Microsoft Power Apps_

The possibilities are endless! Apps built in Power Apps typically fall into four categories: 

• Canvas apps. These are “lightweight” apps, like an employee survey app. They’re simple to design, giving you control over the user experience. They can be connected to over 230 data sources, including other Microsoft tools. 

• Model-driven apps. These are intensive apps. Usually, they’re created to manage complicated forms, processes and other procedures. They are built in the Power Apps site, with emphasis on data and functionality rather than design. A good example is a Customer Service Hub. 

• Power Pages. These are websites that can be shared outside of your organisation, such as customer portals. 

• Cards. These are the newest addition to Power Apps. They act as micro-apps – like an event registration form. They’re typically embedded into other tools, such as Teams and Outlook. 

Power Apps licencing is included with some Office 365 plans but can also be purchased standalone for £16.40 per user per month (or £9.90 for businesses with less than 2000 users), allowing a user to build and run an unlimited number of apps.  

Power Apps is designed to be accessible to a wide range of users, from those with no coding experience to professional developers. People with limited or no coding knowledge can create custom apps to automate tasks, improve processes and solve business problems. Developers can use Power Apps to create complex enterprise-grade applications, extend existing systems and integrate with other platforms. 

Power Apps licencing is included with some Office 365 plans, but can be purchased standalone for £16.40 per user per month, allowing a user to build and run an unlimited number of apps. You can also purchase ‘per app’ plans for users only running one app, which cost £4.10 per user per month.

There are a few easy steps to building a Power App: 

1. Define the purpose of your app 
2. Choose between a canvas (offering maximum flexibility in design and functionality) or model-driven (offering data models for business processes and data-centric applications) 
3. Connect to your chosen data sources 
4. Use the drag-and-drop interface to add screens, controls (buttons, text boxes, images, etc.) and layouts, and customise your apps. 
5. Add functionality, such as formulas and expressions to perform calculations or manipulate data, built-in functions and custom code 
6. Test the app 
7. Deploy 

Power Apps seamlessly integrates with a variety of Microsoft tools, enhancing its capabilities and utility. Here are some key integrations: 

• Office 365: Excel, SharePoint, OneDrive, Outlook and Teams

• Dynamics 365: CRM, Field Service, Sales

• Azure: Functions, Blob Storage, SQL Database