Power Platform | Business apps

Develop the business using data

The Microsoft Power Platform consists of a number of apps and technologies that can be connected to other Microsoft solutions, including Dynamics 365 Business Central, Microsoft 365, and Azure. Power Platform is a so-called a low code platform, which means that the apps can be used by business users without extensive knowledge of code. You do not need to be a developer to build your next application or BI report.

Many companies have embraced the cloud and have discovered the value of utilizing data from a wide range of sources such as web traffic, social media and business systems such as CRM / ERP applications. But when the infrastructure, whose purpose is to utilize the great deal of data, the question is how to handle the much data in the most efficient way and get the most out of it?

If it is to be possible for all employees in the company, regardless of their technical ability, to utilize data in a straightforward way that helps to run the business, a layer on top of this data is needed.

In short, this is what the Power Platform is.

Power Platform is a system that allows users to perform three key actions on data: Analyze, act and automate. This is done with Power BI, Power Apps and Power Automate. The three applications all work on top of your data and help all employees, from the CEO to the ordinary employee, to drive and develop the business using data.

Analyze, act and automate

Data is increasingly flowing from everything and from anywhere, and businesses that understand how to exploit the much-gathered data to gain insight into their business will create better business results and thus a more competitive business that will outcompete companies that do not have this understanding. The problem for companies, however, may be finding experts who have the necessary technical skills to establish the necessary infrastructure.

The goal of Power Platform is to build a platform that does not aim at technological experts, but instead the ordinary employee, who in many cases sees opportunities in the vast amounts of data to create improvements, but do not have the technical ability or are authorized to use this knowledge and do something about it.

The purpose of the Power Platform is to create a course, or loop, that allows users to:

1. Gain insight into their data (Analyze)
2. Use this insight to drive intelligent business processes through apps (Act)
3. Automate the Processes (Automate)

Microsoft Power BI

Power BI is a user-friendly business intelligence solution that makes it easy for users to analyze data wherever it comes from and thus gain insight into their company and understanding their business.

Since the launch of Power BI, it has gone fast, both in terms of functionality and number of users. The solution is already implemented in tens of thousands of companies and have millions of users.

With a Power BI integration to Business Central, you get two business applications that together create an efficient platform that enables you to run and develop your business. Business Central provides ERP functionality that provides an overview of the company's many business areas, Power BI gives you insight into the company's data through Business Intelligence.

Microsoft Power Apps

PowerApps is a development platform from which it is possible to build applications for both web and mobile devices, without having to write code. PowerApps makes it possible for ordinary users who do not necessarily have experience with programming to develop applications that optimize the productivity and maybe even make their work less monotonous.

As with Power BI, PowerApps can be connected to hundreds of business systems and databases. Therefore, it is easy to connect the users with existing processes and data. The data contained in PowerApps can be returned to the systems and further analyzed in Power BI, which creates a closed loop process that makes continuous improvements possible. In addition, PowerApps provides a fully managed enterprise-grade data store called Common Data Service (CDS) for applications that generate data that is not destined for outdated applications, and both Power BI and Power Automate are strongly connected to CDS, which makes It is much easier to get even more value from the data stored there.

Microsoft Power Automate

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) technology is currently gaining a lot of attention on the market and for good reason. By automating simple workflows and processes, RPA solutions promise to lower business costs while reducing human factor errors.

Power Automate is an intelligent process automation service which is not limited only to perform simple task automation. Even without a complex IT implementation, Power Automate enables non-technically savvy users to automate complex business processes and workflows.

The simple and intuitive user interface allows users to create automatic workflows. This can, for example, be based on an insight from Power BI that is delivered via apps developed with Power Apps and integrated with events from any of the systems supported by Power Platform. The workflow is run entirely in the cloud and is fully managed and secured by Microsoft.

Microsoft Power Virtual Agents

With the intelligent chatbots you can develop and build yourself in Power Virtual Agents, you can instantly give your customers and employees answers to queries and questions.

Through a guided and graphically user-friendly user interface that does not require code knowledge, you and your employees can develop the effective chatbots, completely without the help of developers and data experts.

The effect of three connected apps

Power BI, Power Apps and Power Automate are each one of the best solutions in each of their individual categories, but by combining the three solutions, Microsoft has created a game changer that can potentially create added value and increased competitiveness for the companies using the solution.

Power BI provides insight into data, PowerApps converts this insight into action through transformative applications and with Power Automate, the business process is orchestrated and automated with simple point and click functionality.

With the built-in connections to all the systems and data sources in the company and when the individual employee, who knows the company best, gets the opportunity for "analyzing, act and automate", there can potentially be created transformation opportunities and new potentials that would previously be unthinkable without the Power Platform.

Power Platform FAQ

Here you can get answers to any questions you may have regarding Power Platform. If you have questions that are not answered below, you are of course very welcome to contact us.

What is Power Platform?

Power Platform is the collective term for a number of Microsoft business applications, including Power BI, PowerApps and Power Automate. With the applications you can analyze and visualize data, build solutions, automate work processes and create virtual agents. Power Platform is built on the Common Data Service (or CDS), which in short is an underlying data platform that provides a comprehensive and simple data scheme so that the Power Platform applications and services can work smoothly together.

What can you do with Power Platform?

Microsoft Power Platform consists of a number of applications that let you analyze data, automate business processes and workflows, build apps and create virtual support agents.

What is Power BI?

Power BI is a business intelligence tool developed by Microsoft. With Power BI, you get a comprehensive data analysis tool that can deliver real-time data in just seconds. With insight into your data and thus an overview of your business, you get the ability to make decisions faster and on an informed basis. Power BI can be easily integrated with the Dynamics 365 apps, including Business Central.

What is Power Apps?

With Power Apps, you can create web and mobile applications without writing code, and thus easily and quickly transform your ideas into applications. With Power Apps, you get pre-built templates, easy-to-use drag-and-drop functionality, and easy publishing of rollout changes in a code-free work environment.

What is Power Automate?

Power Automate can automate repetitive and resource-intensive work tasks using RPA technology and digital process automation technologies. With Power Automate, by automating routine tasks, you can streamline your business and free up resources so your employees can focus on strategy and analytics.

What is Power Virtual Agents?

Build intelligent chat robots the easy way. With Power Virtual Agents, you can easily build intelligent virtual robots that can communicate internally or with your customers. Power Virtual Agents can perform a wide range of manual tasks and therefore release resources you can use in other ways.

What is Microsoft Common Data Service?

The Common Data Service, abbreviated CDS, is the Microsoft Azure-based business application platform. CDS enables users to easily build and expand business data applications. For example, CDS can be used in Power Automate and provides access to the Common Data Service database in the Dynamics 365 environment.

What are Data Connectors?

In Microsoft's own terminology, a Data Connector is a proxy that surrounds an API (short for Application Programming Interface and designation for a software feature that allows multiple programs to work together). A data connection enables different Microsoft services, such as Power Automate, Power Apps, Power BI and Power Virtual Agents, to communicate with each other.

What is included in Power Platform?

At present, Power Platform consists of the business intelligence tool Power BI, the app development tool Power Apps, the automation tool Power Automate and Power Virtual Agent, which are used to build customer-oriented and internal chatbots.

Is Power Platform part of Microsoft 365?

No, Power Platform is a standalone platform for a range of business apps that can be easily integrated with other Microsoft products, including the Microsoft 365 office apps.

Is Power Platform part of Dynamics 365?

No, Power Platform is a standalone platform for a range of business apps, all of which can be easily integrated with Microsoft's other products, including the many business apps that make up Dynamics 365, which includes Business Central.