Microsoft Sync UI

📝 Note: Sync UI is currently in Early Availability. For details on various phases, see Product lifecycle phases.

AppDirect has developed tools to simplify everyday subscription correction tasks, starting with the Microsoft Sync UI. The Sync UI allows Marketplace Managers (only) to easily synchronize, review, and manage Microsoft subscriptions, streamlining workflows and reducing manual effort.

📝 Note: Currently, the Sync UI is available in read-only mode, meaning subscription data cannot be synchronized after changes at this time. If you notice a subscription that requires correction, contact your AppDirect technical representative.

When the UI is enabled, marketplace managers can modify the following subscription attributes without triggering customer notifications, invoices, or credit notes:

• Quantity
• Auto-renew status
• Contract end date

The following attributes cannot be synced with Partner Center using the Sync UI:

• Promotion
• Term duration
• Billing cycle
• Edition code

To access the Sync UI,

1. Go to Manage > Marketplace | Admin Tasks > Microsoft. The Sync Subscriptions page opens.

   

2. Click on a subscription to view and explore its attributes in detail. Subscriptions with discrepancies compared to Microsoft Partner Center data are highlighted in red for easy identification.

   

When you use the Sync UI,

• Changes are applied only to the marketplace subscription; no modifications are made in Microsoft Partner Center.
• No invoices are generated as part of the sync.
• No webhooks, notifications, or events are triggered during the sync.
• Subscription changes (except renewal status) are not applied if either Microsoft or the marketplace is near the renewal date.
• If changes are applied to an existing contract, any scheduled change in the marketplace is canceled.

Reviewing discrepancy data

You can review the complete discrepancy data across all Microsoft subscriptions using the Microsoft Discrepancy Report.

To generate the report,

1. On the Sync Subscriptions page, click Download from Report Center. The Create Report page opens.
2. Create a new report, provide a name, and select the report type as Microsoft Discrepancy Report.

The following discrepancy types are shown in the Sync UI:

• AUTO_RENEW_MISMATCH
• BILLING_CYCLE_MISMATCH
• END_DATE_MISMATCH
• QUANTITY_MISMATCH
• STATUS_MISMATCH
• OFFERID_MISMATCH

FAQs

• Are subscriptions that exist in the Partner Center but not in the marketplace displayed in the Sync UI?

  Not at this time. However, this capability is planned for a future update.
  It will help identify subscriptions that need to be migrated into the Marketplace, such as those resulting from a Partner-to-Partner transfer.

• Why is there a discrepancy in the Contract End Date between Microsoft and AppDirect?

  Yes, this can happen and is expected in some cases. The AppDirect platform intentionally adds a one day buffer to the Contract End Date in the Marketplace compared to the Microsoft Partner Center renewal date. This is because Microsoft may process renewals at any time within a 24-hour window on the renewal date. To handle this uncertainty, AppDirect uses a built-in buffer to ensure accurate behavior during renewals.

  It’s important to note that Microsoft refers to this as the "Renewal Date," while AppDirect uses "Contract End Date". These dates are related but not identical.

  If the Contract End Date in the Marketplace is not exactly +1 day after the Microsoft renewal date, it is flagged as a discrepancy. These should be resolved quickly to avoid issues with scheduled changes or cancellations, which could lead to unintended outcomes.

• How should I handle different types of subscription discrepancies using the Microsoft Sync Tool

  Each type of discrepancy should be handled based on your specific business context and customer relationship.

  The Microsoft Sync Tool allows you to make changes to active subscriptions without notifying customers or triggering billing events immediately. This can have important implications, so it's essential to carefully review the impact of any updates before proceeding.

  For example, adjusting seat quantities may change the customer's billing in the next cycle. You’ll need to determine how to handle any charges (under or over) for the prorated days and whether a separate one-time adjustment is necessary. In such cases, informing the customer of the change is recommended. Similarly, changing the contract end date may prompt customer questions, as it alters the perceived terms of their agreement. It's important to plan how these changes are communicated.