Unlocking Growth through Microsoft’s Marketplace: How Trade Ledger Benefits Banks Using Cloud Credits

Written by Alan Walsh, VP of Channels, Trade Ledger

During my career in partnerships, I've had the privilege of collaborating with a diverse range of organisations—from fintechs and banks to consultancies and government bodies. Among these, the strategic partnership between Microsoft and Trade Ledger stands out as one of the most fulfilling and impactful. Many have asked about our decision to partner with Microsoft, the support they provide, and the value we derive from the Microsoft Marketplace. Here’s a closer look at how this partnership has transformed our channel strategy and go-to-market (GTM) efforts.

The Decision to Partner with Microsoft

When evaluating potential technology partners, Microsoft’s extensive partner ecosystem and deep-rooted presence in the financial services sector made them an obvious choice. For Trade Ledger, a fintech focused on transforming commercial lending for regulated institutions, Microsoft was more than a technology provider. They offered a pathway to faster market penetration and credibility with some of the world’s largest banks.

We understood the operational complexities banks face—from long procurement cycles to extensive compliance requirements. Microsoft’s influence and technical footprint in these banks offered an immediate advantage. Being able to offer Trade Ledger on the Azure Marketplace would increase our visibility with our target customer and make them aware that they can integrate it with their existing Microsoft solutions, plus purchase with their existing Azure budget.

Through the Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC) framework, financial institutions can use their pre-committed Azure budgets to procure Trade Ledger’s solutions, streamlining the procurement process and allowing clients to optimise their Azure investments. This reduces the need for additional budget approvals and lowers the barriers to adopting transformative lending technology.

How Microsoft Supports Our Go-to-Market and Channel Strategy

By co-selling alongside Microsoft, we not only gain access to their extensive sales resources but also benefit from their market expertise and strategic insights. This creates a collaborative environment that directly contributes to our pipeline growth and ensures our teams are aligned.

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Reward Programs and Co-Sell Opportunities

In addition to distribution, Microsoft has layered this partnership with a robust set of incentives, co-sell initiatives, and resource support. These programs are invaluable for a high-growth company like ours, enabling us to drive GTM efforts without building a large sales infrastructure from scratch. This support has enabled us to focus on what we do best: innovating in commercial lending.

A Foundation for Future Innovation

Co-selling is at the heart of every partnership. Microsoft has helped us do more than sell—they have elevated our company and product. Their team operates as an extension of ours, delivering strategic advice, technical assistance, and a forward-thinking approach that helps us continuously improve our offering. Their focus on innovation and partnership has played a pivotal role in our journey.

Our partnership is a rare alignment of vision and capability, and I am excited about what the future holds as we continue to drive growth and innovation together throughout 2025 and beyond.

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