3 ways to make an app with Power Apps

Blog: Professional advantage - BPM blog

Gone are the days when application development is solely a skill for IT developers. Microsoft Power Platform has paved the way for empowering even business users to design and build their own apps using its no-code to low-code technology. This enables citizen developers to build agile business processes to streamline, automate, and modernise apps in their organisation.

Microsoft Power Apps have pre-built templates that allow users to drag and drop their app components, allowing for no-coding and rapid app development experience.

To get you started, here are three easy ways to make an app in Power Apps.

Begin with a clean slate.

If you prefer to start from scratch, you can begin with either canvas apps, model-driven app, or portal. Canvas apps is used for bespoke interface, allowing you to model your app the way you want it. Model-driven apps leverage the existing data model of your core business data and processes. This option already provides your app with responsive user interface. Portals allow you to create public-facing websites for external users.

Start from data.

From Microsoft-based or third-party solutions to custom APIs and data gateways, Power Apps gives you the flexibility to choose from hundreds of possible data source options. Some of the widely known sources are:

Productivity solutions such as Microsoft Excel Online, SharePoint, Teams, Microsoft 365, Power BI, Slack, etc.
ERP systems such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain, Business Central, etc.
CRM systems such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales, Salesforce.
Database platforms like SQL Server.
Social media platforms like Twitter.

Dataflex (formerly known as Common Data Service or CDS) is also another option. It is the data storage and management layer, but is part of the premium feature of Power Platform.

Start from template.

Have got the vision to automate your repetitive but crucial business processes, but you are short of time to customise or start from scratch? Use templates available in Power Apps here. Whether it’s a function-related or industry-specific process, you can find many ready-made templates in Power Apps to get you up to speed in developing your unique app.

Infographic - 3 Ways to make an App with Power Apps — Download the high-resolution infographic here for the summary of this blog

We hope this blog is inspiring you to take a closer look at Power Apps so you can quickly automate your business processes, without expensive licenses or complex and lengthy IT projects. If you are pressed for time however, Professional Advantage can assist you with building your custom apps.

We have packaged common processes—such as the below—with our Power Platform in a Box (PPIAB). PPIAB allows you to define your process, build the app, receive a documentation, and get trained on how to use it, all within 5 days.