In the world of Industry 4.0, it is essential for companies to have tools that improve operational efficiency across various business processes while ensuring data security and accessibility.
Microsoft Power Apps and Microsoft Power Automate are two ideal solutions that can help achieve these goals. These services, part of Microsoft’s Power Platform suite, enable the rapid development and sharing of user interfaces, applications, and automated flows tailored to specific business processes, offering a high initial cost-benefit ratio.
Microsoft Power Apps: creating intuitive applications
Microsoft Power Apps enables the creation of custom applications without the need to be a developer. This tool is ideal for those who want to build tailor-made solutions for their business needs, while ensuring data security and accessibility.
Key Features of Power Apps
Low Entry Cost
Starting from the Microsoft 365 E3 license, Microsoft includes a limited Power Apps license that allows integration at no additional cost with tools like SharePoint, Excel Online, and OneDrive for Business. This offers high initial development potential at a low upfront cost.
Data and Application Profiling and Segregation
Power Apps provides advanced tools to manage who can access, view, and edit data. You can define detailed permissions, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access sensitive information – crucial for maintaining security and compliance with company policies.
Responsive Design
Applications built with Power Apps are responsive, meaning they automatically adapt to any device—whether a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Thanks to a dedicated mobile app, you can access your business apps and critical data directly from your phone.
Connection to Internal Services
Upgrading to a Premium Power Apps license allows you to share applications across your organization and use exclusive connectors to natively link your apps to internal databases and CRMs – such as SQL Server, PostgreSQL, and specific Azure services.
Note: Integration with certain services like SQL databases and some Azure services requires a specific Power Apps license.
Microsoft Power Automate: automating workflows
Microsoft Power Automate allows you to automate workflows between various applications and services, reducing manual tasks and improving operational efficiency. Even without technical skills, you can create automations that simplify business process management.
Key Features of Power Automate
Low Entry Cost
Microsoft, for Power Automate offers a licensing plan similar to Power Apps.
Starting from the Microsoft 365 E3 license, you can integrate and use tools like SharePoint, Excel Online, and OneDrive for Business at no additional cost – offering high development potential at a low initial cost.
Additionally, if Power Automate flows are triggered and run only through Power Apps, Microsoft extends the Power Apps license to include those flows at no extra cost.
Automation of Repetitive Tasks
Power Automate lets you automate repetitive tasks such as data entry, sending notifications, and updating Power BI datasets. You can set up workflows to handle these tasks automatically, saving time and reducing errors.
Integration with Internal Services
Upgrading to a Premium Power Automate license lets you connect with and use over 400 apps and services, including internal systems like databases and CRMs. This allows for the automation of complex workflows across multiple systems without the need for external solutions.
Note: Integration with certain services like SQL databases and specific Azure services requires a dedicated Power Automate license.
Why adopt Microsoft Power Apps and Microsoft Power Automate?
Microsoft Power Apps and Microsoft Power Automate are powerful tools that help companies build and manage applications and workflows tailored to specific business processes, while emphasizing data efficiency and accessibility.
Thanks to these platforms, even those without technical expertise can contribute to their company’s digital transformation – at a reduced initial cost.
How does Blue BI use Microsoft Power Apps and Microsoft Power Automate?
Blue BI has adopted these technologies jointly in various industries – such as Logistics & Transportation and Luxury & Fashion – for the development and implementation of complex applications for:
- Registering and managing Change Request reports, including email notifications and associated reporting in Power BI
- Collecting, displaying, and emailing sales documentation generated by a client’s internal system and available on mobile devices
- Full administration of a shipment monitoring system – from configuration to access permission management; from shipment validation to data integrity checks from third-party sources
Are there alternatives to Microsoft Power Apps and Microsoft Power Automate?
Blue BI offers a series of tailor-made solutions for managing operations where Microsoft Power Apps and Power Automate may not fully meet client needs or deliver the desired user experience.
Some of our solutions include:
- BBI for Budgeting & Planning: a high-value Business Intelligence and Advanced Analytics solution for implementing data-driven decision-making chains – bringing your company into the future.
- BBI for Incentive Plan: optimize incentive management with BBI for Incentive Plan, a customizable and automated solution ideal for improving sales team performance.
- BBI for Adoption Portal: centralized and customizable analysis of key KPIs related to the adoption of corporate tools – enhancing user adoption and identifying strengths and areas for improvement.
We realize Business Intelligence & Advanced Analytics solutions to transform simple data into information of freat strategic value.
