How CSPs Can Manage Billing for Multi-Entity Customers at Scale
Amar Paatil
|
CSP Billing: Manage Multi-Entity Customers at Scale | Work 365
2:52
Microsoft Cloud Solution Providers (CSPs) face unique billing challenges when customers are themselves multi-entity organizations. These customers expect accurate invoices across subsidiaries, geographies, and business units, while CSPs must still manage margins, compliance, and renewals.
This blog explores how CSPs can manage billing for multi-entity customers, and how Work 365 equips partners with the tools to scale.
Scenario: Partner Billing for Multi-Entity Customers
Description: A CSP manages billing for a customer that operates across multiple entities.
Use Case: Common in channel partnerships where one partner handles all invoicing for a complex customer structure.
Challenges:
-
Different invoice formats and billing rules per entity.
-
Tiered pricing across subsidiaries.
-
Varying compliance requirements by geography.
Work 365 Features:
-
Partner Portal: Let your resellers manage their customers’ CSP subscriptions, pricing, and renewals: end-to-end, under your controls.
-
Advanced Billing Capabilities: Support for tiered pricing, margin calculations, and channel billing.
-
Linked Subscriptions: Manage customer hierarchies and consolidate invoices.
-
Accounting Integrations: Ensure billing data syncs directly into finance systems.
Strategies for CSPs Serving Multi-Entity Customers
-
Automate Recurring Tasks – free up operations teams from manual invoicing.
-
Enable Exception-Based Operations – focus only on edge cases, not every invoice.
-
Standardize Customer Hierarchies – set rules for subsidiaries and divisions.
-
Consolidate Reporting – visibility into entity-level and global performance.
Example: Consider a telecom group that owns multiple regional operators. Each subsidiary might operate under a different brand, use its own billing rules, and transact in local currencies. For the CSP serving them, the challenge is delivering a single, consolidated billing experience while still respecting the nuances of each entity’s contracts, compliance, and pricing.
Conclusion
For CSPs, billing isn’t just about collecting revenue, it’s about delivering trust to customers with complex needs. Work 365 provides the automation, partner tools, and integrations to make multi-entity billing predictable and scalable.
Book a 15-minute walkthrough of Work 365 to see how CSP billing automation works in practice.
What’s Next:
-
Explore the PV 3.0 Upgrade – The latest Work 365 release introduces flexi contracts, option to do billing like Microsoft, enhanced reconciliation, ability to scale across regions, markets, and a whole lot more. [Learn more about PV 3.0 here].
-
Meet Us at Directions EMEA – We’ll be showcasing new capabilities and sharing partner success stories. Visit our Booth B14 and see Work 365 in action.
Why do CSPs face challenges with multi-entity customers?
Multi-entity customers often require different billing rules, invoice formats, and cost allocations across subsidiaries or regions, which complicates CSP billing cycles.
What is partner billing in the CSP model?
Partner billing refers to CSPs or distributors managing subscriptions and invoices on behalf of their customers, including complex organizations with multiple entities.
How do CSPs manage tiered pricing for multi-entity customers?
With a growth billing engine like Work 365, CSPs can apply reseller-specific pricing, margin rules, and customer-specific agreements, all tracked within one system.
Can CSPs integrate billing with accounting systems?
Yes. Work 365 integrates with popular accounting platforms like QuickBooks Online, ensuring smooth synchronization of billing data, reducing errors, and streamlining financial reporting.
What is the biggest benefit of Work 365 for CSPs managing multi-entity customers?
Work 365 provides automation, a partner portal, and linked subscriptions, enabling CSPs to scale billing operations while maintaining accuracy and compliance.
Is there a free trial for Work 365?
Yes, you can get a Proof of Value for Work 365 before committing to it. Reach out to our experts for the same.
