As per research, an average person has 80+ apps installed on their mobile phones and uses at least 9 of them every day. In fact, the need for software applications extends beyond your leisure time. Studies suggest that a modern worker uses 9.39 enterprise apps daily at their workplace too.
Truly, if the world had to have a renewed axis in 2021, it would be built on an app.
However, where does it leave the app developers? As the business world increasingly grows dependent on mobile apps, there is a dire need for rapid application development to enable seamless workflow in an organization. The traditional app development process, however, takes at least 3 to 9 months on average.
As a result, traditional practices make the application development process longer and thus, unfavorable to the demands of the modern business world. What we need today is a platform that brings together quicker deployment, a short development cycle and an easy-to-learn methodology.
And low-code development platforms like Microsoft PowerApps fit the bill perfectly!
Backed by the capabilities of Microsoft and the power of low code technology, PowerApps empower non-technical users to contribute to the process of enterprise app development and helps in speeding up the process by 2X.
In recent years, Microsoft PowerApps has emerged as a major catalyst in modern workplaces by accelerating digital transformation processes and facilitating intra-organizational transparency.
In this article, we discuss what sets PowerApps apart from its competitors in the field of enterprise apps and how it can be a gamechanger at work.
But, first, let’s find out more about PowerApps.
What is PowerApps?
Originally launched in 2015, MS PowerApps is a PaaS or Platform-as-a-service solution that enables quick development of professional-grade apps leveraging low-code technology. It is a part of the Microsoft Power Platform suite that also comprises Power BI, Power Automate and now Power Virtual Agents; however, they function equally well as a standalone entity.
With PowerApps, you can create mobile-first and user-centric enterprise applications that run on every device – be it iOS, Android, Microsoft or even your on-premise solutions. Using prebuilt templates and AI components along with a simple drag and drop feature, your organization can now be on its road to digitization with lower cost and quick deployment time.
PowerApps also enable your non-technical team members to participate in the development process – they are now known as citizen developers and their growing number vouches for their unique expertise.
Let’s find out who they are!
Citizen Developers – The PowerApp Revolutionaries
Thanks to PowerApps, organizations no longer have to rely on their IT department and professional coders to automate and digitize their business processes. They can now build an app development team of business users who have no prior coding or IT experience.
They’re called citizen developers and they have been successfully contributing to the development process backed by low-code and no-code capabilities. In recent times, new reports have emerged that prove that 60% of all custom apps are built outside the IT department with the help of low-code platforms and 80% of the firms agree that it’s a good practice.
Citizen developers reduce operational costs and provide much-needed breathing space to core developers so that they can focus on critical aspects. Moreover, they also bring in the business perspective in the process and prioritize end-user experience.
Using PowerApps, citizen developers can ramp up your digital transformation journey and streamline all your internal operations leveraging low-code capabilities.
This is the era of a hands-on approach and citizen developers allow non-technical users to get down and dirty in the otherwise restricted world of programming.
However, are the skills of citizen developers confined to PowerApps? Or they can leverage other low-code platforms for development?
The answer to this question is what you had expected – citizen developers can use any low-code platform. Then, what makes us stress on PowerApps for enterprise application development? Are there any specific advantages that MS PowerApps hold over other low-code platforms?
In the section below, we address these queries and explore how PowerApps is ideal for enterprise app development. Let’s begin.
Microsoft PowerApps – A New Game-Changer at Work
Co-established by famous songwriter Johnny Mercer in 1942, Capitol Music Group(CMG) has been the backbone behind the rise of pop culture and has promoted legendary artists like The Beatles, Katy Perry and Sam Smith over 75 years.
They managed world-class talent and their internal operation on a business-critical application built on InfoPath until they concluded that they require a sleek, automated and streamlined digital solution to thrive in the modern entertainment industry.
Finally, they migrated to MS Power Platform capabilities and achieved better collaboration, transparency, quick processes and a single source of truth for all their projects.
With PowerApps, they unlocked their true potential at work. Many such examples prove that MS PowerApps is the right choice for enterprise apps and we’ve curated a list of top reasons explaining its significance. Here are a few of them –
PowerApps is backed by Microsoft Capabilities
Microsoft needs no introduction in the business world and every workplace utilizes at least one Microsoft tool to perform their everyday task. From preparing spreadsheets to communicating with Outlook, our workday begins with Microsoft.
In such a scenario, it is only beneficial that the enterprise apps are built on a Microsoft platform like PowerApps. It makes their integration with other organizational tools like Microsoft Dynamic CRM, office 365 and Azure easier.
PowerApps makes third-party integration easier
PowerApps also has easy connectors for third-party applications like Salesforce, DropBox, Slack, OneDrive and popular apps like Twitter. Similarly, seamless integration with on-premise database systems such as SharePoint, Oracle, SAP and SQL is also quicker and simpler.
As a result, you spend less time unifying your business processes and more time on reaping the many benefits of having a digitized workplace.
PowerApps follow a mobile-first approach
One of the biggest reasons why enterprise applications are not yet at par with customer apps is that they’re not built with responsiveness and are limited to on-premise solutions and desktops.
Even though many organizations have rolled out mobile apps for their employees, they are rarely optimized for mobile screens and face major integration challenges with other digital processes of the organization.
Let’s admit – many organizations still depend on open-source legacy resources and their replicas for their day-to-day operations. Only a platform like PowerApps with Microsoft capabilities and integrations can eliminate these chaos and bring coherence to business operations with a responsive solution.
Moreover, PowerApps is developed with a mobile-first approach. First, it ensures that your enterprise apps are responsive on all devices and platforms and then, focus on desktop apps.
PowerApps break down data silos and enable collaboration
Today, data runs the world and it is spread across various platforms and devices. Your business-critical data may be stored in dynamic 365 or your account details may be recorded in a spreadsheet.
Often, enterprise applications fail to take the presence of cluttered data into account and thus, end up being less useful than they set out to be. With PowerApps, you can overcome this drawback and develop applications that enable seamless connectivity and collaboration.
For example, a sales executive on the field can depend on the customer data stored on Dynamic 365 with the help of their mobile app. Similarly, an accountant can utilize her spreadsheets to build an app and automate her tasks.
PowerApps bring together the people, processes and data of an organization under one umbrella with ease. Whether it’s a database system or a single archived on your organizational email, PowerApps ensure that no silo comes in between your business and digitization.
Conclusion
PowerApps enable end-users to create applications that would benefit them in the long run. It encourages innovation at all levels, promotes cross-team collaboration and transforms productivity for the better – all of this without compromising on the performance.
For an organization, it results in a win-win situation where they not only save time and costs but also enable knowledge exchange between departments, breakdown of technical barriers and establish a healthy work culture.
PowerApps merge the power of low-code with the reliability of Microsoft – a combination that promises agility, scalability and future-ready performance!
So, if you have been looking for a platform that helps you build enterprise applications at scale, then, PowerApps is your answer.
Meanwhile, if you would like detailed consultation with a Microsoft partner who can help you derive the maximum value from PowerApps, feel free to reach out to us.
