Business value of Microsoft Power Platform in the age of AI | PL-900 | Episode 1 — Transcript

Full transcript

1. 0:00[ Music ]
2. 0:07BARBARA ANDREWS: Whether you're a business professional,
3. 0:09aspiring developer, or tech enthusiast,
4. 0:11this course will introduce you to the core components
5. 0:14of Power Platform -- Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI,
6. 0:20and Power Virtual Agents.
7. 0:21And it will show you how they all work together
8. 0:23to solve real-world problems through hands-on labs
9. 0:27and interactive learning.
10. 0:28You're going to gain a fundamental knowledge
11. 0:30to start building apps now, automating workflows,
12. 0:34analyzing data, and creating intelligent chatbots.
13. 0:38Let's get started on the journey of Power Platform Pro.
14. 0:43I'm so glad you're here.
15. 0:44Please join me at our first section here called
16. 0:47"Describe the Business Value of Microsoft Power Platform."
17. 0:51My name is Barbara Andrews,
18. 0:53and I'm a Lead Microsoft Technical Trainer here
19. 0:55at Microsoft.
20. 0:56Let's jump into our content.
21. 0:59In this section, we will first describe the business value
22. 1:03of Microsoft Power Platform services, and then the value
23. 1:06of extending business solutions
24. 1:09by using Microsoft Power Platform.
25. 1:12First step, we'll talk about the business value
26. 1:15of Microsoft Power Platform services.
27. 1:18We will first talk about the components and the features
28. 1:21of Microsoft Power Platform, and then we'll see the value
29. 1:24that it brings to creating business solutions,
30. 1:27along with how to leverage it
31. 1:29with different Microsoft products and services,
32. 1:31and of course, AI too.
33. 1:34Here, we see a comprehensive overview of the tools
34. 1:37and services that make up the Power Platform ecosystem.
35. 1:41The Microsoft Power Platform, it's a comprehensive suite
36. 1:45of low-code tools that empower organizations
37. 1:48to build custom solutions, automate business processes,
38. 1:52analyze data, and create engaging digital experiences.
39. 1:57The platform is designed with modular architecture,
40. 2:01where each layer builds on the next to provide a scalable,
41. 2:05secure, and intelligent foundation
42. 2:07for digital transformation.
43. 2:09At the top of the visual structure is Copilot,
44. 2:12Microsoft's AI-powered assistant.
45. 2:15Copilot is embedded across the Power Platform
46. 2:18to enhance productivity through natural language interactions,
47. 2:22intelligent suggestions, and automation.
48. 2:25It supports users in building apps, automating workflows,
49. 2:30and analyzing data more efficiently,
50. 2:32making advanced capabilities accessible
51. 2:35to users of all skill levels.
52. 2:38Its placement at the top of the slide reflects the role it has
53. 2:42with cutting across our AI layer to enhance every part
54. 2:47of the platform rather
55. 2:49than functioning as a standalone tool.
56. 2:52Beneath Copilot is the application
57. 2:54and automation layer, which includes the core tools
58. 2:58of Power Platform, which is Power Apps, Power Automate,
59. 3:03Power BI, and Power Pages.
60. 3:05Power Apps provides a low-code environment
61. 3:08for building custom business applications that are responsive
62. 3:12and connect to both cloud and on-premises data sources.
63. 3:16It enables both business users and professional developers
64. 3:21to create apps tailored to specific needs,
65. 3:24especially when off-the-shelf solutions fall short.
66. 3:28Power Automate allows users to streamline repetitive tasks
67. 3:33and workflows across applications and services,
68. 3:36improving efficiency and reducing manual effort.
69. 3:40Its intuitive interface supports both individual productivity
70. 3:44and enterprise-scale automation.
71. 3:47Power BI, this serves as the analytics engine
72. 3:51of the platform, transforming raw data
73. 3:54into interactive dashboards and reports
74. 3:57that help organizations make informed decisions quickly.
75. 4:01With built-in governance and security, Power BI scales
76. 4:04across departments and teams.
