How would you like to make your own phone app? Microsoft Dynamics 365 PowerApps, a PaaS model available in the cloud, makes app creation easy. PowerApps was introduced in April 2016 as a way to allow any business to harness the power of app technology for their organization.

1. An Inside Look at Dynamics 365
PowerApps

2. An Inside Look at Dynamics
365 PowerApps
How would you like to make your own phone app?
Microsoft Dynamics 365 PowerApps, a PaaS model
available in the cloud, makes app creation easy.
PowerApps was introduced in April 2016 as a way to
allow any business to harness the power of app
technology for their organization. According to
LightningTools, more than 124,000 people from
46,000 organizations around the world have used the
tool to make web and mobile applications since it was
introduced. Last year, TechRepublic reviewed the app
by using the program, and the author said he had a
new, fully functioning app that was up and running in
an hour.
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3. An Inside Look at Dynamics
365 PowerApps
That’s the whole point of PowerApps—you do not have to be a programmer to use this
software. The software eliminates the cost associated with engaging a professional app
developer to create a mobile or web application. Microsoft has opened the world of app
development to non-programmers. Anyone can design an app, and it is a quick, fun process
that cuts the red tape associated with engaging your IT staff.
This is a functional app in minutes for web, mobile, laptops, tables, phones, Android, iOS,
Windows – Yes, PowerApps bridges all of these digital venues.
That’s because the Dynamics 365 PowerApps user interface is more like Microsoft Office and
less like a programming language. It uses visual cues, drag and drop, and an intuitive
framework called Flow as the engine to help you create and automate real apps, really quickly.
You can add controls, like text fields, media including video and camera controls, forms and
screens.
Dynamics 365 PowerApps is included in Office 365 and Dynamics 365 subscriptions, or as an a
la carte feature for businesses ready to capitalize on the app phenomenon.
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4. How Dynamic 365 Powerapps
Works
After you install Dynamics 365 PowerApps, the user interface allows you to enter the
PowerApp Studio. From there you can change layouts or customize the application. While you
can certainly build from scratch, the beauty of PowerApps is its accessibility; anyone can use it.
Behind the scenes, PowerApps runs on Microsoft Azure, linking with Azure Active Directory,
App and Media Services. There is a Microsoft Graph API (Application Programming Interface)
connecting to the data that you’re using—wherever it may be.
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5. How Dynamic 365 Powerapps
Works
Dynamics 365 PowerApps is broken into three component sections:
The App section allows you to click your way to a real digital application. It will have some basic
defaults attached to functionality, but there is some customization available to help you make
the app your own. You can change how the data interfaces with users. Or, you can improve
upon the detail by adding images and descriptors.
Connections to your data sources. These connections are effected simply by Microsoft asking
what data source(s) that you want to use to interface with the app. Some of the data sources
you can use include:
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6. How Dynamic 365 Powerapps
Works
- SQL Server
- Salesforce
- Dynamics 365
- SharePoint
- Excel
- Slack
- Twitter
- Google Drive
- Azure
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7. How Dynamic 365 Powerapps
Works
Just a couple of clicks and you can connect to customer data, then drag/drop to organize the
data on screens for record detail or by search parameters. PowerApps Studio supplies a
template based on the data tie-in that you choose, but you can also create your own interface.
You could create an app for your sales team to keep them cold calling by integrating Salesforce
data. Or, a marketing app for customers that allows them to rank their experience with your
company by linking data from Dynamics 365. It’s easy to create department-specific budget
apps, sales estimators, or inspection reports. Really, you can create whatever you want in a few
minutes, and then tweak it as needed after launch.
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8. How Dynamic 365 Powerapps
Works
Flow, which are workflows launched by the app, are the backbone of the process. Apps are
basically automated actions, or workflows, that allow user interaction. The Flow controls user
screens, button controls, and app activity. Flow can automate a response to a triggering event.
In fact, Flow seems to mirror IFTTT, which is a well-used tool that programmers use to create
if-then commands within apps. Microsoft calls these statements “flows” and they basically are
the underlying code behind how your app functions.
