GCP Marketplace Changes: Marketplace Channel Private Offers (MCPO)

Last updated: October 24, 2024

Overview

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) has introduced a new feature called Marketplace Channel Private Offers (MCPO). This change significantly affects how private offers are handled, especially for customers purchasing through resellers.

Key Points

  1. Implementation Date: The change was reportedly implemented on July 8, 2023 (to be confirmed).

  2. Scope: This change affects approximately 70-80% of GCP Marketplace deals, as most corporate customers buy through resellers.

  3. Main Change: For accounts being resold, private offers are now defaulted to the account ID code of the reseller.

  4. Transaction Handling: When customers buy through the Google Cloud Marketplace, a reseller will now handle the transaction instead of Google directly.

  5. Reseller Involvement: Resellers like SADA or DoiT International may now charge a transaction fee for their processing services.

  6. Customer Impact: Customers can still use their Google Cloud spend commitments effectively when buying through the marketplace using MCPO.

  7. Billing Process: The reseller (e.g., CDW) will bill the customer, not Google directly.

  8. Sub-billing Accounts: Transactions must go through sub-billing accounts provided by Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to ensure proper management of spend commitments.

Implications for Independent Software Vendors (ISVs)

  1. ISVs need to create offers using sub-billing accounts managed by MSPs.

  2. This allows ISVs to sell to customers who couldn't buy directly from them before.

  3. ISVs must work with resellers or MSPs to manage these transactions.