With Microsoft Power Platform, companies can optimize business processes, improve productivity, and respond faster to changing needs.
Microsoft Power Platform allows companies to digitize and automate their business processes cost-effectively. It enables organizations to improve operational efficiency, reduce manual work, and accelerate decision-making.
The tool brings agility and innovation to organizations’ daily operations, enabling scalable and customizable solutions for different needs.
Core components of the Power Platform
Microsoft Power Platform is a powerful tool for digitizing business processes, utilizing analytics, and enhancing automation. It consists of four core tools: Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power Pages. Companies can optimize operations and respond to changing needs without extensive programming skills.
Power BI for data visualization and analytics
Microsoft Power BI is an analytics tool that helps organizations make the most of data by combining data from different sources, such as Excel, SQL databases, and cloud services. It allows users to create clear reports and interactive dashboards that help in decision-making by anticipating trends and identifying business development targets.
Power Apps for rapid and flexible application development
Power Apps is a tool that allows you to develop mobile and web applications quickly and cost-effectively without in-depth programming knowledge. Organizations can automate manual processes and create customized solutions for different business needs.
Power Automate for workflow and process automation
Power Automate enables the automation of workflows between different systems and services. For example, it can automate notifications, data transfers, and approval processes, reducing manual work and the risk of errors. Power Automate supports various applications, including Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, and third-party services like Google Drive and Salesforce.
Power Pages for fast and secure website creation
Power Pages allows you to create secure, customized websites, such as customer portals, event registration pages, and self-service platforms. Power Pages integrates with other Power Platform solutions and provides a responsive user interface for various devices.
Power Platform accelerating innovation
We developed an innovation initiative management system for our client. In the solution, Power Apps provides an easy-to-use mobile interface that allows employees to save innovation initiatives in a centralized database easily. The forms contain only essential data fields, and the user can add attachments to support the justification for their initiative.
Power Automate enables process automation and a consistent workflow. Users are guided through the process before submitting an initiative, and the form dynamically adapts to different process steps, hiding or showing fields as needed.
The pre-approval process is designed to be simple and used to review initiatives before the innovation team processes them quickly.
All proposals are stored in an open database to promote transparency and a unified innovation culture within the organization.
Power Platform enhancing HR processes
In one corporation, HR processes between departments and HR representatives were streamlined using Power Platform. Power Apps provide an easy-to-use interface that allows employees to initiate employment-related processes by filling in the necessary information and adding attachments. When the user presses the “Submit” button, the data is automatically transferred to the HR department for processing.
Power Automate ensures that the workflow progresses smoothly and verifies the selections made in the application. The visibility and mandatory nature of data fields adapt based on the information entered by the user; for example, additional information is required in certain situations. The application works in Microsoft Teams and on the web, and all data is stored centrally in a SharePoint list.
For another of our clients, a Power Platform-based solution was developed to digitize the group’s HR processes. Employees fill out a Power Apps form for necessary purchases, such as IT equipment, office supplies, and user rights. The data is stored in SharePoint, based on which Power Automate checks the information of new or updated items and sends purchase requests to the responsible persons.
After approval or rejection decisions, the workflow automatically updates the data to SharePoint and notifies the requestors of the results. There can be dozens of responsible persons in large organizations, and the system scales to cover large amounts of data when needed. This solution speeds up procurement processes, reduces manual work, and improves data transparency throughout the organization.
More efficient sales processes
A customer implemented a Power Apps-based mobile application for its sales team. The application shows salespeople the most important contacts they must reach weekly to achieve sales goals. Salespeople can also add new contacts and manage quotes in the application.
When a salesperson enters a new quote, it is automatically forwarded to different departments for review, ensuring consistent policies. All documents, such as quotes and agreements, are stored in SharePoint, and commenting is integrated directly into the application.
Power BI reporting provides sales management with a comprehensive view of sales activity volumes and contact quality. This helps track sales performance and identify areas for improvement, enabling better decision-making.
Another customer implemented Power Apps, which automates quote and agreement management. The application’s simple user interface works as a web page or mobile app in Microsoft Teams. The user can enter the necessary information and select products from drop-down menus.
The data and metadata are stored in SharePoint, where they are immediately visible. Suppose the organization’s process requires an approval chain. In that case, Power Automate sends a review request to the responsible person, who can review and approve the quote directly in the Teams Approvals application. Once the quote is approved, the process automatically progresses to signing the contract.
The application provides color-coded status updates and makes tracking progress easy. The solution also integrates with ERP and CRM systems to utilize ready-made product information and price lists, saving time and ensuring data consistency throughout the sales process.
Digital solution for incident management
A customer developed a Power Apps-based solution for reporting warehouse and occupational safety incidents. The application’s user interface works in Microsoft Teams, as a web page, or as a mobile app, allowing users to report incidents quickly and efficiently.
The user completes a form and selects the type of incident, such as reception, service, or product incident. The data is stored in SharePoint, and Power Automate sends notifications to the responsible persons. Handlers review incidents in Power Apps, analyze root causes, and record corrective actions.
The solution has reduced manual data processing and improved data quality. Power BI reporting provides management with a comprehensive view of deviations across the organization, supporting knowledge management and continuous improvement.
Power Platform for powering processes
Microsoft Power Platform provides organizations with agile tools to accelerate digitalization. It reduces manual work, improves process efficiency, and supports informed decision-making.
Power Platform enables organizations to unify and automate processes without significant software development investments. It enables the development of customized solutions for different business areas, supporting companies’ continuous growth and development. Microsoft’s constant investments in Power Platform make it an even more versatile and effective solution for the needs of modern businesses.
The applications mentioned above are just a few examples of the opportunities that Power Platform offers our customers to streamline business processes.
Do you want to streamline your business processes and use digitalization opportunities? Contact us, and we will help you find a cost-effective, quickly deployable solution that fits your organization’s needs!
Jere Palanne
CTO, Partner