77. 4:07Power Pages enables users
78. 4:09to build secure external-facing business websites
79. 4:13with low-code tools.
80. 4:15These websites are responsive and leverage shared data
81. 4:19for Microsoft Dataverse,
82. 4:21ensuring consistency across the platform.
83. 4:24And supporting this layer is the intelligence
84. 4:27and extensibility layer,
85. 4:29which enhances the platform's capabilities with AI
86. 4:33and integration tools.
87. 4:35AI Builder allows users to add AI features to their apps
88. 4:40and workflows without writing code,
89. 4:42enabling predictive insights and smarter automation.
90. 4:46Microsoft Copilot Studio enables creation
91. 4:50of conversational AI experiences using custom GPTs,
92. 4:55generative AI plugins, and manual topics.
93. 4:59This is ideal for customizing Microsoft 365 Copilot
94. 5:03or building standalone AI agents.
95. 5:06Power Fx, the platform's low-code programming language,
96. 5:11uses Excel-like formulas to simplify logic and development.
97. 5:16Connectors act as bridges between apps, data,
98. 5:20and services, enabling seamless integration across the cloud.
99. 5:24With over 1,400 pre-built connectors,
100. 5:29including Salesforce, Office 365, Twitter, Dropbox,
101. 5:34and Google services, and more, users can easily connect
102. 5:38and automate their workflows.
103. 5:40At the foundation of Power Platform is Microsoft Dataverse.
104. 5:45This is a secure and scalable data platform that stores
105. 5:49and manages data used across all components.
106. 5:53Dataverse provides a unified data model,
107. 5:56ensuring consistency, governance,
108. 5:58and seamless integration across applications,
109. 6:01workflows, and analytics.
110. 6:03It enables all tools within Power Platform
111. 6:07to work together efficiently and reliably.
112. 6:10Finally, the governance
113. 6:12and environment layer ensures secure, scalable deployment
114. 6:16and management solutions.
115. 6:18Managed environments provide isolated and controlled spaces
116. 6:22for building, testing, and deploying applications.
117. 6:25They give organizations greater oversight and control over data,
118. 6:29resources, and compliance,
119. 6:31ensuring that solutions are developed
120. 6:33and maintained responsibly.
121. 6:36This layered architecture illustrates how the Power
122. 6:39Platform is designed to be modular, extensible,
123. 6:42and scalable, supporting innovation
124. 6:45at every level in the organization.
125. 6:48Each layer plays a critical role
126. 6:50in enabling digital transformation,
127. 6:53while Copilot enhances every step of the journey
128. 6:56with AI-driven support and intelligent automation.
129. 7:02Here, we see how Power Apps enables users to build
130. 7:07and consume custom business applications across web,
131. 7:12mobile, and tablet devices.
132. 7:14Notice how flexible
133. 7:15and responsive a single app can adapt seamlessly
134. 7:20to different screen sizes and user environments.
135. 7:24Whether on a smartphone, desktop, or tablet,
136. 7:28Power Apps ensures a consistent and intuitive experience.
137. 7:33Power Apps provides a rapid, low-code development environment
138. 7:37for building custom apps tailored
139. 7:39to specific business needs.
140. 7:42It includes a rich set of services, connectors,
141. 7:45and a scalable data platform,
142. 7:48known as the Microsoft Dataverse, which allows
143. 7:51for easy integration and interaction
144. 7:54with existing data sources.
145. 7:56This makes it possible to create apps that not only function
146. 8:00and are functional but also deeply connected to the systems
147. 8:05and the data organizations already in use.
148. 8:08Power Apps supports the creation of highly customized task
149. 8:12and role-based canvas apps that can pull data from one
150. 8:16or multiple sources, enabling users to design solutions
151. 8:21that align very closely with their workflows.
152. 8:24In today's digital world, people use apps in nearly every aspect
153. 8:28of their lives, and business should be no exception.
