Power Apps US Government App Maker Training August 2023

Unleashing creativity and driving innovation, Microsoft’s Power Platform offers a striking path for individuals and organizations alike, enabling them to build tailor-made apps without compromising efficiency and usability.

It lays the groundwork for an era of democratized app development, where the power of creation is not just in the hands of trained coders but anyone with an idea and drive. And within this vibrant landscape, we find a new role: the Power Platform App Maker.

Microsoft Power Platform brings to life a suite of tools that empower individuals to create, innovate, and solve business problems, all without needing extensive coding expertise. This ability to build apps quickly and without compromise is what makes Power Platform a standout platform. Templates offer a jump-start to development, while drag-and-drop interfaces break down the complexity of app design, making it accessible to all. Once an app is created, its deployment is not an end but merely the beginning of an ongoing journey. Power Platform encourages continuous enhancements, rolling out updates with a simple click, and ensuring that the app always meets the evolving needs of users.

An App, in the broadest sense, is a software solution designed to perform specific functions, bridging the gap between user needs and technological capabilities. An App Maker, therefore, is an individual or entity that shapes these digital solutions, creating user-friendly interfaces and experiences. In the world of Microsoft Power Platform, an App Maker takes on a more specific role. They leverage the suite of tools provided by the Power Platform to build robust business solutions. This role combines elements of creativity and technical understanding, with a focus on solving problems and improving processes.

The Power Platform App Maker weaves their skills across Power Apps Canvas Apps, Model Driven Apps, Power Automate Cloud Flows, Power Automate Desktop Flows, Power BI, and Power Virtual Agents.

Manufacturers of advanced electronic parts for robotics could use Canvas Apps to create an interface for technicians to report and track issues with the components, providing real-time data and reducing downtime. Model-Driven Apps could facilitate an end-to-end process for tracking component lifecycles, from manufacturing to customer feedback, thus promoting quality control.

Let’s delve further into these two types of applications and their possible uses in different industries.

Power Apps is a suite within the Microsoft Power Platform that allows users to create custom applications without the need for extensive coding knowledge. Power Apps provides two primary types of applications: Canvas Apps and Model-Driven Apps.

Canvas Apps offer a design-first approach, with an interface that allows users to drag and drop elements onto a “canvas.” The app design can be customized to fit the specific needs of a business, offering a flexible, user-friendly experience. Canvas Apps are ideal when a highly customized interface is needed, or when integrating multiple data sources in a single application.

Let’s take the example of our electronics manufacturer. They could develop a Canvas App that enables technicians to log issues with specific components on the production line. This app could be customized to have fields for the part number, the nature of the issue, the time it was detected, and other essential details. The technicians could input this data on their devices, providing real-time information to the production team.

On the other hand, Model-Driven Apps are structured around the data model and the business processes that the app is intended to support. These apps are more suited for complex business scenarios that involve large volumes of data and where business processes and workflows drive the application’s structure.

For our electronics manufacturer, a Model-Driven App could manage the lifecycle of the components they produce. The app could record each stage of the component’s journey, from its initial manufacturing to its installation in a robot and subsequent customer feedback. This could help the manufacturer identify any common issues, promote quality control, and gain insights into how to improve their products.

When we start comparing the use of Canvas Apps and Model-Driven Apps for the electronics manufacturer, it’s evident that both types of apps play really important roles. The flexibility of Canvas Apps allows for an intuitive, easy-to-use interface for technicians, promoting rapid and accurate data entry. In contrast, the data-driven nature of Model-Driven Apps supports comprehensive tracking and analysis of component lifecycles, helping the manufacturer maintain quality control and make informed decisions.

The applicability of Canvas Apps and Model-Driven Apps extends beyond manufacturing and can be highly useful in public sector scenarios as well, such as a US federal government agency. For example, a Canvas App could be developed for government employees to report equipment issues or submit requests for new equipment. An easy-to-use interface could be customized with appropriate fields, improving efficiency and promoting accurate data entry.

