takes on the project with fair commission to you — low effort, works in both directions.
Six partner archetypes we are deliberately expanding: (1) IT systems houses with a Microsoft 365 focus that want to add application depth in Dynamics 365 and Power Platform. (2) Consultancies with business understanding but no Microsoft implementation capacity of their own. (3) ERP partners for Business Central and F&O without CRM depth. (4) Agencies and software firms that need Power Apps or Power Pages for their clients. (5) Associations and industry bodies with member lead sharing. (6) Local CSPs outside the EU/EEA for co-selling or lead handover in the UK, USA, Switzerland, Türkiye, MENA, APAC.
arades is a complementary partner, not a competitor. We deliver: Microsoft-specific depth in Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement (Sales, Customer Service, Field Service, Customer Insights), Power Platform, Copilot, and AI integration — plus platform-independent Java stacks for sovereignty cases. We deliberately do not deliver: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance, Supply Chain Management, Commerce (formerly F&O), classic IT infrastructure, security operations centers, web design, online marketing. These domains are handed over to complementary partners.
Explore a partnership
Initial conversation in 30 minutes — we mutually clarify whether model, focus, and target markets match. No NDA needed for the first round, no sales pressure.
