Simplified & Speedy Development with Microsoft Power Platform

 

Microsoft Power platform is a powerful platform to execute development of apps, automate repetitive tasks, and visualise growth. The three combined major Microsoft products: Power Apps, Power BI, and Power Automate (formerly known as Flow) offer an absolute customer experience to users of Dynamics 365 CRM. 

 

Microsoft Power Platform continues to transform opinions about low code development, business intelligence, and automation "With over 16 million active users each month,"

 

With reference to our previous article The Ultimate Guide to Use Power Platform More Efficiently. In which we have discussed about Microsoft Power Platform fundamentals. The many capabilities it offers for development and monitoring the processes. Additionally, we talked about how businesses who struggle to develop their own software and applications can address their challenges of workforce expectations, increasing development costs, and scalability issues using a single tool in Microsoft Power Platform. 

 

In this article, we will take the recap of all the modules and their capabilities to give a broad-scoped overview of the developer experience. Means we will try to create a roadmap for a more simplified and speedy development of applications, web apps and chat bots in Microsoft Power Platform using Power Apps. 

 

Here we go,

Microsoft Power platform capabilities at a glance:

 

Module	Capabilities
Power Apps	Microsoft PowerApps is a platform that allows you to create unlimited reliable and high-efficiency custom business applications. All this using a low and no code development environment, with integration and easy integration with other modules.  This includes: 1. Platform-wide development using Data connectors, AI, ML and Common    Data Service 2. PowerApps Integration with Power BI, Power  Automate, Dynamics 365, Teams, or Office 365 3. Adoption of low-code technologies that are robust, secure, and compliant. 4. Lead data storage from sources and contacts. 5. Cost efficient mobile and web application development
Power BI	Power BI data visualisation and business intelligence tools can create easy to understand visualisations with relevant, actionable data insights, across the organisation.    This includes: 1. Absolute best quality visualisations with drag and drop functionality 2. Import data from nearly any data source, database or web service with APIs 3. Insightful data visualisations with different departments, functions, or projects 4. Create Interactive Data Visualisations – Charts, Maps, Graphs, etc.  5. Consistent analysis across your organisation.
Power Automate	Power Automate offers strong data connectivity, and built-in platforms to integrate applications within and outside Microsoft Cloud through standard and purpose suited custom workflows. To provide you a complete, intelligent, and automated experience.    This includes: 1. Streamline everyday repetitive tasks using ML solutions for complex issues 2. Improve workforce productivity and reduce cost 3. Reduce human error across business systems 4. Creation of low code workflows 5. Logic design for Power Apps
Virtual Agents	Power Virtual Agents helps create intelligent chat bots with capabilities to facilitate standard FAQ/QNA tasks. Additionally, the same bot can be equipped to handle advanced queries and tasks like form submission, etc.   This includes: 1. Empower teams to seamlessly create chat bots 2. Improve customer satisfaction and loyalty  3. Measure performance for further improvement  4. Connect and drive action of your chat bots. 5. Extend Power Virtual Agents with Azure
Power  Pages	Microsoft Power Pages offer quick and convenient ways to build sites that deliver information and services to customers and provide engaging site-visiting experiences to visitors.   This includes:    1. Developing comprehensive websites with low to no-code functionalities 2. Easy to manage and connect with Power Platform tools 3. Hundreds of ready-made templates and websites ready to be customised 4. Ability to access data from the Microsoft Dataverse 5. Leveraging site security features from Microsoft Azure

 

Microsoft Power Platform Development life cycle

 

1.Design

App design is an important part of the process, in which you specify what you'll be creating in the 1^st phase of power platform development. Based on the information you collected in the planning phase. There are many popular traditional ways to develop the application. A no-code development through component of Power Platform may go with choices and convenience of users. 

 

Power platform enables users to create professional-grade low-code apps, chat bots, and websites that can be deployed across iOS, Android, Windows, and the web. A no-code platform like PowerApps, which employs a drag-and-drop methodology and doesn't necessitate coding expertise, may be preferable to developing conventional applications.

 

2.Data Model

A data model is a visual model that shows how data flows through your system and how different entities relate to each other. Choosing a right data model is crucial to the design of the solution. Because it will affect app design, especially in model-driven apps. 