Alternatively, a Power Platform Power Apps Model-Driven App could be created to manage the lifecycle of policies within the U.S. government agency. Power Platform here could help track the development of the policy, its enactment, public feedback, and any subsequent amendments. To learn more inquire about our Dynamics Edge Power Platform us government training. This would provide a comprehensive overview of each policy, supporting data-driven decision-making.

Just as with the electronics manufacturer, both types of applications can serve important functions within the government agency. The Canvas App supports streamlined, efficient reporting and requests for equipment, while the Model-Driven App enables effective management and tracking of policy lifecycles.

Comparing these two examples, the fundamental strengths of Canvas Apps and Model-Driven Apps become clear. Canvas Apps excel in situations where a custom, user-friendly interface is needed to facilitate simple, efficient data entry. Conversely, Model-Driven Apps are best suited for complex, data-intensive processes that require tracking and analysis of large volumes of data.

This insight forms a critical understanding of the versatility of Power Apps and their ability to cater to both simple and complex business needs across a wide range of industries. Whether in an electronics manufacturing environment or a federal government agency, Canvas and Model-Driven Apps can drive efficiency and support data-driven decision-making.

Microsoft Power Platform’s suite of tools, including Power Virtual Agents, Power BI, Power Automate Cloud Flows, Power Automate Desktop Flows, and Power Pages, can all be leveraged to enhance these solutions.

Power Virtual Agents, for example, can supplement the Power Apps solution by adding a layer of automated customer service. For our electronics manufacturer, this could mean an automated chatbot on their website that answers common questions about their products, freeing up customer service representatives to deal with more complex queries. Similarly, a government agency could employ a virtual agent to answer common public inquiries, making information more accessible and reducing manual labor.

Power BI, the platform’s analytics tool, can work in tandem with these applications to provide meaningful insights from raw data. For instance, the electronics manufacturer could use Power BI to analyze data from their Model-Driven App, identifying trends in component failure and informing future improvements. Learn more in Dynamics Edge Power Platform training for U.S. government agencies. Likewise, a government agency could use Power BI to visualize policy impact data, enhancing understanding and informing decision-making processes.

In terms of automation, Power Automate’s Cloud Flows and Desktop Flows can automate routine tasks, enhancing efficiency. Cloud Flows could be used by the electronics manufacturer to automate purchase orders based on inventory levels, reducing manual work and minimizing the chance of human error. On the other hand, Desktop Flows could be utilized by the government agency to automate the generation and formatting of regular reports, saving valuable time.

Power Pages, previously known as Power Apps Portals and before that, Dynamics 365 Portals, allow the creation of web portals that provide external users with access to selected data. Our electronics manufacturer could create a portal for customers to register their products, submit queries, and provide feedback. Similarly, a government agency could create a public-facing portal that allows citizens to access policy information, provide feedback, and make requests.

While the Power Platform provides an extensive suite of tools, it is also designed to work seamlessly with other Microsoft products, including Dynamics 365. The integration between Power Platform and Dynamics 365 enables businesses to customize and enhance their operations even further.

For instance, Dynamics 365 Sales & Customer Service can work in concert with Power Apps and Power Automate to streamline sales processes and enhance customer service. So if you consider our electronics manufacturer, this integration could enable automatic tracking of sales leads, timely follow-ups, and personalized customer interactions. Similarly, Dynamics 365 Project Service Automation and Project Operations could help the government agency manage complex projects more efficiently, tracking project progress, allocating resources, and automating routine tasks.

Essentially, our electronics manufacturer could leverage the capabilities of Canvas Apps to provide a user-friendly interface for data entry and use Model-Driven Apps to track and analyze component lifecycles. They could also enhance their operations through the use of Power Virtual Agents, Power BI, Power Automate, and Power Pages, while also benefiting from the seamless integration with Dynamics 365.

Likewise, a federal agency could utilize Canvas Apps for efficient data entry and Model-Driven Apps for comprehensive policy tracking. The agency could further enhance its processes by employing Power Virtual Agents, Power BI, Power Automate, and Power Pages. The integration with Dynamics 365 could provide additional capabilities for project management and customer engagement.

