Introduction:
The Power Platform is an incredible suite of tools. With Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power Virtual Agents, Microsoft has provided a comprehensive set of capabilities for organizations to streamline processes, improve decision-making, and foster collaboration. But as with any platform, there are always areas for potential improvement.
In this blog post, I’m going to walk through how I would
have approached building the Power Platform if I had a clean slate. This isn't
to say the current iteration isn’t impressive—it certainly is—but these are
just a few tweaks and design considerations that, from my perspective, would
make the platform even more powerful and user-friendly.
1. Data-Centric Foundation
Current State: The Power Platform is built on Dataverse,
which is great for managing data across apps and integrations. However,
Dataverse is often seen as "just another database" by users,
sometimes creating confusion around its role.
What I Would Change: I’d build the Power Platform
around data as a core asset. Everything should be designed with data
centrality in mind, ensuring seamless integration across systems. There should
be clearer messaging that Dataverse is the glue holding everything together,
not just another database, and its power should be fully leveraged from the
start.
Why It Matters: When businesses see data as the core
of their operations, they can make more informed decisions. This would help
Power Platform users recognize the importance of data unification across tools
and push them to build solutions with a holistic view of their data assets.
2. Unified User Interface
Current State: Each product in the Power Platform has
its own interface, and while there are consistencies across Power BI, Power
Apps, and Power Automate, they still feel somewhat separate.
What I Would Change: I’d aim for a more unified
interface where users can seamlessly switch between Power Apps, Power
Automate, and Power BI without having to hop between different screens. This
could be similar to what Microsoft Teams does, where users have apps embedded
inside the same workspace.
Why It Matters: A unified UI reduces friction. Users
would no longer have to re-orient themselves as they switch between tools. This
would foster a more streamlined workflow, saving time and reducing the
cognitive load on users.
3. Enhanced Collaboration Tools
Current State: The Power Platform enables team
collaboration, but the collaboration tools (like commenting, shared workspaces,
etc.) could be better integrated.
What I Would Change: I’d build in more robust real-time
collaboration features, similar to how users can co-edit in Office 365
products. Imagine building a Power App or an automated workflow while chatting
with your team in real-time, all within the same interface.
Why It Matters: Collaboration is key to building
effective solutions quickly. Improved collaboration would enhance productivity,
reduce back-and-forth, and empower teams to iterate faster.
4. Pre-Built Templates and AI Recommendations
Current State: There are a good number of templates
for Power Apps and Power Automate, but they often feel like starting points
rather than fully-fledged solutions.
What I Would Change: I’d incorporate more AI-driven
recommendations and pre-built templates based on industry-specific
best practices. This would make the Power Platform more accessible for users
with less technical expertise and enable organizations to get more value out of
the box.
Why It Matters: By leveraging AI to guide users
towards the right solutions, you remove barriers to entry and speed up the
development process. Additionally, pre-built templates tailored to specific
industries or common use cases would minimize the need for heavy customization.
5. Marketplace for Apps and Automations
Current State: Power Platform users can share apps or
automations within their organizations, but there’s not a robust public
marketplace to share solutions outside of their own organizations.
What I Would Change: I’d build a marketplace
where users can share their apps, automations, and insights across the broader
Power Platform community. This would be similar to how app stores work, where
users can browse, download, and install community-created tools.
Why It Matters: A marketplace would encourage
innovation and community collaboration. It would allow users to quickly find
solutions to common problems without having to reinvent the wheel, thereby
increasing the overall value of the platform.
6. Low-Code and Pro-Code Harmony
Current State: Power Platform is predominantly a
low-code environment, but as more complex use cases emerge, the need for
pro-code capabilities grows.
What I Would Change: I’d make sure there’s a perfect balance
between low-code and pro-code. By embedding more developer-friendly tools
within the platform (like custom APIs, more advanced scripting languages,
etc.), Power Platform would better cater to both citizen developers and
professional developers alike.
Why It Matters: Ensuring harmony between low-code and
pro-code ensures that organizations can handle both simple and complex use
cases without needing to switch platforms or adopt other solutions. It also
allows companies to scale their solutions more effectively.
Conclusion: Building a Stronger Power Platform
The Power Platform is already a robust toolset, empowering
organizations to automate workflows, create apps, and analyze data without
heavy technical investment. However, by making the platform more data-centric,
enhancing collaboration, unifying the user interface, and providing more
out-of-the-box tools, I believe Microsoft could make the platform even more
valuable to businesses around the world.
At its heart, a more interconnected, user-friendly, and
scalable Power Platform will benefit everyone, from citizen developers to
advanced tech teams, allowing for a more seamless and integrated way of
building the future.
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