1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,440 Have you ever heard someone say, "Just get it from AppSource" 2 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:04,840 and felt like you were supposed to know what that means? 3 00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:06,680 I've been there. It sounds simple enough. 4 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:07,740 An App Store, right? 5 00:00:07,740 --> 00:00:10,280 But then you open it and suddenly you're looking at consulting services, 6 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:11,920 Azure Infrastructure and templates, 7 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:13,280 and you have no idea where to start. 8 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,080 Here's the real problem. Microsoft has a lot of products. 9 00:00:16,080 --> 00:00:17,040 And I mean a lot. 10 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:19,520 Years ago, finding the right one for your businessmen, 11 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:21,760 googling around, calling different vendors, 12 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:23,600 signing up for trials that didn't work, 13 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:25,160 and burning a ton of time. 14 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:26,640 There was no single place to go. 15 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:28,680 That's exactly what AppSource is supposed to fix. 16 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:31,320 By the end of this episode, AppSource will actually make sense. 17 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:33,560 You'll know what it is, what kinds of things live there, 18 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:36,120 and why it's way more than just an App Store for Outlook plugins. 19 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:37,120 It's much bigger than that. 20 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:39,480 We'll break it into the three types of offerings you'll find. 21 00:00:39,480 --> 00:00:41,800 How they connect to Dynamics 365, 22 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:44,920 Power Platform, Azure, and Microsoft 365, 23 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:47,520 and then we'll tackle the common myths and best practices. 24 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:49,600 So let's start with the most basic question. 25 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:51,280 What exactly is AppSource? 26 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:52,880 What AppSource actually is? 27 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:56,640 AppSource is Microsoft's online marketplace for business solutions. 28 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:57,880 Think of it like a mall. 29 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:00,560 But instead of selling clothes or electronics, 30 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:02,760 every store sells software, services, 31 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:05,240 and templates that work with Microsoft products. 32 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:06,680 That's the simplest way to picture it. 33 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:07,880 Here's an important distinction. 34 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:09,440 This is not for consumer apps. 35 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:12,400 You won't find games, media players, or photo editors. 36 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:15,000 Everything on AppSource is built for organizations. 37 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,040 Small business, enterprise, nonprofit. 38 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:20,000 If it's on AppSource, it's meant to solve a business problem. 39 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,320 Now here's something that catches people off guard. 40 00:01:22,320 --> 00:01:25,760 In September 2025, Microsoft unified AppSource 41 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:27,760 and Azure marketplace into a single platform 42 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:29,720 called Microsoft Marketplace. 43 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:31,600 That means when you go to AppSource now, 44 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:33,920 you can also find Azure infrastructure solutions 45 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:36,720 and consulting services right there in the same place. 46 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:38,080 It used to be two separate stores, 47 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:40,640 one for business apps, one for technical infrastructure. 48 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:41,480 Now it's all one. 49 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:42,720 The scale is pretty impressive. 50 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:45,720 As of 2026, there are over 19,000 solutions 51 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:48,560 on the platform spanning more than 150 countries. 52 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:52,120 That's a lot of options, which is why knowing how to navigate matters. 53 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:53,680 But before we get into navigation, 54 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,360 let's understand what those 19,000 solutions actually are. 55 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:00,920 Those 19,000 solutions break down into a few clear categories. 56 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:02,720 Let's look at the three big ones. 57 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:04,120 The three kinds of offerings. 58 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:06,680 Welcome to another episode of Microsoft Knowledge Nuggets. 59 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:07,880 I'm Mirko Peters. 60 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:09,600 Today we're breaking down AppSource. 61 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:12,240 Let's start with the three kinds of offerings you'll find. 62 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:13,560 First, apps and extensions. 63 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:15,560 This is the category most people know. 64 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:17,320 Fulza's applications like a finance tool 65 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:19,160 built on Dynamics 365. 