The strength of the Microsoft Power Platform lies in its versatility and extensive integration capabilities. It provides a wide array of tools that can be used independently or in tandem to enhance business operations, whether for a commercial enterprise like an electronics manufacturer, or critical organizations like a federal government agency of the United States of America.

Power Automate provides two forms of automation: Cloud Flows and Desktop Flows. While Cloud Flows automate processes across online services, Desktop Flows focus on Robotic Process Automation (RPA), automating tasks on local machines.

Our electronics manufacturer could use Cloud Flows to automate purchase orders based on inventory levels, and Desktop Flows to streamline data entry tasks.

Subsequently, federal agencies might implement Cloud Flows to optimize the approval processes and Desktop Flows to automate repetitive tasks, such as extracting and formatting reports from legacy systems. Power BI, the platform’s analytics tool, can turn raw data into meaningful insights. In the US government, Power BI could aggregate data from various sources and visualize the impact of federal policies, or the allocation of budgets across different departments. This illustrates the power of the Microsoft Power Platform in transforming raw data into actionable business intelligence, enabling enhanced decision-making processes in varied contexts.

On the other hand, a federal agency might use Cloud Flows to streamline the approval processes and Desktop Flows to automate repetitive tasks, such as pulling and formatting reports from legacy systems.

Power BI, the platform’s analytics tool, can turn raw data into meaningful insights. In the US government, Power BI could aggregate data from various sources and visualize the impact of federal policies, or the allocation of budgets across different departments.

Power Virtual Agents (PVA), the platform’s chatbot tool, combined with the AI Builder, could revolutionize customer service for the electronics manufacturer. The AI Builder could analyze past interactions to identify patterns and automate responses to common queries, significantly reducing response time.

In both the electronics manufacturing industry and US federal government agency scenarios, Power BI and Power Virtual Agents (PVA) can play truly transformative roles in driving efficiency and providing actionable insights.

In the electronics manufacturing industry, Power BI could be used to visualize and analyze data related to component manufacturing, assembly, and performance. For instance, the company could use Power BI to monitor the time taken to assemble specific parts of a robot. Any inefficiencies in the assembly process would be visually represented in real-time, allowing managers to identify bottlenecks and implement necessary improvements. In addition, Power BI could be used to analyze product quality metrics, providing valuable insights into the performance of different batches of components or individual technicians’ work.

On the other hand, Power Virtual Agents could revolutionize the process of requesting combinations of parts for advanced robotics. When technicians need to request specific parts, a PVA chatbot could guide them through the process, providing instant responses based on AI analysis. The PVA could cross-check the availability of parts, suggest alternatives if needed, and even place orders automatically. Over time, the AI builder could learn from these interactions to further optimize the process, resulting in faster response times and improved efficiency.

In a US federal government agency scenario, Power BI could be utilized in numerous ways to drive efficiency and provide valuable insights. For example, Power BI could be used to visualize and analyze budget allocation across different departments. This would provide government officials with an intuitive understanding of where funds are being directed and highlight any potential disparities or inefficiencies. Additionally, Power BI could analyze the impact of federal policies, aggregating data from various sources to provide a comprehensive view of a policy’s effectiveness.

Power Virtual Agents can also significantly enhance operations within a US federal government agency. For instance, PVAs could be used to handle common inquiries from the public, providing instant responses and freeing up human operators for more complex queries. Over time, AI Builder’s pattern recognition capabilities could lead to more accurate and efficient responses. In addition, PVAs could be used internally within the agency to streamline operations. For example, when staff need to request resources or information, a PVA could provide instant responses based on available data, speeding up the process and reducing the workload on human operators.

In both scenarios, Power BI and PVA can bring about transformative changes. Power BI turns raw data into actionable insights, helping to identify inefficiencies and monitor the impact of policies or procedures. Meanwhile, PVA enhances efficiency and response times, both for internal operations and for handling inquiries from the public or staff. The integration of AI through the AI Builder allows PVAs to learn and improve over time, further enhancing their effectiveness.