154. 8:32However, most of the off-the-shelf solutions fail
155. 8:36to meet the exact needs of an organization or integrate well
156. 8:40with other business systems.
157. 8:42Power Apps addresses this gap by offering a simple,
158. 8:47intuitive interface that eases users into app development.
159. 8:53This empowers both business users
160. 8:55and professional developers to build custom applications
161. 8:59without needing extensive coding experience.
162. 9:02Power Apps also enables the generation of responsive apps
163. 9:07that run across web, mobile, and tablet platforms.
164. 9:11This cross-platform capability ensures that users can access
165. 9:15and interact with their apps whether they are in the office,
166. 9:19in the field, or on the move.
167. 9:21With its low-code approach
168. 9:23and powerful integration capabilities,
169. 9:26Power Apps helps organizations modernize their operations,
170. 9:31improve efficiency, and respond quickly
171. 9:34to evolving business needs.
172. 9:37Microsoft Power Automate helps organizations streamline
173. 9:41workflows, reduce manual effort, and boost productivity
174. 9:46by connecting apps and services.
175. 9:49It enables users to automate tasks and respond
176. 9:52to business events efficiently, whether using modern cloud tools
177. 9:57or legacy on-premises systems.
178. 10:00Power Automate allows users to automate
179. 10:02and model business processes across various apps
180. 10:06and services, ensuring seamless data flow
181. 10:09between platforms while reducing manual data entry and errors.
182. 10:14For example, a marketing team can automate the process
183. 10:17of capturing leads from a web form and pushing them
184. 10:21into a customer relationship management, or CRM,
185. 10:24system like Dynamics 365, and an email marketing tool
186. 10:29like Mailchimp, ensuring immediate follow-up
187. 10:32and consistent data across systems.
188. 10:35The platform supports everything from simple automation
189. 10:39to complex workflows and branches, loops,
190. 10:42and conditional logic.
191. 10:44This makes it ideal for both individual users
192. 10:47and enterprise needs.
193. 10:48An HR department, for instance,
194. 10:50can automate the onboarding process by creating a workflow
195. 10:54that sends welcome emails, assigns training tasks,
196. 10:58and routes documents for approval based
197. 11:01on the new hire's role and department.
198. 11:04Power Automate also enables users to trigger actions,
199. 11:09grant approvals, and receive notifications directly
200. 11:12within the tools that they use daily, like Microsoft Teams,
201. 11:16Outlook, and SharePoint, to improve responsiveness
202. 11:20and reduce context switching.
203. 11:22For instance, a manager can approve a purchase request
204. 11:26directly from a team's notification,
205. 11:29speeding up the procurement process.
206. 11:31Moreover, Power Automate supports automation
207. 11:35across legacy on-premises systems
208. 11:38and cloud-based applications and services,
209. 11:41helping organizations modernize without needing
210. 11:44to replace existing systems.
211. 11:47A finance team might automate the extraction of data
212. 11:50from an on-premise accounting system and upload it
213. 11:54into a cloud-based reporting tool like Power BI
214. 11:57for real-time financial insights.
215. 12:00Power Automate is designed for users of all technical levels.
216. 12:04It's an intuitive interface allowing beginners
217. 12:07to create simple workflows,
218. 12:10which also offer advanced capabilities
219. 12:13for seasoned developers.
220. 12:14Whether it's automating repetitive tasks
221. 12:17or building enterprise-grade process automation,
222. 12:21Power Automate provides a powerful, scalable solution
223. 12:25to save time and reduce errors.
224. 12:31Power BI is Microsoft's business analytics service
225. 12:35that enables organizations to turn data
226. 12:38into actionable insights, no matter where that data resides.
227. 12:43Power BI can connect to diverse data sources
228. 12:46and deliver meaningful visualizations across devices.
229. 12:51Power BI is designed to help users analyze data,
230. 12:54share insights through interactive dashboards
231. 12:57and reports, and help to make fast, informed decisions.
232. 13:02It scales across an organization
233. 13:05and includes built-in governance and security.