66 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:21,640 Or small add-ins that extend what you already have. 67 00:02:21,640 --> 00:02:23,920 Think of a Gmail to Outlook Migration tool. 68 00:02:23,920 --> 00:02:24,880 It's not a new system. 69 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:26,720 It just fills a specific gap. 70 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:29,240 Apps and extensions are the bread and butter of AppSource. 71 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:31,040 That's what most people come looking for. 72 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:33,040 Second, consulting services. 73 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:34,480 This one catches people off guard. 74 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:35,920 You don't just buy software. 75 00:02:35,920 --> 00:02:38,560 You can hire a Microsoft partner to help set it up. 76 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,200 Workshops, assessments, implementations, training, 77 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:44,560 a real example would be a Dynamics 365 sales implementation 78 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,160 workshop or a power platform adoption assessment. 79 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:48,840 These are services, not software, 80 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:50,720 but they're listed right alongside the apps 81 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:53,680 in the same marketplace with the same trial and purchase flow. 82 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:56,160 Third, templates and data services. 83 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:58,760 Pre-built solutions for common business scenarios. 84 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:02,320 Industry-specific templates for health care, retail, finance. 85 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:04,160 Remember that patient feedback app I mentioned? 86 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:05,280 That's a template. 87 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:07,080 You take it, customize it for your clinic 88 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:09,280 and deploy it with no coding from scratch. 89 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:10,880 Data services work a little differently. 90 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:13,640 There's enriched data sets you can pull into your applications 91 00:03:13,640 --> 00:03:15,880 like demographic data or industry benchmarks. 92 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:18,000 So why does this matter for a business buyer? 93 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:19,280 Instead of hiring a developer 94 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:21,280 to build a custom solution from scratch, 95 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:23,400 you can often find a ready-made template 96 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:25,360 that does 80% of what you need 97 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:27,360 or find a partner who has already implemented 98 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:29,600 the same solution for 10 other companies. 99 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:32,800 That saves time, saves money and reduces risk. 100 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:34,200 You're not reinventing the wheel. 101 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:36,000 You're standing on someone else's shoulders. 102 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:37,720 And that's what you'll find on app source. 103 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:40,080 But what Microsoft products do these connect to? 104 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,360 Let's start with the biggest one, Dynamics 365. 105 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:45,200 How it connects to Dynamics 365? 106 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,320 Dynamics 365 is Microsoft's suite of business applications, 107 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:51,040 ERP, CRM that whole world, and app source acts 108 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:52,520 as its extension store. 109 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,160 You can add address verification, warehouse management, 110 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:57,880 field service tools, all directly from within the Dynamics 111 00:03:57,880 --> 00:03:59,880 interface or through the web browser. 112 00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:02,040 No hunting for a separate vendor, it's right there. 113 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:03,840 The extension model is what makes this work. 114 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:05,720 These apps follow a low-code architecture. 115 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:07,360 Install them without complex coding. 116 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:10,240 Click a button, choose your environment, and it's live. 117 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:12,080 You don't need a developer to wire things up. 118 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:14,240 You don't need to modify your core system. 119 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:15,720 It's an extension, not a replacement. 120 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:16,800 Here's a real example. 121 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:19,600 Imagine a company using Dynamics 365 sales. 122 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:20,880 They wanted tools that automatically 123 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:22,880 enriches leads with company data from LinkedIn. 124 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:25,600 So they go to app source, search for a lead enrichment solution, 125 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:28,480 find one that works, install it, and it integrates seamlessly. 126 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:30,480 The data flows into their existing sales pipeline 127 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:32,200 without any custom integration work. 128 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:33,320 Why is this a game changer? 129 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:35,520 Because traditional ERP expansion meant long vendor 130 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:38,100 negotiations, complex integration projects, and months 131 00:04:38,100 --> 00:04:38,600 of waiting. 