The Clearly Podcast
Digital Transformation on the Power Platform
Summary
Utilizing Microsoft Power Platform and Microsoft 365 for Digital Transformation
Introduction:
The discussion focuses on Power Platform, digital transformation, and the use of Excel as a business app. The goal is to explore real-world examples of using Power Platform and Microsoft 365 technologies to create technical solutions for digital transformation through seven scenarios.
1. Annual Budgets
To handle annual budgets, build an app to capture and store budget information in Dataverse.
The app allows multiple users to edit simultaneously without locking cells, centralizing data and avoiding tracking issues associated with email and Excel.
Once data is captured, it can be uploaded to financial tools like Microsoft Dynamics for further processing and tracking progress against budgets.
2. Holiday/Vacation Planner
Create a holiday/vacation planner using a model-driven app for mobile users to submit requests.
Capture data in Dataverse, track leave days, and send approval emails via Power Automate.
Automate calendar blocking and out-of-office notifications.
Integrate with Exchange for managing notifications and calendar events, and include Power BI reports for leave tracking.
3. Expenses with Authorizations
Manage expenses using a mobile app to photograph receipts and submit claims.
Store documents in SharePoint or Dataverse. SharePoint offers better searchability, while Dataverse provides secure file attachments.
Address complexities of US-centric expense systems and automate tax calculations.
4. Creating and Sharing Reports
Power BI is the recommended tool for sharing reports, offering both interactive and fixed-format (paginated) reports.
While Excel can be useful for localized exploratory work, Power BI is ideal for sharing to avoid versioning issues.
5. Internal Contracts
Replace Excel spreadsheets with Power Platform and SharePoint to manage internal contracts.
Centralize contract data in Dataverse with model-driven and canvas apps, enhancing searchability and document management.
6. Customer Portals
Use Power Pages to allow external users to access information without individual licenses.
Enable customers to self-serve for invoices, receipts, and order history, reducing customer service calls.
Integrate with courier systems for delivery information, providing tracking details and reducing inquiries about order status.
7. Microsoft Planner for Project Plans
Utilize Microsoft Planner for project management, leveraging its Kanban functionality.
8. Joiners, Movers, Leavers (JML) Process
Automate the JML process with Power Platform to streamline provisioning, updating records, and managing access.
This automation saves time and improves security in handling JML tasks.
Emphasize that automating non-value-adding processes like JML can significantly enhance efficiency.
Transcript
Utilizing Microsoft Power Platform and Microsoft 365 for Digital Transformation
Introduction by Andy:
We’ve been discussing Power Platform, digital transformation, and the use of Excel as a business app. Today, we’ll explore real-world examples of using Power Platform and Microsoft 365 technologies to create technical solutions for digital transformation. We have seven scenarios to discuss.
1. Annual Budgets
Andy: How do you handle annual budgets with Power Platform?
Shailan:
Use an app to capture and store budget information in Dataverse.
The app allows multiple users to edit simultaneously without locking cells.
This centralizes data and avoids the issues of tracking information via email and Excel spreadsheets.
Tom:
Once data is captured, it can be uploaded to financial tools like Microsoft Dynamics.
This integration allows for tracking progress against budgets.
2. Holiday/Vacation Planner
Andy: How would you build a holiday/vacation planner?
Shailan:
Use a model-driven app for mobile users to submit requests.
Capture data in Dataverse, track leave days, and send approval emails via Power Automate.
Automate calendar blocking and out-of-office notifications.
Tom:
Integrate with Exchange for managing notifications and calendar events.
Include Power BI reports for leave tracking.
3. Expenses with Authorizations
Tom: How to manage expenses with authorizations?
Shailan:
Use a mobile app to photograph receipts and submit claims.
Store documents in SharePoint or Dataverse.
SharePoint offers better searchability, while Dataverse provides secure file attachments.
Andy:
Discussed the complexities of US-centric expense systems and the need for automated tax calculations.
4. Creating and Sharing Reports
Tom: Power BI is the best tool for sharing reports, offering both interactive and fixed-format (paginated) reports.
Andy:
For localized exploratory work, Excel can be useful, but for sharing, Power BI is ideal to avoid versioning issues.
5. Internal Contracts
Andy: How did you manage internal contracts for a large organization?
Shailan:
Replaced Excel spreadsheets with Power Platform and SharePoint.
Centralized contract data in Dataverse with model-driven and canvas apps.
Enhanced searchability and management of documents.
6. Customer Portals
Tom: Using Power Pages for customer portals.
Allows external users to access information without individual licenses.
Enables customers to self-serve for invoices, receipts, and order history, reducing customer service calls.
Andy:
Highlighted the benefit of integrating with courier systems for delivery information.
7. Microsoft Planner for Project Plans
Andy: Briefly mentioned using Microsoft Planner for project management, utilizing its Kanban functionality.
8. Joiners, Movers, Leavers (JML) Process
Shailan:
Automated JML process with Power Platform.
Streamlined provisioning, updating records, and managing access.
Reduced time and improved security in handling JML tasks.
Andy:
Emphasized that automating non-value-adding processes like JML can save time and improve security.
Conclusion:
Andy: Announced the next podcast topic on client interactions and introduced a guest for the upcoming discussion.