234. 13:08Power BI can integrate data from multiple sources,
235. 13:12whether cloud-based, on-premises,
236. 13:15or even third-party systems.
237. 13:17You can use it to visualize it all in a consolidated, unified,
238. 13:21single pane of management glass dashboard view
239. 13:25across your organization, eliminating the need to switch
240. 13:28between systems to monitor performance
241. 13:31and trends in real-time.
242. 13:33You can also use it to create ad-hoc analysis,
243. 13:37live dashboards, and interactive reports that are easy to consume
244. 13:42on the web and across mobile devices.
245. 13:45Whether users are in the office or on the go, Power BI ensures
246. 13:50that insights are always accessible.
247. 13:53Its responsive design
248. 13:55and real-time data capabilities make it easy to explore trends,
249. 14:00drill into details, and share findings with others.
250. 14:05You can also use it to build smart apps by infusing insights
251. 14:09from your data and driving action with it backing
252. 14:13up into Microsoft Power Platform.
253. 14:16By integrating with tools like Power Apps, Power Automate,
254. 14:20organizations can create intelligent solutions
255. 14:23that not only visualize data but also trigger workflows
256. 14:28and guide decision-making.
257. 14:31For example, a Power BI report showing a drop
258. 14:34in customer satisfaction could automatically initiate a
259. 14:38follow-up process through Power Automate
260. 14:41or surface a feedback form in Power Apps.
261. 14:48Microsoft Power Pages empowers users to build professional,
262. 14:53data-driven websites with minimal coding as a secure,
263. 14:58enterprise-grade, low-code software
264. 15:01as a service, or SAS, platform.
265. 15:04Power Pages enables both low-code makers
266. 15:08and professional developers to rapidly design, configure,
267. 15:12and publish websites that work seamlessly
268. 15:15across browsers and devices.
269. 15:18One of the key features of Power Pages is the ability
270. 15:22to easily build websites using ready-to-use templates
271. 15:26or create fully customizable experiences.
272. 15:29Users can quickly launch sites by selecting
273. 15:32from pre-designed templates and then personalize them with text,
274. 15:37videos, images, business data, forms, and lists,
275. 15:42accelerating the development process and reducing the need
276. 15:46for technical expertise.
277. 15:49For example, a small business owner can use a template
278. 15:52to create a professional-looking website and customize it
279. 15:55with product videos, customer testimonials, and contact forms,
280. 16:00all without writing any code.
281. 16:03Power Pages also empowers developers
282. 16:06to add deeper functionality and capabilities using tools
283. 16:10like Visual Studio Code, GitHub, and Azure DevOps.
284. 16:15This ensures that while the platform is accessible
285. 16:18to non-developers, it also supports advanced customization
286. 16:23and integration for more complex business needs.
287. 16:26Security is also a core component of Power Pages.
288. 16:31The platform helps mitigate security concerns
289. 16:34through role-based access controls,
290. 16:37ensuring that only authorized users can access specific
291. 16:40content or features.
292. 16:43Combined with Microsoft Azure's compliance
293. 16:45and governance capabilities,
294. 16:47this makes Power Pages a trusted solution
295. 16:51for handling sensitive business data.
296. 16:54Overall, Power Pages offers a flexible, secure,
297. 16:58and scalable solution
298. 17:00for building modern business websites.
299. 17:03It supports rapid development and deep customization along
300. 17:08with enterprise-grade security, making it ideal
301. 17:11for organizations looking to extend their digital presence
302. 17:15with minimal overhead.
303. 17:18Microsoft Power Platform delivers business values
304. 17:22by helping organizations adapt
305. 17:24to evolving workforce expectations,
306. 17:26managing rising development costs, and responding
307. 17:30with agility and ability
308. 17:32to scale solution development efficiently.
309. 17:35Here we see the collaborative relationship
310. 17:37between citizen developers, professional developers,
311. 17:41and end-users, and how feedback and innovation flow continuously
312. 17:47across roles to build better solutions faster.