132 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:40,920 You'd call a vendor, negotiate a contract, schedule 133 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:43,840 an implementation, test everything, and hope it worked. 134 00:04:43,840 --> 00:04:44,880 Now it's a few clicks. 135 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:46,960 That's the low-code, no-code movement at work. 136 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:50,240 It's making enterprise software as easy to extend as adding 137 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:51,840 an app to your phone. 138 00:04:51,840 --> 00:04:54,680 Dynamics 365 is the big one, but AppSource also 139 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:56,600 extends the power platform in a big way. 140 00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:58,000 We'll look there next. 141 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:00,840 How it connects to Power Platform and Azure. 142 00:05:00,840 --> 00:05:02,520 So let's talk about the Power Platform. 143 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:04,480 Microsoft calls it their low-code toolkit. 144 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:06,400 And here's what that means in plain English. 145 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:08,600 You build custom apps with Power Apps, 146 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:10,640 automate workflows with Power Automate, 147 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:12,920 create chatbots with co-pilot studio. 148 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:15,800 AppSource is where you find pre-built solutions for all 149 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:19,000 of those tools ready to customize or deploy right away. 150 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,520 Think of it like buying a kit instead of building from scratch. 151 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:23,120 Let me give you a real example. 152 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:25,560 Say a healthcare provider needs a patient feedback app. 153 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:28,280 20 years ago, they'd hire a developer wait weeks for the build 154 00:05:28,280 --> 00:05:29,960 test everything, then deploy. 155 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:32,440 Now they go to AppSource, find a Power Apps template, 156 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:34,200 build exactly for patient feedback, 157 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:35,880 customize it for their clinic. 158 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:39,080 Change the logo, adjust the questions, tweak the colors, 159 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:40,680 and deploy it in hours. 160 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:42,320 Not weeks, hours. 161 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:44,120 That's what a pre-built template can do. 162 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:46,200 Now Azure is where things get more technical. 163 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:49,320 We're talking infrastructure, virtual machines, databases, 164 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:50,480 AI services. 165 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:51,480 But here's the thing. 166 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:53,920 On AppSource, these show up in a business-friendly way. 167 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:56,960 You're not searching for Kubernetes cluster configuration. 168 00:05:56,960 --> 00:05:59,080 You search for AI document processing 169 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:01,080 and find a managed app that runs on Azure, 170 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:02,440 handles the infrastructure for you 171 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:04,800 and shows up with a clear price and a trial button. 172 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:08,160 The technical complexity stays hidden behind a simple listing. 173 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:10,280 This is where the unified marketplace really shines. 174 00:06:10,280 --> 00:06:14,000 You can go from a Dynamics 365 add-in to a power-automate workflow 175 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:15,960 to an Azure VM all in the same search 176 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:18,040 with consistent billing across everything. 177 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:19,960 No need for three-vendor relationships. 178 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:21,680 No need for three-procurement processes. 179 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:24,720 One place, one invoice, one relationship with Microsoft. 180 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:27,800 AppSource also reaches into Microsoft 365. 181 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:29,880 Teams, Outlook, SharePoint. 182 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:31,200 Let's see how that works. 183 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:33,680 How it connects to Microsoft 365 and Teams. 184 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:34,880 Here's something worth knowing. 185 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:39,240 There are over 400 million Microsoft 365 users worldwide. 186 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:41,400 And all of them can find AppSource apps 187 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:45,240 from inside Word, Teams, Outlook, SharePoint, and the admin center. 188 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:47,560 You don't need to leave the app you're already working in. 189 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:48,800 The marketplace comes to you. 190 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:50,600 Let's break down what that looks like. 191 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:52,520 Teams apps are probably the most visible example. 192 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:53,360 You've seen them. 193 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:55,960 Project management boards that appear as a tab inside Teams, 194 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:58,520 polling tools that show up in a chat, compliance checkers, 195 00:06:58,520 --> 00:06:59,560 that run as a bot. 196 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:01,280 These aren't separate websites you open. 197 00:07:01,280 --> 00:07:03,720 They live inside Teams right where you're already working. 