You can use Flow to automate files from OneDrive to SharePoint. Or, use it to notify you when
a file is uploaded in Slack. Or even, automated an SMS when your employer sends you an email.
When you’re done designing, you can publish your app to the cloud or share it with people or
groups. You do not have to suffer through the rigmarole of publishing to an app store.
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9. How Dynamic 365 Powerapps
Works
The Microsoft Blog in the business/tutorials section has some great app ideas that actual
customers have made. One tells the story of creating an exhibit giveaway inventory list. If
you’ve ever worked a booth in a big exhibit hall, you know how hard it is to keep track of your
“swag” giveaways. One big problem is that you may simply have too much traffic and run out of
swag. This can be a real problem if you’ve done some pre-conference advertising inviting
visitors to stop by and claim their free gift!
So, Microsoft created a Swag Inventory Management app. It allows you to record the name
and email of the person taking the goodie. The menu gives you several giveaways to choose
from, so with a tap, you pick what item you’re handing out. Then it removes that item from a
connected database, so you can instantly see how many swag items you have left and if you
need to order more. Go here to see the step-by-step instructions for creating this app.
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10. How Dynamic 365 Powerapps
Works
There are some decent online tutorials on the Microsoft website. We recommend running some of the
samples, and experiment with templates, as you’re considering what your app will do.
As is typical, Microsoft has been working to improve the Dynamics 365 PowerApps experience. The
June 2017 update (v.650) increases the functionality of web applications, allowing you to publish
updates for users to test. Some of the latest improvements include:
• New templates that are accessible on the web interface.
• The ability to edit or add Flows via the web interface.
• Authoring can now be undone from the browser. This gives you an immediate fix of a mistake.
• The older versions rolled out app changes to end users simply when you hit “save.” This was a little
annoying when you were working on an upgrade that you weren’t quite ready to roll out. The problem
is now solved with the addition of a “Publish” button alongside the “Save” key. Don’t worry—you can
still see your work at PowerApps.com on the App versions page. You can select any of the versions,
work on them and publish, or just save them for the next time.
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11. How Dynamic 365 Powerapps
Works
• Prior to Version 650, updates to PowerApps were applied to your published applications
automatically. In many cases, the end users benefited from the updates. In some cases, it
caused app side effects that changed how the apps behaved. Now, the only time your
published app receives an update is when you edit them in the PowerApps Studio and then
save and publish it. How this should change your workflow is simple. If you don’t test your
app after changing it, you should now make that a habit before you hit “Publish.”
• Here’s another cool update: If you’re trying to connect to a database on SharePoint online,
you may notice that not all list types appear in the drop down menu. That’s a bad thing if you
have a custom SharePoint data list that you’re building your app around. With this update,
you can simply scroll to the bottom, and type in the name of your custom list.
• You can even collaborate on building an app by using PowerApps inside Microsoft Teams—a
chat and collaboration space within Office 365. Now you can add an app to a channel for
your team to use. Here’s a cool example of an ideas submission app that is functioning within
the chat channel.
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12. How Dynamic 365 Powerapps
Works
Microsoft Dynamics 365 PowerApps is a powerful tool that democratizes the app building
process. You no longer have to rely upon programmers to bring your good idea to life—you can
build it yourself. What this means to your enterprise is that any employee could have the
power to create apps to change a department or business. For a small to mid-size business,
PowerApps continues the Microsoft commitment to taking enterprise level tools and making
them available to everyone in an affordable cloud-based subscription service.
No matter the size of your business, today’s workforce needs to be mobile while still
empowered to be creative and collaborative. Dynamics 365 PowerApps allows everyone to
participate in the digital revolution by creating useful and interesting applications that can
improve your business.
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About IES
IES is a leading Microsoft software reseller, development, implementation, and
business process consulting firm dedicated exclusively to Microsoft Dynamics training,
products, and supported services. Our expertise extends across Microsoft Dynamics
CRM, MS Dynamics GP, Dynamics NAV, and beyond. We are based in the Miami and
Tampa areas of Florida, but serve clients across the nation.