Microsoft: all about PowerApps

In today’s article we are going to talk about a tool or application (I do not really know how to describe it) that I think is incredibly unique and that is Microsoft’s PowerApps. Want to know more? Read on for a better breakdown of the topic.  

When appear PowerApps?  

Microsoft unveiled PowerApps, a new business-focused service that allows companies to create all kinds of custom applications, at its Convergence 2015 event in Barcelona.  

This Microsoft tool, part of the Power Platform suite of solutions and the Office 365 suite, enables companies to get rid of countless mechanical and repetitive tasks. And we can prove this, because lately increased companies have decided to focus their strategy on the rapid development of customized applications that connect to existing data and work on different platforms, without having to resort to the development of custom software. This is the reason for the launch of this powerful tool by Bill Gates’ technology giant.  

But how exactly do they work? 

They are mobile applications (any device), desktop or even web applications that employees of a company can create to be more efficient in their work. These applications can fulfill all kinds of tasks, and can be as simple as a simple tool to make queries or as complicated as we are able to do.  

One of the most important advantages over other solutions is that Power Apps allows us to develop applications, even if we have no programming knowledge. We simply need to have a basic knowledge of Office.  

Being part of the Power Platform suite of solutions, this platform also offers us the possibility of taking advantage of the other tools available, with the automation of processes and tasks through Power Automate, the analysis and exploitation of data from business intelligence knowledge with Power BI and the creation of conversational agents with Power Virtual Agents. 

What is Microsoft PowerApps for? 

To optimize the work of employees by making it possible for them to create an application that fits their needs like a glove without having to get an engineering degree. PowerApps can collect data from various sources (Dropbox, OneDrive, databases, social networks) and treat or display them as the employee who created the application wants. 

What Are the Benefits of Using PowerApps? 

The main benefit of PowerApps is that it provides a visual interface for creating apps without the need to write code. The simple, drag-and-drop approach to application development also means that it is easy to modify your apps when business needs change. 

Another benefit, which sets PowerApps apart from other low-code offerings, is that PowerApps includes connectors to link your apps to various data sources, that do not require any additional licensing. These standard connectors provide connectivity to sources such as Microsoft Data verse, SQL Server, and Excel. In addition to the standard connectors, there are hundreds of custom connectors available that can provide connectivity to third-party applications and data sources. 

PowerApps can be used by organizations of all sizes. It is included with most Office 365 subscription plans, making it an affordable option for application development. 

How Can the Business Get Started with PowerApps? 

Microsoft PowerApps works on a subscription basis.

But, Prior to subscribing, it is important to consider how your organization will use PowerApps. There are multiple licensing options available, and the overall cost can vary widely depending on which licensing option you choose and how you use PowerApps in your organization. 

They offer you 3 options, being only two main options: 

• The per-app plan  

Currently, costs $5 per user, per app, per month. Although it looks like this is the least expensive option, the total cost could become quite high if you have a lot of apps. 

• The per-user plan 

It costs $20 per user, per month and allows for an unlimited number of apps. 

• The pay-as-you-go plan 

This plan is geared toward organizations that do not use PowerApps on a consistent basis. The plan costs $10 per active user, per app, per month, and it requires an Azure subscription.