198 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:05,160 Then there are Office Add-ins. 199 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:08,520 These are tools that appear in the ribbon of Word or Excel. 200 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,080 A document signing service, a translation add-in, 201 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:14,560 a data visualization tool, they show up as a button in your toolbar. 202 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:16,520 Click it and it works inside your document. 203 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:18,200 No switching windows, no copy paste. 204 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:19,560 Now this is where AI comes in. 205 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:23,720 As of 2026, there are over 20 million paid Microsoft 365 co-pilot seats. 206 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:26,600 That's a lot of people using AI inside their daily workflow. 207 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:29,520 Many AppSource listings now offer co-pilot plugins. 208 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:33,240 Extensions that bring AI capabilities directly into the flow of work. 209 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:35,160 Instead of opening a separate AI tool, 210 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:37,720 you get a co-pilot plugin that summarizes your emails, 211 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:40,920 drafts responses, or pulls data from your business systems, 212 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:42,200 all from inside Outlook. 213 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:43,720 That's the direction things are heading. 214 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:45,000 That's the what in the where. 215 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:46,920 But how do you actually get these solutions? 216 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:49,280 Let's talk about the marketplace mechanics. 217 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:50,520 The marketplace. 218 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:51,320 Mechanics. 219 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:53,200 Trial by Co-Sell. 220 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:55,880 So how do you actually get these solutions into your hands? 221 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:59,080 Let's break it down because the process is simpler than you might think. 222 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:00,400 You find a solution you like. 223 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:03,160 Look for the free trial button right on the listing page. 224 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:04,800 Click it, sign in with your work. 225 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:07,400 Microsoft account, not your personal one, your work one. 226 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:10,440 Choose the environment you want to install it into and it deploys. 227 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:12,200 No credit card needed for many of them. 228 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:15,080 You can test drive a solution before spending a single dollar. 229 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:17,720 That's huge when you're evaluating enterprise software. 230 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:19,560 It lowers the risk of trying something new. 231 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:22,920 Now if you decide to buy, that's where transactable offers come in. 232 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:25,240 These are listings where you can purchase directly 233 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:28,600 through AppSource using your existing Microsoft billing agreement. 234 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:30,600 No separate invoice, no new vendor setup, 235 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:33,640 but it all goes on the same bill you already pay for your Microsoft services. 236 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:35,720 And here's the part that surprises many people. 237 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:40,040 Those purchases can count against your Microsoft Azure consumption commitment or maxi. 238 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:43,240 That's basically pre-committed spending that you get discounts on. 239 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:47,400 So if your organization has already committed to spending a certain amount with Microsoft, 240 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:51,400 buying an AppSource solution can eat into that commitment instead of costing extra. 241 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:53,400 That's a huge incentive for enterprise buyers. 242 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:54,360 Then there's co-sell. 243 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:57,320 This is probably the most powerful feature that most people don't know about. 244 00:08:57,320 --> 00:08:59,400 If an offering is co-sell eligible, 245 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:02,920 Microsoft's own sales team can recommend it to their customers. 246 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:04,120 Think about what that means. 247 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:06,520 You're a small software vendor with a great solution. 248 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:10,520 Normally you'd have to build your own sales team, your own pipeline, your own relationships. 249 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:15,560 But with co-sell, Microsoft's thousands of field sellers become an extension of your sales force. 250 00:09:15,560 --> 00:09:17,480 They're already talking to customers every day. 251 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:18,680 They already have trust. 252 00:09:18,680 --> 00:09:21,800 They can recommend your solution alongside Microsoft's own products. 253 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:25,480 That's a massive distribution channel that most partners underutilize. 254 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:28,360 And for the more complex deals, they are private offers. 255 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:33,080 Independent software vendors can create custom pricing deals for specific customers within AppSource. 