Microsoft Power Apps is a low-code platform that allows users to create custom business applications quickly and easily.
With its user-friendly interface and built-in templates, Power Apps can be used to develop a wide range of apps that can enhance productivity, streamline operations, and boost overall efficiency.
The platform has gained popularity in recent years, especially in the UK, where businesses and organisations have found innovative ways to leverage the technology to streamline their operations and improve their productivity.
In this article, we will explore two real-world examples of how Microsoft Power Apps has been used to automate processes within a business to do all of the above, hence reducing overall costs.
The UK has seen the adoption of Microsoft Power Apps in a number of different sectors, including healthcare, education, and the public sector. Here we will look at examples of how Power Apps has been used to improve productivity, and provide links to references for further information.
Balfour Beatty
Balfour Beatty is a multinational infrastructure group that operates in over 80 countries. The company specialises in construction and engineering services, and they have a strong commitment to improving their processes through innovation and technology.
In recent years, Balfour Beatty have been leveraging Microsoft Power Apps to streamline their processes and improve productivity. This powerful app building platform enables non-developers to create custom applications that can be integrated with other Microsoft products like Excel, Dynamics 365, and Power BI.
One of the ways Balfour Beatty are using Power Apps, is to streamline their employee onboarding process. With the app, new employees can easily access important documents, fill out forms, and track their progress through the onboarding process. The app also includes a task management system that helps managers keep track of employee progress and ensures that all necessary steps are completed on time.
Another way Balfour Beatty are using Power Apps is to improve their quality control processes. The company has created a custom app that enables employees to easily log any quality issues they encounter on job sites. This information is then automatically routed to the appropriate teams for resolution, improving response times and reducing the risk of delays or rework.
Power Apps has also enabled Balfour Beatty to improve their safety processes. The company have created a custom app that allows employees to report any safety incidents they witness or experience. This information is then automatically sent to the appropriate safety teams for investigation, enabling the company to quickly identify and address potential safety hazards.
Overall, the use of Microsoft Power Apps has enabled Balfour Beatty to streamline their processes, improve productivity, and reduce the risk of errors or delays. By empowering non-developers to create custom applications, the company has been able to quickly respond to changing business needs and improve their operations in a cost-effective manner.
Virgin Atlantic Airways
Virgin Atlantic Airways is a leading airline in the United Kingdom, with a reputation for innovation and high-quality customer service. To maintain its position as a leading airline, Virgin Atlantic needed to find ways to modernise its maintenance operations, which were previously reliant on paper-based processes. The airline’s maintenance technicians would spend hours each day manually recording and tracking the maintenance of aircraft components, which was inefficient and prone to errors.
To solve this problem, Virgin Atlantic turned to Microsoft Power Apps. With the help of Power Apps, the airline was able to develop a custom maintenance application that digitised the entire maintenance process, from recording defects to ordering parts and scheduling repairs. The app was designed to be user-friendly, with simple navigation and intuitive data entry forms, which made it easy for technicians to adopt.
The results have been impressive. According to a case study published by Microsoft, the Power Apps solution has reduced manual data entry by 70%, saving technicians over 60 hours per month. The app has also improved data accuracy, which has led to a 20% reduction in repeat defects, and has enabled the airline to schedule maintenance tasks more efficiently, resulting in a 10% improvement in aircraft availability.
So, how can a stakeholder employ an application developer to create a bespoke Microsoft Power Apps application?
Here are some best practices:
Define your business requirements
- Before starting the development process, it is important to have a clear understanding of what you want to achieve with your Power Apps application. This will help you to clearly communicate your requirements to the application developer and ensure that the end product meets your needs.
Choose the right developer
- When choosing a developer, look for someone who has experience with Power Apps and understands your business requirements. A developer who has experience working with similar applications can provide valuable insights and recommendations that can help you get the most out of your Power Apps investment.
Work with the developer to define the scope of the project
- This includes determining the features, functionality, and timeline for your Power Apps application. This will help you to stay on track and ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget.
- Investing in a custom Microsoft Power Apps application can save your organisation time and money. By automating manual processes, reducing errors, and providing real-time data, Power Apps can help you improve productivity, increase efficiency, and make data-driven decisions.
- If you are looking to streamline your business processes, increase productivity, and make data-driven decisions, consider investing in a custom Microsoft Power Apps application. With the right developer, you can create a bespoke application that meets your specific needs and helps you get the most out of your investment.
In conclusion
These two real-world examples demonstrate the power of Microsoft Power Apps in transforming business processes and improving productivity. By providing a flexible and user-friendly platform for app development, Power Apps has enabled businesses and organisations in the UK to modernise their operations, improve efficiency, and provide better services to their customers. As more businesses and organisations look to streamline their processes and embrace digital transformation, it’s likely that we’ll see more innovative uses of Power Apps in the years to come.
References:
Virgin Atlantic Airways case study:
https://customers.microsoft.com/en-us/story/virgin-atlantic-travel-and-transportation-power-apps
Balfour Beatty case study: