• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
site logo
  • About
    • Approach
    • Partnerships
    • Mission
    • Leadership
    • Awards
    • Arraya Cares
  • Solutions
    • Solutions

    • Hybrid Infrastructure
      • Hyperconverged
      • Infrastructure as a Service
      • Servers, Storage, and Virtualization
      • Data Protection
      • Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity
    • Apps & Data
      • AI
      • Automation
      • Customizations
      • Visualizations & Integrations
      • Migrations
    • Network
      • Enterprise Networks
      • Wireless Connectivity
      • Cloud Networking Solutions
      • IoT
    • Cybersecurity
      • Endpoint Security
      • Network Security
      • Cloud Security
      • Application Security
    • Modern Workplace
      • Microsoft Licensing
      • Productivity & Collaboration
      • Modern Endpoint Deployment & Management
      • Microsoft Compliance & Risk
      • Backup
      • Cloud
  • Services
    • Services

    • Managed Services
      • Service Desk
      • Outsourced IT
      • Managed Security
      • Managed NOC
      • Arraya Adaptive Management for Microsoft Technologies
      • ADEPT: Arraya's White Label Program
    • Advisory Services
      • Assessments
      • Strategy
      • vCTO
      • vCISO
      • Enterprise Architecture
    • Staffing
      • Infrastructure Engineering
      • Security & Compliance
      • Application & Software
    • Professional Services
      • Project Management 
      • Systems Integration 
      • Mergers & Acquisitions
      • Knowledge & Skills Transfer 
  • Industries
    • Education
    • Finance
    • Healthcare
    • Legal
    • Manufacturing
    • Software and Services
  • Insights
    • News
    • Blog
    • Events
    • Videos
    • Case studies
  • Careers
  • CSP Login
search icon
Contact Us

Change is Coming to Microsoft’s New Commerce Experience: Here’s How it Could Affect You

Microsoft’s New Commerce Experience (NCE) is a multi-stage, multi-year transformational journey to deliver a simplified engagement experience. 

The goal of the NCE is to make it easier to transact with Microsoft and drive cloud adoption for businesses. The Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program is the primary foundation for the NCE.  

While the NCE was initially launched in 2019, it’s now entering the third phase of its transformational journey in 2022.  

This latest phase will provide customers with tools for easier adoption of new products and add-ons, in addition to new term commitment options that provide greater choice and flexibility. 

As Microsoft moves into the next phase of the NCE, here’s what you need to know: 

  • Important Dates: 

March 1, 2022: All new and renewing subscriptions will be purchased through NCE from this date forward.  

October 1, 2022: All customers will be required to purchase through NCE.  

  • NCE Expands to Additional Solutions 

Previously, NCE was only available to Azure. NCE has now expanded to Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and Windows 365.  

  • New, “Seat-Based” Offers in the CSP 

With the expansion to Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and Windows 365, these subscriptions will use the new commercial “seat-based” offers within the CSP program. This is a step towards Microsoft’s effort to create a more unified experience.  

The seat-based offers will provide partners with greater standardization of offers and terms and give customers more choice and flexibility in how and where they purchase.  

  • Price Changes 

Due to the increased value Microsoft has delivered to customers over the last decade, there will be an increase in CSP pricing.  

The following licenses will be affected: 

  • Microsoft 365 Business Basic: increase from $5 per user to $6 per user 
  • Microsoft 365 Business Premium: increase from $20 to $22 
  • Office 365 E1: increase from $8 to $10 
  • Office 365 E3: increase from $20 to $23 
  • Office 365 E5: increase from $35 to $38 
  • Microsoft 365 E3: increase from $32 to $36 

Until March 1, 2022, Microsoft will be running a promotion that allows month-to-month CSP customers to agree to a 12-month commitment and avoid the price increase on the licensing listed above (for that 12-month term).  

The New Commerce Experience comes with a change to CSP month-to-month customers with a 20% premium in cost for licenses that remain on a month-to-month subscription. The new 12- and 36- month term commitment options will allow you to avoid the 20% premium if you agree to an annual commitment.  

  • Say Goodbye to Open Licensing 

Microsoft has moved away from Open License transactions to opt for cloud and hybrid licensing options instead.  

As of January 1, 2022, the Cloud Solution Provider program is now the primary partner sales motion for all SMBs as a part of Microsoft’s effort to offer fully managed services and highly tailored solutions to customers. Commercial customers are no longer able to buy new or renew software licenses or online services through the Open License program.   

The NCE will continue to invest in the CSP to help partners accelerate business growth, simplify licensing, and provide customers with more preferable, consistent, and flexible purchasing options.  

Next Steps: Prepare for the Price Increase & Maximize Your Investment in Microsoft 365 

Microsoft’s promotion that allows month-to-month CSP customers to agree to a 12-month commitment and avoid the price increase (for that 12-month period) is going to end soon.  

This promotion ends March 1st. This is a great option for those who have a consistent user count as license counts can be increased at any time to scale your business, but downgrades will not be permitted.  

At Arraya, we have a variety of Professional Service offerings that can help maximize your investment into Microsoft 365 and ensure that you’re getting the most out of your subscription.  

Whether you’re looking to take advantage of the 12-month commitment promotion or discuss your subscription options, our Arraya experts can help. Contact us today to start a conversation.  

Visit https://www.arrayasolutions.com//contact-us/ to connect with our team now.  

Comment on this and all of our posts on: LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.   

Follow us to stay up to date on our industry insights and unique IT learning opportunities. 

Arraya Insights
Back to Top
Arraya Solutions logo

We combine technological expertise and personal service to educate and empower our customers to solve their individual IT challenges.

518 Township Line Road
Suite 250, Blue Bell, PA 19422

p: (866) 229-6234     f: (610) 684-8655
e: info@arrayasolutions.com

  • Careers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Arraya Solutions. All rights reserved.

Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn
Manage Cookie Consent
We use cookies to enhance your experience. By selecting “Accept,” you agree to our cookie policy.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}