Power Platform & Power Apps With D365F&O

The Power Platform is a suite of Microsoft business applications that empower organizations to analyze data, automate processes, create applications, and engage with customers more effectively. It consists of five main components:

1. Power BI (Business Intelligence):

Purpose: Power BI enables users to visualize and analyze data through interactive dashboards and reports.

Key Features:

• Data connectivity to various sources.
• Data transformation and modeling capabilities.
• Rich visualization options.
• Real-time analytics and sharing of insights.

2. Power Apps:

Purpose: Power Apps allows users to build custom applications without extensive coding skills. It enables the creation of apps for various scenarios, from simple forms to complex business applications.

Key Features:

• Low-code/no-code development.
• Integration with data sources and services.
• Canvas and model-driven app creation.
• Mobile-friendly app design.

3. Power Automate:

Purpose: Power Automate is a workflow automation platform that connects various apps and services to automate repetitive tasks and business processes.

Key Features:

• Automation of workflows across applications.
• Integration with hundreds of connectors.
• Trigger-based actions and approvals.
• Streamlining and optimizing business processes.

4. Power Virtual Agents:

Purpose: Power Virtual Agents enables the creation of chatbots without extensive coding. It allows organizations to build intelligent and interactive bots for customer support, data collection, and more.

Key Features:

• No-code bot development.
• Integration with Power Platform and external data sources.
• Natural language processing for chat interactions.
• Integration with Microsoft Teams and other channels.

Power Pages:

Purpose: Microsoft Power Pages is a secure, enterprise-grade, low-code software as a service (SaaS) platform for creating, hosting, and administering modern external-facing business websites.

Key Features:

• Power Pages provides you with rich customizable templates
• Power Pages enables you to rapidly design, configure, and publish websites
• Build sites by using the same shared business data stored in Microsoft Dataverse
• Power Pages is the newest member of the Microsoft Power Platform family

In addition to the products listed above, there are additional tools that enhance the solutions you create on the Power Platform.

• AI Builder: allows users and developers to add AI capabilities to the workflows and Power Apps they create and use. AI Builder is a turnkey solution that allows you to easily add intelligence to your workflows or apps and predict outcomes to help improve business performance without writing code.
• Microsoft Dataverse: is a scalable data service and app platform which lets users securely store and manage data from multiple sources and integrate that data in business applications using a common data model to ensure ease and consistency to users
• Connectors: enable you to connect apps, data, and devices in the cloud. Consider connectors as the bridge across which information and commands travel. Connectors can be used by Power Apps, Power Automate flow, and logic apps.

Power Apps serves as a low-code development platform created by Microsoft, offering a range of tools that allow users to build custom applications without extensive coding skills. There are several reasons why organizations and individuals choose to use Power Apps:

1. Ease of Use:

No-Code/Low-Code Development: Power Apps provides a visual development environment, allowing users to create applications using a graphical interface rather than traditional coding.

2. Rapid Application Development:

Quick Prototyping: Power Apps enables rapid prototyping and development of applications. This speed is crucial in addressing changing business needs and responding to evolving requirements.

3. Integration with Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365:

Seamless Integration: Power Apps integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365, making it easy to leverage data from other Microsoft services and applications.

4. Customization and Extensibility:

Tailored Solutions: Users can create customized solutions that meet specific business requirements. Power Apps allows for extensive customization, enabling users to build apps tailored to their unique needs.

5. Cost-Effective Development:

Reduced Development Costs: By empowering users with a low-code platform, organizations can reduce reliance on professional developers for certain types of applications, potentially leading to cost savings.

6. Scalability:

Scalability Options: While Power Apps is suitable for building smaller applications, it also offers scalability options for more complex scenarios. Users can transition from canvas apps to model-driven apps for larger-scale implementations.

Power Apps allows users to build apps that connect to various data sources, automate workflows, and visualize data

• Visual Development: Users can create custom applications with a visual, drag-and-drop interface using Canvas Apps. This approach allows for highly customizable and user-centric app designs.

• Data-Driven Design: Model-Driven Apps are designed around the data model, allowing users to create apps with standardized UI based on data entities. They are suitable for scenarios where data structure is critical.

• External-Facing Apps: Power Apps Portals enable the creation of websites and external-facing applications that can be accessed by users outside the organization. They can be used for customer portals, partner portals, etc.

Let's explore another real-life example of integrating Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations with the Power Platform.

