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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.