Understanding the Power Platform Catalog: Is the App Catalog from the CoE Starter Kit Still Necessary?

The Power Platform has revolutionized how organizations build and deploy solutions, empowering citizen developers and professional teams alike to create applications, workflows, and reports with ease. One of the significant advancements in this ecosystem is the introduction of the Power Platform Catalog, a feature aimed at simplifying the discovery, sharing, and reuse of solutions within organizations.

This article explores the Power Platform Catalog, its benefits, and its impact on the Center of Excellence (CoE) Starter Kit, particularly whether the App Catalog module remains relevant in this evolving landscape.

What is the Power Platform Catalog?

The Power Platform Catalog is a centralized repository for managing and sharing approved Power Platform solutions across an organization. It provides a unified interface where makers, administrators, and end-users can access solutions, reducing duplication of efforts and promoting standardization.

Key Features:

• Centralized Sharing: A single location for discovering and distributing reusable components like apps, flows, and connectors.
• Governance Integration: Built-in compliance and security features to ensure only validated solutions are shared.
• Efficiency Boost: By reusing pre-built components, makers can accelerate development cycles and ensure consistency.

The catalog's design emphasizes simplicity, discoverability, and collaboration, fostering a culture of innovation within controlled boundaries.

2. Overview of the CoE Starter Kit and App Catalog

The Center of Excellence Starter Kit is a set of tools and best practices provided by Microsoft to help organizations establish governance, nurture adoption, and manage Power Platform environments effectively. One of its components is the App Catalog, designed to:

• Provide a repository for makers to submit and discover apps within the organization.
• Facilitate app approval and governance processes.
• Offer visibility into app usage and adoption.

The App Catalog in the CoE Starter Kit has been a go-to tool for organizations seeking structured governance and sharing mechanisms for Power Apps.

3. Comparing Power Platform Catalog and CoE Starter Kit App Catalog

1. Features and Capabilities

The Power Platform Catalog and the CoE Starter Kit App Catalog share a similar goal of centralizing solutions. However, the former is more deeply integrated into the Power Platform environment, offering:

• Direct integration with the maker experience in Power Apps and Power Automate.
• Automated governance features without additional customization.
• User-friendly, out-of-the-box functionality for discovering and reusing solutions.

In contrast, the CoE App Catalog requires more configuration and ongoing maintenance to align with organizational requirements.

2. Ease of Use

The Power Platform Catalog delivers a polished and intuitive experience, designed for seamless adoption by end-users. Meanwhile, the CoE Starter Kit’s App Catalog, while robust, demands more effort from administrators to set up workflows and processes.

3. Governance and Scalability

While both tools emphasize governance, the Power Platform Catalog's native integration ensures real-time monitoring and adherence to compliance standards without additional overhead. The CoE App Catalog, however, can be tailored extensively, which may appeal to organizations with complex or unique governance needs.

4. Is the CoE Starter Kit App Catalog Still Necessary?

The necessity of the CoE Starter Kit’s App Catalog depends on an organization's specific requirements:

When the CoE App Catalog May Still Be Necessary

• Highly Customized Governance: If an organization needs tailored governance workflows or approval processes that the Power Platform Catalog does not yet support, the CoE App Catalog remains relevant.
• Legacy Setup: Companies heavily invested in the CoE Starter Kit may prefer to extend its capabilities rather than migrate entirely to the Power Platform Catalog.
• Comprehensive Reporting: The CoE Starter Kit offers detailed analytics and reporting, which may still be valuable for large enterprises.

When the Power Platform Catalog Is Sufficient

• Out-of-the-Box Simplicity: Organizations seeking a plug-and-play solution with minimal setup time will benefit from the Power Platform Catalog.
• Native Integration: The seamless experience within the Power Platform makes it an attractive option for organizations prioritizing user-friendly tools.
• Standardized Processes: For businesses with straightforward governance needs, the Power Platform Catalog delivers efficient and effective management.

5. Making the Transition: Key Considerations

For organizations weighing their options, here are key factors to consider:

• Evaluate Current Usage: Assess the extent to which the CoE App Catalog is embedded in your processes and whether its unique features are indispensable.
• Understand Organizational Needs: Consider the complexity of your governance requirements and whether they exceed the capabilities of the Power Platform Catalog.
• Plan for Adoption: If transitioning to the Power Platform Catalog, ensure a phased approach that includes stakeholder training and data migration.

6. Conclusion: The Path Forward

While the Power Platform Catalog simplifies and enhances solution sharing within organizations, the CoE Starter Kit’s App Catalog retains relevance for businesses with highly specific governance needs or pre-existing investments. Organizations should carefully evaluate their unique scenarios and determine whether the streamlined, integrated capabilities of the Power Platform Catalog align with their goals or if the CoE App Catalog’s flexibility still holds value.

Both tools are powerful in their own right, and their coexistence highlights Microsoft’s commitment to empowering organizations to tailor their Power Platform journey.