Scenario: Inventory Count and Adjustment

Problem: A warehouse manager in a retail company using D365FO needs a more efficient way to perform periodic inventory counts and adjust inventory levels based on the counts. The current process involves manual data entry and is prone to errors, leading to discrepancies in inventory levels.

Solution Using Power Platform:

1. Power Apps:Inventory Count App: A Power Apps Canvas app is created to facilitate the inventory counting process. Warehouse staff can use the app on mobile devices to scan product barcodes, enter count quantities, and submit the counts directly into the D365FO system.
2. Power Automate:Inventory Adjustment Workflow: Power Automate is configured to automate the inventory adjustment workflow. When inventory counts are submitted through the Power App, Power Automate triggers a workflow that compares the counted quantities with the existing inventory levels in D365FO. If variations are detected, the workflow generates inventory adjustment entries to update the system.
3. Power BI:Inventory Reporting Dashboard: Power BI dashboards are developed to provide real-time visibility into inventory levels, count discrepancies, and adjustment history. The dashboards include visualizations of inventory trends, high/low stock alerts, and overall inventory accuracy.
4. Power Virtual Agents:Inventory Inquiry Chatbot: A Power Virtual Agent chatbot is implemented to allow warehouse staff to inquire about current inventory levels, recent adjustments, and any discrepancies. The chatbot interacts with D365FO data to provide quick answers and support.

Simple Power App design and updating the records from Power Apps to D365FO:

Lets login to Power Apps:

Step1: https://make.powerapps.com/

Step 2: Click on the Create

Select the Dataverse

The movement we select the dataverse(Connections are empty)

Step-3: Click on the new connections and select the D365FO(Fin & Ops Apps(Dynamics 365)

Click on create & Asks you to login with your credentials.

Confirmed is required after login

Step 4:

It will display all the list of the environments, we can select the currently working environments.

Ref: I'm currently working on the Trial environments and selected.

Choose the table and click on connect

System takes 15 seconds to 30 seconds and load the Power Apps UI

After 30 seconds - We can see the UI

In D365FO I have a two records

I will pull the two records into PowerApps -With simple coding

Click on the title1 and above there is code.

I have updated the code, From D365FO Two records are displaying here, If there are 100 records it pulls to power Apps.

Click on the subtitle1 and change the code

I have updated the customer group, From D365FO customer groups are displaying here

Click on the Body1 and update the code to ThisItem.Address, customer address will get displayed on the power Platform.

Here on the Power Apps screen you can design according to the requirements, But I'm trying to show you with simple example.

Click on the save and give the Power Apps name

Now click on the preview(Highlighted in yellow color)

Click on the record

Click on the edit record

I have updated the customer group to 90 and click on save.

System takes 10 to 15 seconds and updates the record in the D365FO.

Lets see in the D365FO

Lets connect the Power Apps to D365FO

Click on the Back, If the Power App is not save, Please save it.

Click on the Apps, Our Power Apps is here which we have saved, Click on the 3 dots

Click on the details

Copy the App id, For security purpose I have highlighted with colour, Never Mind :)

Go to D365FO, Click on Power App Icon > Add an App

Add the App id and select the Input context for the App and App name, Click on insert.

Click on it > Power App icon, System shows the saved app > Click on it

System prompts to allow option > Click on it

We have connected the APP to D365FO, We can update the records, Not only updating we can do most of the things as per the business requirements.

Power Apps in the Mobile:

It supports for android and IOS, login to play store and down load it.

Sign into the Application(Power Apps)

Find the app (Customer CRUD)-Which we have created.

1. Settings: Access app settings and sign out.
2. Search: Use the search to search for apps. When you run a search, it will only search for apps that are on the screen you're on.
3. Favorites (canvas apps only): Displays canvas apps that you have pinned to favorites.
4. Recent apps: Displays both model-driven and canvas apps that you have recently used.
5. Home: Displays favorite apps and recently accessed apps sorted by open date.
6. All apps: Displays all canvas apps and model-driven apps to which you have access, including apps you created and apps that others shared with you.
7. More (canvas apps only): Displays featured and sample apps.
8. Details: View information about the app including run the app, add a shortcut for the app, and add the app to favorites.
9. Sort apps: You can short by the app name or modified date.

Note:

We can update the customer records from mobile device.

I hope you have learned something from this article, Thank you

Mallesh Varma