 

As Microsoft Power Platform consultant, we understand the capabilities of Microsoft Dataverse when designing the data model for any solution.

The best practices to follow: 

 

• Lead the data model design effort to establish a high-level data architecture for the project.
• Establish a data model that can be extended by the individual design teams and communicate the design with the teams.
• Review and provide feedback as the data model evolves during detail design of solution features.

 

3. API Management for Power Platform Development
API management may refer to the processes for creating, analysing, and controlling the distribution of APIs. That connects applications and data across the organizations and across clouds.

 

Power Platform Development enables developers to use capabilities of Azure. Developers can create and distribute apps that are based on internal and external APIs, managed by API Management. 

 

For this, once your API is ready, all you have to do is export your APIs from Azure API Management to your Power Platform development Environment. Everything you need to do is to create a custom connector for your API, that can be used in Power Platform components like Power Apps, Power Automate etc.

4. Automate flows

Microsoft Power Automate is an important component of developing applications in Power Apps. Which gives you the choice to automate processes within your apps and streamline app development through drag-and-drop automated workflows (Previously known as flows).

 

Automation tasks and tools are fundamentally used to create and reset sandbox environments, as well as create, export, unpack, and validate solutions. Since workflows for various applications and services are intended to be automated by flow. The pre-configured application connectors included in Flow also enable task and workflow automation across a wide range of Microsoft products and third-party apps. 

This includes tasks like:

• Provisioning and de-provisioning of environments
• Synchronization of solutions’ metadata, to securely moving solutions between deployment, source control, or another environment
• Conducting static analysis checks against your solution by using the PowerApps Checking Service
• Build and customize artefacts, like data, models, diagrams, setup scripts
• Deployment to downstream environments

 

5. Build/test - Use Power Apps test framework to automate your UI testing for Canvas apps.

Power Apps test framework (AKA Power Apps Test studio) is a low-code solution to write, organise, and automate tests for canvas apps. It allows app makers and testers to write tests using Power Apps expressions and automate UI and end-to-end tests for Canvas apps development. App makers can use a recorder to save app interaction and automatically generate the expressions. This process is easier for them to catch issues early when they move between environments. 

 

Also helpful to:

• Test out new service versions or push updates to their existing production applications. 
• Create and organise test suites and test cases for your app in a new test designer.
• Capture your actions and create test steps automatically by using an intuitive recorder.
• Manually setup test stages and validate expected results by using new Power Apps testing expressions. 
• Play back your tests to quickly identify issues early and understand any failures.

6. Deployment of application in Power Platform development environment

The final stage, deployment may involve migrating software from a controlled environment in production and then get it out into the world. Once the App development is complete and you are ready to deploy it to test/production. Makers just need to make sure all the components configured correctly. In final steps of deployment, makers can export their unmanaged solutions to the production environment as managed solutions. 

Well done! Your app is ready to deploy. 

 

Next is making your first Power Apps version available for production use. You will now get it into the hands of your users. At this stage you need to make sure the app is working well and meeting your objectives once it has been launched. 

 

The final points

We have covered the steps for creating and deploying a solution that contains all the project artefacts/customisations from development to production environment. These steps, along with the tips, should give you enough to set up your development plan for any power platform project.

 

 

Create better solutions in faster and easier in minimal time and money with Soluzione:

We provide best-in-class PowerApps consulting and development services that will help you in your custom business applications.

 

Soluzione can advise on the right Power Apps licensing plan and Dynamics 365 Usage Rights for the Power Platform. To optimized cost and performance in your business and can also help you in the development of the same. Our PowerApps development experts can help you replace, modernize legacy processes, and extend their functionalities far beyond their current performance. 

 

For questions about pricing or if you want to know more, please write back to us at solz@solzit.com

Source:https://www.solzit.com/simplified-speedy-development-with-microsoft-power-platform/

Microsoft Dynamics 365… Inside-Out

 

Microsoft Dynamics 365 (also known as D365) is the Cloud-based Platform for Business Applications from Microsoft, which is suitable for all business, be it micro, small, medium, or large enterprises catering to different needs of B-2-B, B-2-C, and C-2-C models. Originally launched in 2009 (named Dynamics CRM 4.0 which was an on-premises web application).

