Managing a business process through a combination of Excel, email and messaging apps may eventually lead a business to consider the need for a dedicated application.
The question is no longer simply who will build the application.
It may be a case of assessing Microsoft Power Apps vs. custom software development.
It is important to consider how critical the application may be to the business.
Microsoft Power Apps
If an organization can leverage Microsoft Power Apps, it can quickly and comparatively easily build applications that integrate with Microsoft Dataverse, Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365.
An example may be the automation of an internal request and approval process. Power Apps may provide sufficient integration to build and implement a business application for this process.
Custom Software: When is it Appropriate?
When standard software cannot support important business requirements, custom software may become an option.
Imagine a business with a centralized lead generation function, where the leads are further qualified by the sales team and ultimately converted into opportunities. However, for effective lead qualification, several aspects must be considered including geography, customer type, business service offerings, and lead source. Members of the sales team review and evaluate leads, and opportunities, based on their interaction with customers and potential customers.
At some point, the business needs to ask a practical question: should Power Apps be configured around the business process, or is the business changing its process simply to fit Power Apps?
If Power Apps cannot be extended to meet the requirements effectively, the business may need to consider custom software that better aligns with its processes.
Consider Who Will Use the Application
In the case where an application is used exclusively by employees of the business, the application can be extremely complex. However, when the same application is exposed to the general public, it must be simple and intuitive to use.
Power Apps licensing costs can vary depending on the number of users, data requirements, connectors and the way the application is deployed.
From an enterprise perspective, Power Apps can be a cost-effective solution for building a business application.
When a significant number of users will be accessing the application, the total cost of ownership of Power Apps should be evaluated against the expected usage and long-term requirements of the application.
Integration Can Change the Decision
A company normally relies on multiple applications to run its business. There could already be a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) application, an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) application, accounting application, website, and other internal applications. Power Apps has the potential to integrate with all of these applications.
Custom development can also integrate multiple applications. However, it can provide greater flexibility when existing applications do not readily support integration.
Replacing existing applications usually is not necessary to integrate multiple applications. Integrating multiple applications may provide more value.
Power Apps and custom integration options may be the best approaches to integrate applications if your employees are manually transferring data and information between multiple applications. Decimal Technologies can assist in evaluating if Power Apps or other customisations and integration options are the best solutions.
Think Beyond Development Speed
If your process needs more flexibility, review Decimal’s Custom Software Development services.
Speed is important, and Power Apps can provide the potential to develop internal business applications relatively quickly. However, Power Apps and similar platforms may not always be the best choice for long-term digital transformation. Before using Power Apps or similar options, evaluate if there may be better alternatives in the long-term.
Will workflows need to be significantly different from the template provided? Will customers be able to use the app? Will it need to communicate with other business systems? Is there a line-of-business requirement for capabilities that exist outside of the app?
Power Apps or Custom Software? Ask These Questions
- Is the application for internal employees or external customers?
- How many people will use it?
- Is the process being automated unique to the business?
- Does the organisation already use Microsoft 365 or Dynamics 365?
- Which CRM, ERP or other systems need to be integrated?
- How much control does the business need over the user experience?
- What might the application need to do in the future?
- What are the development, licensing and ongoing ownership costs?
Answering these questions is more useful than starting with a preference for a particular technology.
How Decimal Technologies Approaches the Decision
We focus on the business process first, then the technology.
Depending on the business process, the workflow may be suitable for automation using a low-code development tool. If the process is highly specialised, it may require a custom software application. In some cases, the business may not need another application at all. Integrating existing systems may be enough to improve the process.
You can also view Decimal’s broader digital services for integration, automation and business systems.
Our goal is to implement software solutions that reduce manual work and remain flexible as the needs of the business change.
Considering Microsoft Power Apps or custom software for a business process? Talk to Decimal Technologies about your requirements before deciding which approach to take.