Transform Ideas Into Efficient Business System Processes: Examples of PowerApps

Poor financial management, inconsistent performance monitoring, and incompetence in hiring the right talent. These are just a few of the problems small and medium-sized businesses face today.

Yet, despite these challenges, most businesses still use archaic processes to manage their system data. Could it be because of technophobia? Or simply reluctance to adopt change?

Whatever the reason is, there exist simple solutions designed to overcome most business challenges with low-code applications. Microsoft PowerApps is a development platform that enables businesses to build easy and bespoke applications to solve specific business problems.

In this article, we look at common examples of PowerApps and how you can use this development platform to create powerful applications for your business. Turn ideas into efficient business system processes with Microsoft PowerApps, even if you are not a tech wizard.

PowerApps Example 1: Expense Approvals App

Expense approval can be a mind-numbing process for any HR department. Managers require their employees to manually search through paper receipts, input and submit each transaction from the previous month and ensure everything’s up to date. The process can suck the life out of everyone involved.

Using Microsoft PowerApps, users can develop and launch a mobile-friendly application that streamlines the expense approval process. The app enables managers and employees to:

• Submit an expense request sheet with valid proofs.
• Log and evaluate an expense claim.
• Accept or reject expense claims efficiently.
• Track the approval process at each step.
• Upload images of receipts directly to the app.
• View expense history anywhere, anytime.

The PowerApps expense approval app sends automated notification requests for the management to approve or decline them. The requester also receives real-time updates on the status of their request. What’s more, it’s easy to integrate the application into any existing HR system.

PowerApps Example 2: Service Request App

Companies - both small and large - can be bogged down with inbound calls from customers seeking service requests. Rather than letting your phone lines burn with these requests, you can create an interactive app that allows users to submit IT service requests.

Such an application can be built using the Microsoft PowerApps platform. These apps are independent of the platform and are accessible directly through SharePoint. Still, they can also be accessible on the PowerApps mobile application that is available for Android, iOS, and Windows devices.

You could also create alternative tools to serve similar business roles. For instance, it’s possible to develop a FAQ Chatbot using the Microsoft PowerApps platform. Instead of letting your IT support staff answer consumer frequently asked questions, you can easily delegate the job to a chatbot.

A bot on your website or e-commerce site can manage a lot of stuff including conveying self-help documents and rendering level 1 support. Automatic this process alleviates the need for having a real person respond to customer inquiries. It can save you a lot of money in the long run.  

PowerApps Example 3: Employee Onboarding App

Some organizations experience challenges when it comes to onboarding their new employees. Poor customization of the onboarding experience can result in details skidding through the cracks. Microsoft PowerApps can seamlessly integrate data with other Office applications like Onboarding Tasks, calendars, and Outlook.

With PowerApps, you can build an employee onboarding app that collaborates all company resources in one platform. New team members will be able to find policy guides and team member contacts, fill out their Office 365 User profile and photo, and track other relevant onboarding tasks.

A simple yet powerful tool, the PowerApps onboarding app can accomplish the following:

• Assign tasks to the concerned personnel.
• Generate notifications from the Planner.
• Keep track of all activities on a simplified dashboard.
• Generate PDFs to fit the compliance processes.
• Relay the latest updates through the Microsoft Power platform.
• Deploy in the cloud for easy accessibility.

Put simply, an employee onboarding app serves as a one-stop shop for newcomers to introduce themselves and get access to the necessary documentation. Not only does it simplify the HR personnel’s role in onboarding new hires, but it provides a hassle-free onboarding experience.

PowerApps Example 4: A Bespoke Crisis Management App

Another risk that is faced by many businesses is operational continuity. This became even more apparent in the wake of the pandemic and global lockdowns. Many organizations need to track their employee health and well-being as well as handle their grievances remotely.

With Microsoft PowerApps, users can design a crisis communication app that handles employee collaboration effectively. The app broadcasts all company communication and announcements from SharePoint and manages them on HRIS. You can publish news and info and send them to your employees and customers.

The recipients get notified about important information and can view location-specific emergency contacts. The app allows organizations to quickly track their employees’ health and assist them where necessary. These company-wide communications prove handy in enhancing collaboration.

Conclusion

These are just a few real-world examples of PowerApps and what they can do for your business. So, have you started using PowerApps to build customized applications for your business? If you answered “yes” how has the experience been? We’d love to hear your story in the comments section below.