 

The New Dynamics 365 has evolved both vertically and horizontally in terms of features and capabilities taking advantage of the latest cloud-platform with advanced-tech like Analytics, AI, etc. 

Starting as a Sickle… Dynamics 365 has evolved to become the “Swiss-Knife” for managing Business Services and Processes

While the diverse range of modules available in its catalogue makes Dynamics a fully functional ERP, but here I would like to highlight its CRM capabilities mainly because Microsoft facilitates choosing Dynamics features as and when needed (meaning that you can use it purely for CRM functions or can choose to extend it to be used in other business processes like Finance, Project Operations, etc.)

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is an essential function for all organizations to ensure businesses continuity and growth through refined personalize-able services to its clientele.

Using Dynamics, companies can choose to use specific services like Marketing, Sales, etc. and as the business and requirements grow, extend the same platform to accommodate additional ERP capabilities without needing to switch between or use multiple platforms.

 

Key Modules of Dynamics 365 CRM

Dynamics 365 Sales

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales is an intelligent market-leading CRM software that helps Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales is an intelligent market-leading CRM software that assists MSMEs in the end-to-end management of their entire business development and continuity process, providing the sales team with all of the necessary tools and a 360-degree view required to increase productivity, foster relationships, and, most importantly, win more deals.

 

Dynamics 365 Sales Enterprise can assist your organisation in critical business development processes, maximising revenue opportunities, and collaborating more effectively across teams.

 

Dynamics 365 is the CRM of choice.

·       Enhance Sales Insight Using Dynamics 365 For Sales

·       Dynamics CRM Sales Escalate Your Sales Performance

·       Increase Sales Productivity Through Sales Automation

·       Leads Nurturing With Sales Management Software

·       Manage Your Products Through Microsoft CRM

Dynamics 365 Customer Service

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Service is a customer service automation module that streamlines case and knowledge management, enables personalised customer service with a 360-degree customer view, and provides dashboards and reports to provide visibility into customer service performance.

The Microsoft CRM customer care module includes a wide range of advanced, yet user-friendly case management tools. This allows organisations to provide exceptional services to their clients. It is a built-in intelligent client tracking system that provides consumers with faster and more customised services.

·       Fast and efficient customer services through Dynamics 365

·       Multi-Channel engagement with the client management system

·       Proficiently Manage Cases in the Customer Service Hub

 

Dynamics 365 Marketing

Microsoft Marketing Automation for Dynamics CRM is designed as a closed-loop marketing system that allows you to create and track all campaign activities. It also collects data for better analysis. There are interactive dashboards for a comprehensive view with liability to connect with all social media channels. Including Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and other.

Dynamics 365 for marketing in the cloud combines intelligent applications that work seamlessly together to transform your business processes. D365 CRM can tightly integrate marketing, sales, and other modules thanks to advanced tools and built-in analytics. To orchestrate customer journeys across marketing, sales, commerce, and service teams, from Prospect to Customer.

Key Features for A Successful Marketing Strategy:

1.      Campaign management 

2.      Marketing list

3.      Customer response tracking 

·        Easy Email Through CRM Marketing

·        Strengthen Social Media reach

·        Consistent Management Between Sales And Marketing 

Dynamics 365 Project Service operations

Dynamics 365 Project Service Automation a.k.a. Dynamics 365 Project Operations helps business a lot in the planning and management of the entire project life cycle. It goes from initial sales stages, known to a lead and opportunity to Billing, Invoicing, and Support.

Managing anything and everything to improve process automation and customer relationships by using D365 CRM Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), to plan and schedule tasks. "It includes the entire project cycle, from creating a planning opportunity to tracking and managing resources, to easily quoting and approving time and expenses for project-based services in real time."

Key features Dynamics 365 Project operations 

1.      D365 PO helps teams to stay productive while effectively managing all the project deliverables on time and within budget. 

2.      Project Managers and teams can use advanced scheduling tools to plan a project according to the delivery timelines and take calls on assigning resources for client tasks to manage the complete project life cycle. 

3.      MS PO brings a remarkable improvement in project planning, resource management, and other phases of the Project Lifecycle, streamlining the overall process with refinement in end-to-end visibility, improved productivity, and more.