256 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:35,640 So instead of sending quotes back and forth over email, 257 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:38,040 the whole thing happens inside the marketplace. 258 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:42,520 And the customer sees the custom price accepted and it goes through the same billing flow, 259 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:44,280 no friction, no procurement headaches. 260 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:46,680 All this sounds great on paper, 261 00:09:46,680 --> 00:09:48,920 but there are some common misconceptions that trip people up. 262 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:50,360 Let's clear those up. 263 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:51,960 Common myths and mistakes. 264 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:52,520 First myth. 265 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:55,000 AppSource is just for Microsoft products. 266 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:58,200 I hear that one often, but it's not true. 267 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:02,200 AppSource is a marketplace for third-party solutions that work with Microsoft products. 268 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:03,880 Independent software vendors publish there. 269 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:07,800 In fact, the vast majority of listings are from specialized firms you've probably never heard of. 270 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:10,360 Tools built for specific industries or business functions. 271 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:12,840 Microsoft's own products are in there too, 272 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:14,200 but they're not the main attraction. 273 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:16,440 The real value is the ecosystem of partners. 274 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:17,480 Second myth. 275 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:20,200 Once I install an app, I have to keep it forever. 276 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:22,120 No, you can uninstall just as easily. 277 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:25,240 The extension model means no permanent changes to your environment. 278 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:27,480 If it doesn't work for you, remove it and move on. 279 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:31,000 No data lock in, no migration project, no sunk cost. 280 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:33,560 That's the great thing about this model. 281 00:10:33,560 --> 00:10:36,040 It lowers the risk of trying new things. 282 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:37,560 Third myth. 283 00:10:37,560 --> 00:10:40,040 AppSource and Azure marketplace are different. 284 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:43,560 There used to be back when they were separate storefronts for different audiences, 285 00:10:43,560 --> 00:10:44,920 but as we covered earlier, 286 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:47,880 Microsoft unified them in September 2025. 287 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:49,640 One listing can now appear in both. 288 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:51,240 So if someone tells you they're different, 289 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:53,400 they're working with outdated information. 290 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:54,680 It's all one marketplace now. 291 00:10:54,680 --> 00:10:56,520 Now for the folks creating listings. 292 00:10:56,520 --> 00:10:57,720 A common mistake. 293 00:10:57,720 --> 00:10:59,400 Poor visuals, walls of text, 294 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:00,680 and outdated descriptions. 295 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:02,200 One expert put it bluntly. 296 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:04,360 Don't set it and forget it. 297 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:08,360 You can't publish a listing in 2021 and expect it to still work in 2026. 298 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:10,040 Microsoft changes product names, 299 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:11,560 new competitors emerge, 300 00:11:11,560 --> 00:11:13,080 customer needs evolve. 301 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:15,560 The advice is to review your listing quarterly. 302 00:11:15,560 --> 00:11:16,440 Is it still accurate? 303 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:17,480 Is it still relevant? 304 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:18,920 Does it still look professional? 305 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:21,160 If not, updated or take it down. 306 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:24,360 A stay-alisting hurts your credibility more than no listing at all. 307 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:25,880 So now you know what AppSource is, 308 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:27,400 what you can find and how it works. 309 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:30,280 Let's wrap it up with a big picture synthesis and your takeaways. 310 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:33,000 The big picture and aha moment. 311 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:35,800 So here's what I want you to hold on to after all of this. 312 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:37,960 AppSource is not just a storefront. 313 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:39,000 It's a system. 314 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:40,920 Think of it like the App Store on your phone. 315 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:42,440 Except instead of one device, 316 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:44,200 it covers your whole business tech stack. 317 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:46,600 You don't open the App Store just to buy one thing. 318 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:49,560 You open it because it's the front door to everything your phone can do. 319 00:11:49,560 --> 00:11:52,360 AppSource works the same way for your Microsoft investment. 320 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:55,720 The real aha moment comes when you realize it connects dynamics, 321 00:11:55,720 --> 00:11:59,480 power platform, Azure and Microsoft 365 in one single search. 