Progressive digitization of SMB sector companies leads to a multitude of IT tools available on the market. Starting from applications designed to handle simple processes, to more complex solutions like ERP systems responsible for comprehensive information flow management within a company. We can choose from various offerings by different manufacturers. However, each solution has its own price and licensing rules, resulting in costs. Furthermore, some solutions are functionally overloaded or do not fully address our company's needs.
This is where the cost optimization and verification thread comes into play – can we "squeeze" more out of the solutions we already possess? Is it possible to purchase specific licenses and create applications ourselves without coding knowledge that meet our requirements? The answer to these dilemmas is Microsoft Power Platform.
From the article, you will learn:
- What Power Platform is and what solutions it encompasses currently.
- How it can be used in the context of Dynamics 365 Business Central.
Often, companies would like to have an influence on how their IT solutions operate. This refers, of course, to functionality and susceptibility to modifications. The most common obstacle is the lack of knowledge and skills to "program" a specific function on their own. Thus, one must turn to a partner or a software house that can perform programming work. Naturally, this comes at a higher cost compared to doing it in-house. Microsoft recognized this need and progressively invested in solutions referred to as "no-code" or "low-code". Their idea is simple – to provide non-programmers with the ability to create automation or applications using ready-made components. Consequently, in 2014, Microsoft introduced Power BI to the market – a Business Intelligence service for broadly understood data analysis. Two years later, additional solutions emerged: Power Automate and Power Apps. After a few years on the market, in 2018, the Redmond giant decided to consolidate them and create a product family named Power Platform.
What is Microsoft Power Platform?
We wrote about Power Platform in 2019, but 4 years in IT is a significant span. Thus, refreshing – Power Platform is a set of business solutions based on the Microsoft Dataverse database (formerly Common Data Service – CDS). Its current components include:
- Power BI – a Business Intelligence tool. Business Intelligence involves transforming data into information and information into knowledge that can be utilized to enhance a company's competitiveness. Therefore, Power BI aims to assist in making accurate and crucial business decisions backed by solid data. The solution is available for free download and installation – Power BI Desktop is mainly used for data modeling and report creation. On the other hand, Power BI Service – the web version – serves the purpose of data sharing and team collaboration. Additionally, there's a mobile version allowing data access from any location with internet coverage. A remarkable strength of Power BI is its capability to connect to a vast array of data sources.
- Power Apps – a solution enabling the creation of business applications. It functions like assembling Lego blocks: Power Apps acts as the green baseplate, where blocks with various functions and purposes are attached. Often referred to as "low code," it allows users to build applications from scratch without coding knowledge. The simple interface and the "drag and drop" feature significantly assist less experienced users.
- Power Automate (including Power Automate Desktop – PAD) – a cloud service for automating repetitive business processes. It supports over 300 connectors, even third-party solutions, enabling integration beyond Microsoft's realm.
- Power Virtual Agents – a solution for building AI-based chatbots. These bots offer straightforward answers to frequently asked questions and can tackle more complex issues. They can be deployed on websites, mobile apps, Teams, and other platforms supported by Azure Bot Framework.
- Power Pages (formerly Power Apps Portals) – a cloud service allowing users to create, host, and manage websites without coding knowledge.
How Does Microsoft Power Platform Collaborate with Dynamics 365 Business Central?
With knowledge of Power Platform, specifically its main cloud services integrated with Dataverse, it's clear they integrate with Business Central. Utilizing this fact offers numerous possibilities:
- For Power BI, consider Business Central as a data source for specific reports. Examples include a production report monitoring manufacturing processes' efficiency, or a financial management dashboard offering a graphical representation of the company's financial situation.
- Functional gaps in Business Central can be resolved by creating dedicated Power Apps applications. The process is faster and less expensive than standard programming modifications. One application is Nav24 Manufacturing Report, fully integrated with Business Central, allowing monitoring and registration of production-related data.
- Power Automate can automate numerous processes in the ERP system, such as document approval for orders, invoices, or quotes.
- Power Virtual Agents and Power Pages could be used for sales process automation, like checking stock quantities in Business Central or creating order forms.
If you're interested in Power Platform's capabilities or specific services, have additional questions, or need assistance in creating your first report, application, or workflow, feel free to contact us through the provided contact form for a free consultation.