Now, let’s discuss the PL-100 exam. The “Exam PL-100: Microsoft Power Platform App Maker” leads to the “Microsoft Certified: Power Platform App Maker Associate” certification. It tests a candidate’s ability to design business solutions, analyze and visualize data, and create business solutions. The exam was last updated on March 15, 2023, with changes majorly to managing Power Platform components during development.

Acquiring the PL-100 certification can amplify one’s career trajectory. This certificate validates the candidate’s proficiency in leveraging the Power Platform’s capabilities, making them attractive to employers like our electronics manufacturer or federal agency. For instance, their understanding of Power BI could enable them to create insightful reports, or their expertise in Power Automate could lead to streamlined processes. Thus, holding the PL-100 certification marks them as an asset capable of leveraging technology to solve complex business problems.

However, before diving into the depths of the Power Platform universe with the PL-100 certification, many choose to start their journey with the PL-900 certification. Officially named as the Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals, the PL-900 exam provides an overview of the platform’s capabilities and business value. The test is designed for those aspiring to understand how to use Microsoft Power Platform technologies to improve business processes and drive outcomes.

The PL-900 certification covers the basic aspects of the Power Platform. It includes components such as Power BI for data analysis and visualization, Power Apps for application development, Power Automate for process automation, and other complementary solutions like Power Virtual Agents and AI Builder. This certification serves as a foundational step in understanding how these tools can be used to provide business solutions.

In contrast, the PL-100, titled “Microsoft Power Platform App Maker”, delves deeper into the intricacies of the Power Platform, focusing on building more complex solutions using the platform’s capabilities. While both certifications cover the fundamental components, the PL-100 requires a deeper understanding and ability to leverage the Power Platform to build comprehensive applications, hence it requires a certain level of familiarity with the Power Platform.

For instance, in an electronics manufacturing company, a PL-900 certified professional might be expected to create simple Power Apps to collect field data or build basic Power BI dashboards for production line performance. On the other hand, a PL-100 certified professional might be expected to design more complex Power Apps with integrated data sources, automate critical manufacturing processes using Power Automate, or create detailed Power BI reports with advanced data models and visualizations.

In governmental bodies, a PL-900 certified individual might be able to leverage Power BI to create simple dashboards to track state or city operational metrics or use Power Automate to simplify routine administrative tasks. Comparatively, a PL-100 certified individual could be tasked with creating more intricate applications using Power Apps to streamline inter-departmental workflows or implement sophisticated Power Automate workflows that adhere to strict governmental protocols and compliance measures.

The differences between the two certifications become even more pronounced when considering multinational or international bodies like NATO. The complexity of operations and diversity of data sources require a much more comprehensive understanding of the Power Platform’s capabilities. This is where the PL-100 certification excels, enabling professionals to build complex applications, automate multi-stage processes, and create multi-dimensional reports and dashboards, going beyond the fundamental coverage of the PL-900 certification.

However, it’s also essential to note that the PL-900 and PL-100 are not mutually exclusive; instead, they are complementary. The foundational knowledge gained from the PL-900 can significantly aid the learning process for the PL-100. After all, both certifications share a common purpose – empowering individuals and organizations to harness the power of Microsoft’s Power Platform.

So while the PL-900 certification is an excellent starting point for understanding the capabilities of the Power Platform, PL-100 offers a more in-depth exploration into building comprehensive solutions. Both certifications hold their unique value, providing the holders with the skills to leverage technology for solving business problems and making them attractive candidates for employers across various industries and government bodies.

One can’t help but marvel at the transformation the Power Platform brings. It moves us from a world where app development was the domain of an exclusive few to a world where anyone with a passion and a problem can create their solution. It is a story of empowerment, a story of transformation, and at the heart of this transformation, stands the Power Platform App Maker, a beacon of democratized innovation.