What are Microsoft Power Apps?

Microsoft Power Apps are a component within the Microsoft Power Platform suite of low-code tools, which can be used to create business applications, automation workflows and reports.ps?

Power Apps are web browser apps, that also run on phones and tablets. Using the low-code “Maker” tools you can create apps for all types of business scenarios, without the need to be a software developer.

All sizes of apps can be created, from simple single-purpose apps used within a team, all the way up to company-wide apps to run your whole business. Obviously, as the scale and complexity increases there comes a point when you most likely need to engage with a Microsoft partner who specialises in Power Apps and the Power Platform.

So, what can you do with Power Apps?

1)  Turn that business-critical spreadsheet that “runs” your entire business into a secure, scalable Power App that can be accessed by multiple staff at the same time, via web, phone, and tablet.

2)  Take a collection of spreadsheets and turn them into your “business management” system, with Company, Contact, and ‘master data’ lookup tables shared across the Power App.

3)  Create a beautifully designed and branded, user-friendly Power App for use on a kiosk or as a ‘floor walker’ tablet app, at an event you are attending or running.

4)  Create a bespoke Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system that meets your unique business needs, which spans all business departments and integrates with your finance system. This could include moving your complex pricing spreadsheets into the Power App, to ensure that all quotes are created in a consistent manner, and using the latest product, service, and pricing information.

5)  Re-implement a legacy business application, that may be running on an unsupported server (or even a PC), as modern web-based application, that can be accessed from anywhere, and that can be easily updated as you’re your business needs change.

6)  Give delivery & collection staff a simple mobile Power App that can display today’s destinations, along with the ability to take images (saved directly back into the main system) and capture customer signatures.

7)  Empower skilled field-based service staff with a bespoke Power App that fully details their work schedule, with items such as detailed job descriptions, diagnostic data, live parts information, and image upload accessible via the app.

8)  Add document generation to your Power App and guarantee that all documents, whatever they may be, can be created from the data in the system, at the click of a button.

9)  Integrate your App with other internal and Third-Party systems using Power Automate, or with code in complex cases.

10)  Unlock your Power App data and create reports in Power BI, which can be embedded inside your Power App and/or consumed via the Power BI online service.

Power Apps, and the wider Power Platform, are a collection of tools for rapidly creating the Apps, automations, and reporting that your business needs. Some of these can be created by internal staff (with a degree self-learning/training), while others will require the skills of professional Power App and Power Platform consultants. However, due to the low-code development tools, even systems create by consultants will cost significantly less than those created using traditional software development methods.

If you would like to learn more about Power Apps and how they can help your business, please contact John here.