 

Dynamics 365 Field Service

Field service management entails more than simply having the appropriate tools on hand wherever you are. It involves building relationships with your most valuable asset, your clients.

You can develop a customer service narrative using Dynamics 365 for Field Service Management that spans multiple channels, maximises personnel productivity, and outperforms customer expectations.

With it, technicians can see the requirements and information of the customer through a panoramic view. It is accessible through multiple devices and can be accessed in real time or offline and deliver the best services to your customer and assist with on-site experience.

Key Benefits:

• Optimize Your Business Through Scheduling Management
• Utilize Inventory Management for Dynamics 365 Field Service
• Field Service CRM is Customer Centric
• Bridging The Gap Between Teams

Dynamics 365 Portals

Portal is a single platform for Customer Engagement integrated into Dynamics 365 that provides a complete, extendable, and configurable personalised experience to your customers, partners, or internal employees, with specific CRM data and functionality visible in their customised Dynamics 365 portals.

Using the Dynamics 365 application, you can create a dedicated portal for your business partners to place orders directly through your website. Orders will be entered into Dynamics 365 without your intervention. Although it may not appear to be much, this can help you stand out from the crowd.

Key features in Dynamics 365 Portals 

Ø  Gives more engagement: Dynamics CRM Web Portals give more access to the user may be the customer, employee, partner, or community member which gives engagement and satisfaction to the user.

Ø  Self-Service Access: D365 portals allow users to self-serve access the content needed from Dynamics 365 data using advanced customization capabilities. 

Ø  Provides Multilingual Support: Dynamics CRM Portals support 48 languages and out of those 48 languages the user can choose their language and can access multiple languages.

 

Dynamics CRM Customer Portal Offers

·        Dynamics CRM Portals Knowledge Base articles.

·        Customer self-support system where customers create their support tickets.

·        Discussion forum.

 

Various Portals can be developed using Dynamics 365 

• Employee Self-Service Portal
• Partner Portal Offers
• Community Portal Offers
• Custom Portal

 

At last,  

 

If your company already uses or is familiar with other Microsoft products, Dynamics 365 is the tool for you. Dynamics 365 can be integrated with other Microsoft solutions such as Office 365, Outlook, and SharePoint. Furthermore, Dynamics 365 can be easily integrated with third-party solutions.

 

 

Getting Started with Dynamics 365

Dynamics 365 is a Microsoft business utility feature and service powerhouse that allows companies to manage most (if not all) of their business processes... whether B2B, B2C, or C2C, as well as internal processes like HR, Finance, and so on. In general, this is the description of an ERP... which is "in a way" correct for Dynamics. "In a way," because, unlike other ERPs, Dynamics allows businesses to pick and choose only the features and modules that they want or need rather than committing to a large ERP.

 

 

You can easily find dynamics 365 development and implementation services tailored to your specific information, performance, and business needs @SoluzioneITservices

Pricing of Dynamics 365 CRM

Despite what some people may say, cost is still a crucial consideration for businesses when selecting software.

 

Dynamics 365 CRM has plans and licencing options that are adaptable, allowing customers to purchase only the apps they require. You can get advanced features and functionality at a lower cost with Dynamics 365.

 

Among the services you can choose are:

Dynamics 365 Migration

·       To upgrade Dynamics CRM 4.0, 2011, 2013, 2015, or 2016 to Latest D365

·       Migrate Dynamics On-premises to Dynamics 365

·       Migrate ZOHO to Dynamics 365

·       Migrate-from\Integrate SalesForce.com to Dynamics

·       Migrate from Dynamics 365 to PowerApps

Dynamics 365 Customization

·       Form Customization

·       BI Dashboard & MIS reporting using SSRS/SSAS

·       System Workflow, Plugins & Reports

·       Ribbon & Sitemaps

·       System Entity, View & Attributes

 

Installation & Administration

·       Assign user base roles & definitions CRM configuration

·       Ongoing Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Support, and Enhancements

·       Performance Optimization & Health Checks

·       AZURE portal support

 

The future of CRM is on the cloud. Find the best deals or swiftly upgrade your CRM to the latest dynamics 365.

For more information visit solzit.com

Source: https://www.solzit.com/microsoft-dynamics-365-services/