Business Applications MVP, Diana Birkelbach Talks About Power Platform's Applications

As businesses rely more heavily on data, it is crucial to have the right tools to manage and interpret it. Power Platform has emerged as a leading data visualization and analysis tool that helps businesses make sense of their data.

At DynamicsSmartz, we invite leading industry professionals to speak on Microsoft Business Solutions and current technological trends for our segment, "Influencer Insights."

Today, we have with us "the PCF lady", who’ll share her experiences while building applications with Power Platform using little to no code.

Let Us Quickly Get To Our Expert’s Point Of View.

Question 1- What, according to you, are some of the top Microsoft technology trends to watch out for in 2023?

The most impactful Microsoft technology trend for me is Power Platform. That's because of the meaning of no-code/low-code and how this can be used together with pro-dev skills to build fast customer-tailored Apps.

The integration between several applications is also an important aspect, making the Power Platform the one I rely on when I build applications. The platform is extensively integrated with Azure, opening many integration possibilities. And not to forget the role of AI is playing in the picture.

Question 2: Would you like to share some tips on Power Apps implementation?

When developing Power Apps, choosing the right tool for the right job is essential since there are so many implementation ways. If possible, I choose low-code. But when it gets more complicated, I switch to pro-dev tools.

Power Apps Component Framework is a way to develop code components for Power Apps, which greatly integrates with the platform. The old days, when we had to make vast implementations, are over. Now we are allowed to pick only some parts to develop with pro-dev skills, leaving the rest in low code. That's a huge productivity booster that keeps the performance and maintainability intact.

Question 3: What is the potential for Microsoft Partners in Germany?

I think Microsoft Partners in Germany can get the most out of how Power Platform integrates with all Platforms. Dynamics 365 relies on the Power Platform, so it brings so many possibilities out of the platform, which will allow to develop faster the needed requirements for the customers. It's not only about building apps but also about integrations.

Power Platform has so many Connectors that easily connect the data without needing to replicate it, and the SAP, SQL, or SharePoint connectors are of great help. But Power Platform can also exist without Dynamics 365, and the need for apps is huge for every company. With Power Platform, we get the tools.

Question 4: How can we leverage Microsoft 365 and Power Apps for improved collaboration?

That's a significant aspect of the Power Platform, bringing the worlds together. With Power Platform, we can create apps for teams to track and automate business processes. Inside Power Platform, we can collaborate on surfaces like Microsoft Teams.

For instance, Microsoft introduced last year the Collaboration Tools, another step to improve collaboration with Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Outlook, Planner, Approvals, and so on, right inside Power Apps. But the partnership is increasingly improving to allow users to get the work done without switching the application context.

Get to Know Our Influencer

What is the best event that you attended recently? What were your key takeaways?

Recently I had a session at Powerful Devs Conference 2023. It was an honor to speak among such impressive Microsoft and Community members like Charles Lamanna, April Dunnam, Daniel Laskewitz, and Scott Durow, to name just a few. I loved the way we get together when it's about technology and software development.

What's your success mantra?

I strongly believe in the quote by Paul Chen – Passion never fails. I think my passion is something that drives me toward success.