microsoft_office_logo.jpgRecently contacted by a colleague from Microsoft Reading, I was surprised to learn that Microsoft would be running partner training on Oboes.

As Microsoft Partners, its always important to sharpen the saw and add new skills to the arsenal, but I was struggling to understand how proficiency on a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family would aid delivery of Business technology Systems.

How we laughed when my colleague clarified that the training would, in fact, be on OBAs - Office Business Applications!

Office Business Applications let employees utilise business data directly within the Office platform. This is a thoroughly democratic approach  - The information previously locked away in LOB applications (behind the confusing UI of Siebel, SAP and legacy enterprise apps) is now made available to anyone with a vague idea how to use Outlook, Word and Excel.

OBAs present an opportunity for Partners to build on their background in CRM and ERP, to leverage skills in Sharepoint, Office and XML, and differentiate their offerings from the rest of the marketplace. If you don’t believe me, then listen to what Steve Ballmer had to say on the matter.

The training is in the form of a 2 day seminar, with takeaway labs, and is aimed at architects and developers from ISV or solutions partners. Scottish date is in Edinburgh (in Expertise on 16 St. Mary Street), scheduled for Tuesday Jan 8th - 9th. Enrollment and full agenda on the MIcrosoft Partner portal.