322 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:02,040 You don't need to know which product category your solution lives in. 323 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:05,640 You don't need to figure out the difference between a power app and a dynamics extension. 324 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:07,880 You just describe the problem you're trying to solve 325 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:10,200 and the marketplace surfaces the right answer. 326 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:13,080 Whether that's an app, a service or a template. 327 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:17,080 And this is where the magic of everything working together really kicks in. 328 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:19,400 Picture this, you're working inside teams and you think, 329 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:21,800 "I need a better way to track customer feedback." 330 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:24,200 You search AppSource from right there inside teams. 331 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:26,840 You find a power app's template built for exactly that. 332 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:28,680 One click and it deploys to dataverse. 333 00:12:28,680 --> 00:12:31,880 Then you realize you could make it smarter with AI sentiment analysis. 334 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:35,240 So you search the same marketplace, find an Azure AI service, 335 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:39,560 add it to the same solution and pay for everything through your existing Microsoft billing. 336 00:12:39,560 --> 00:12:41,960 One search found it all, no leaving your workflow. 337 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:43,240 One invoice covers it. 338 00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:45,080 That's what a unified marketplace does. 339 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:48,280 It removes the friction between spotting a need and solving it. 340 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:49,480 Why does this matter to you? 341 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:52,520 Maybe you're an IT pro trying to extend your stack without breaking anything. 342 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:55,480 Maybe you're a business owner looking for a quick fix to a real problem. 343 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:59,560 Or maybe you're a consultant helping clients navigate Microsoft's connected platform. 344 00:12:59,560 --> 00:13:01,480 Either way, AppSource is the front door. 345 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:05,080 It's how you add to your Microsoft investment without starting from scratch. 346 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:06,520 The solutions are already built. 347 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:08,120 The partners are already certified. 348 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:09,560 The billing is already set up. 349 00:13:09,560 --> 00:13:11,240 You just need to know where to look. 350 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:14,280 All right, let's wrap up with three things you can actually do starting today. 351 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:15,960 What you can do now. 352 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:17,880 Here's what I want you to do once this episode ends. 353 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:21,800 First, go to appsource.microsoft.com right now and search for your industry. 354 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:25,240 Type in manufacturing and healthcare, retail, whatever fits your world. 355 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:26,440 Just see what comes up. 356 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:27,880 Look at the templates. 357 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:29,560 Browse the consulting services. 358 00:13:29,560 --> 00:13:30,760 You don't have to install anything. 359 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:31,960 Just look around. 360 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:34,600 That one step will show you how much is actually out there. 361 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:37,560 Most people never take it because they don't know what exists. 362 00:13:37,560 --> 00:13:41,960 Second, if you're evaluating a solution for a real problem, use the free trial. 363 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:43,000 No commitment. 364 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:45,160 Pick something small, a reporting tool, 365 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:48,440 a workflow automation, a data connector, and install it. 366 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:50,760 Experience that one click deployment yourself. 367 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:53,080 Feel what it's like to go from I need this to 368 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:55,960 its running in my environment in under five minutes. 369 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:59,720 That experience alone will change how you think about extending your Microsoft stack. 370 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:04,760 Third, if you're a partner or an ISV building for the Microsoft ecosystem, 371 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:06,760 make app source your go-to-market channel. 372 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:07,880 But do it the right way. 373 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:11,480 Use clear visuals right for the customer, not your product team. 374 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:14,280 Focus on their pain points, not your features. 375 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:15,880 Update your listing every quarter. 376 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:17,640 Don't set it and forget it. 377 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:20,120 The partners who treat their listing as a living asset, 378 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:21,400 not a static brochure, 379 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:24,200 are the ones who get found, get tried, and get bored. 380 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:27,400 App source is the most underused tool in the Microsoft stack. 381 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:28,680 Now you know how to use it. 382 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:30,200 Subscribe for more knowledge nuggets, 383 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:32,440 and I'll see you in the next episode.