If you’ve been using CRM software for a while, you’ve probably heard of Dynamics 365, Microsoft’s CRM product. You might not know what Dynamics 365 is or even know who it’s for if you’re new to CRM or have only used off-the-shelf CRMs up to this point. Many people mistakenly think it’s expensive, unnecessarily difficult, and appropriate mainly for larger organizations.
Now, let’s clear up these misunderstandings, discuss Microsoft PowerApps as a Dynamics 365 substitute, and then go over the advantages and disadvantages of each tool. To do this, let us first go over the Microsoft Power Platform, which serves as the foundation for both of these products.
Understanding Power Platform
We will first go over the platform that Power Apps and Dynamics 365 are based on before delving further into each product. This is the most basic way to conceptualize the Power Platform:
Using a collection of low-code tools, this platform is used to create business applications, such as databases or processes, etc., allowing users with little to no coding experience to create apps that will improve their company. You can utilize Power Platform to create CRM databases, but since it consists of five components—Power Apps, Power Automate, Power Virtual Agents, Power BI, and Power Pages—the options are virtually limitless.
Understanding Microsoft Power Apps
One popular option for developers creating low-code apps is Microsoft Power Apps. In its most current iteration, Power Apps was regarded as a top low-code application platform by reputable IT research organizations such as Gartner and Forrester.
It is the only product of its type on the market that combines automation, self-service analytics, and low-code/no-code app development into one all-inclusive platform.
Microsoft’s Power Apps program enables you to create and distribute robust low-code apps rapidly. It is a collection of applications, services, and data platforms that facilitates quick application development for the creation of unique apps according to company needs.
Custom business apps that link to your company’s data on-premises (Excel, Office 365, SharePoint, and more) or on a data platform (common data source for apps) may be made fast.
Fundamentally, Power Apps is a platform as a service that lets you develop apps that work with any mobile device or web browser. The goal of creating Power Apps is to enable users to create apps with new features without requiring technical knowledge. Microsoft has released an early PowerApps graphic design that includes drag-and-drop capability.
Power Apps is connected to several Microsoft- and third-party-based programs, such as Google Docs, Dropbox, Dynamics CRM, Oracle, SharePoint, SQL Server, and OneDrive in the Office 365 productivity package.
The fact that Power Apps may be used by non-technical teams, as well as developers, sets them apart from competing products.
Features of Microsoft PowerApps
With the functionalities included in Power Apps, you can create apps without knowing how to code. The following is a collection of Power Apps’ potent features:
Simple interaction with other Microsoft services: Power Apps’ simplicity in connecting to other Microsoft services, such as Excel, OneDrive, SharePoint, and so on, is a major selling point.
User-friendly Interface: The user-friendly interface of Power Apps is supported. Even if you have no prior development knowledge, you can create an app with ease with this. Make interfaces capable of carrying out CRUD tasks.
Model-driven and Canvas applications: In Power Apps, you can create applications using either the Model-driven or Canvas approaches. All it takes to create an app is to drag and drop components into a canvas. In model-driven apps, the components you add define and dictate a large portion of the layout.
Cloud Connectivity: Using Power Apps, connecting to cloud services like as Dropbox, Google Drive, SQL, and so forth is really simple.
Making and distributing apps: supports an intuitive drag-and-drop app-building interface. Power Apps make it simple to share with whomever you choose.
Cost-effective: Use this wonderful tool if you want to create sophisticated commercial apps but cannot afford to hire developers. Power Apps are reasonably priced.
Common Data Service (CDS): CDS gives you the safe storage and administration of data that business programs need. Entities are the format in which data is kept in CDS. A group of entries in a database that hold data similar to a table is called an entity. A collection of legal entities that address common situations are included in CDS for Apps. Power Query may still be used to generate bespoke entities unique to your business and fill them with data. Using this data, developers may create sophisticated applications with Power Apps.
A Power Platform for Power Apps: What Is It?
Power BI, Power Apps, and Flow are all part of the Microsoft Power Platform. Any corporate operation may handle its data with the help of these three services.
The data is displayed and examined using Power BI. It’s a BI tool for interactive real-time data visualization.
Using PowerApps, data may be altered. It quickly creates apps for the web, Android, and iOS platforms with minimal code.
Data automation is achieved with Microsoft Flow. With its no-code methodology and simple integration, it provides strong process automation.
How Do Power Apps Function?
PowerApps makes it easier to create apps for corporate customers by providing a range of connectors, templates, and third-party apps.
Connectors are the main factor in its popularity among developers. It supports the majority of on-premises data sources and lets you do CRUD operations.
Unleashing the Potential of Dynamics 365 and Power Apps
Dynamics 365 and Power Apps is a unified suite of applications that encompass sales, marketing, finance, operations, and customer service—all entirely online. Power Apps is a low-code app development platform that allows you to create, modify, and implement custom applications with minimal coding skills. Together, these technologies provide a new and effective way to develop applications, so consumers have the information they need to do their jobs and make informed business decisions. Thanks to its drag-and-drop interface and plethora of pre-built app templates.
Enabling Citizen Developers
Power Apps is easy to use, even for people with no programming experience. People who create new applications without a technical background are referred to as citizen developers. With Power Apps, you may give workers in various departments the ability to build tailored applications for their area of expertise. This not only fosters creativity but also encourages collaboration and innovation.
Integration and Growth
With Dynamics 365 and Power Apps, you can plug into your current systems and other Microsoft clouds, as well as incorporate data from third-party sources. You may also connect PowerApps to data sources you’ve known and trusted for years, whether Outlook, CDS, Azure Blob Storage, Sharepoint, or anything else. Once your apps are up and running, they will not interrupt your present workflows. Additionally, it also helps you grow as your business grows. Whether you’re a small startup or a global conglomerate, PowerApps keeps up with you.
Application in Different Industries
Since Dynamics 365 and Power Apps have a broad spectrum of applications, they are adaptable in virtually every sector.
The flexibility of Dynamics 365 and Power Apps makes them perfect for many industries and scenarios. Here are only a few examples:
Retail: Help with inventory management, voluntary interaction with customers, and individually designed shop experiences.
Manufacturing: Tracking supply chains, monitoring and ensuring the effectiveness of production, and keeping track of equipment servicing.
Healthcare: Easier care for the patients, convenient appointment organization, and comprehensive communication between medical professionals.
Finance: Optimize financial reporting, make getting a loan easier and quicker, and facilitate risk monitoring.
Conclusion
And in the modern fast-paced business world, keeping up with the competition demands more than relying on already-existing applications. Dynamics 365 and Power Apps give businesses the chance to build custom applications with their specific objectives and operations in mind.
If you are looking to enhance productivity, spur more innovation, or improve the customer experience, you have the power to do it. Why should you struggle with one-size-fits-all applications while you have the chance to develop a custom application that can take your business to the next level?