313. 17:51Citizen developers can use tools like Power Apps
314. 17:55to build solutions based on user needs.
315. 17:57Professional developers can enhance these apps
316. 18:00with advanced capabilities, and end-users can provide feedback
317. 18:05that drives continuous improvement, all to align
318. 18:09with real business needs.
319. 18:11Millennials and Gen Z now make up the majority
320. 18:15of the workforce, and they want personalized,
321. 18:17digital experiences
322. 18:20and collaborative social media platforms that are intuitive.
323. 18:24The Power Platform supports this shift, delivering custom,
324. 18:28collaborative digital experiences
325. 18:31for how modern teams prefer to work.
326. 18:33Traditional development is not only time-consuming,
327. 18:37but as you know, it's very expensive.
328. 18:40The ongoing maintenance
329. 18:41and updates constrain IT budgets and resources.
330. 18:45Power Platform reduces these costs with low-code tools
331. 18:50for business users to build and maintain apps themselves,
332. 18:53reducing costly custom development cycles
333. 18:57with robust functionality.
334. 19:00Traditional development cycles often take months
335. 19:03to deploy solutions or weeks to implement minor changes,
336. 19:06and they no longer really align with the speed
337. 19:09of which businesses need to operate.
338. 19:12Power Platform enables rapid development and iteration
339. 19:16to quickly build, test, and adapt solutions
340. 19:19to meet evolving strategies and operational needs.
341. 19:23By empowering citizen developers, business users
342. 19:27with domain expertise can participate
343. 19:30in the app development and pair them
344. 19:32with maybe a professional developer
345. 19:34who can extend the functionality that organizations need here
346. 19:38for a hybrid team to be able to combine their technical skills
347. 19:42with real-world insights, and it's scalable and efficient,
348. 19:47and it's user-centered.
349. 19:52Connectors play a critical role in integrating diverse services
350. 19:56and data sources within the Microsoft Power Platform.
351. 20:00There are over 1,400 connectors available
352. 20:04that provide pre-built actions for various services
353. 20:07to streamline automation and data management.
354. 20:10For example, a building management company can automate
355. 20:13its invoice processing workflow using connectors.
356. 20:17Vendors submit invoices via email
357. 20:20through Microsoft Exchange, let's say,
358. 20:22which are then automatically downloaded
359. 20:25and stored into SharePoint.
360. 20:27The invoices are routed to approvers
361. 20:30through Microsoft Teams.
362. 20:31And once approved, the data is entered
363. 20:34into the company's ERP system.
364. 20:36Finally, confirmation emails
365. 20:39with invoice numbers are sent back to vendors.
366. 20:42This end-to-end automation reduces manual effort,
367. 20:46ensures accuracy, and speeds up processing time.
368. 20:50Connectors have predefined actions that allow users
369. 20:54to quickly set up workflows
370. 20:55without needing to write custom code.
371. 20:58For instance, an HR department can automate onboarding
372. 21:02by using connectors to create user accounts
373. 21:05and active directory, send welcome emails via Outlook,
374. 21:09and add new hires to relevant team channels, all triggered
375. 21:13by a single entry in that HR system.
376. 21:17For scenarios where standard connectors don't meet specific
377. 21:21needs, Power Platform allows users
378. 21:23to create custom connectors to integrate proprietary systems
379. 21:28or specialized services not covered by existing connectors,
380. 21:32and to extend automation capabilities
381. 21:34and tailor integrations to unique business requirements.
382. 21:40Now, let's compare standard connectors
383. 21:43and premium connectors in our Microsoft Power Platform,
384. 21:47specifically within Power Apps and Power Automate.
385. 21:51Standard connectors are included
386. 21:53with a standard Microsoft 365 subscription and cover many
387. 21:57of the most commonly used data sources like SharePoint,
388. 22:01OneDrive, Outlook, Power BI, GitHub,
389. 22:05and third-party services.
390. 22:07These connectors enable users to build powerful apps
391. 22:10and workflows without needing additional licenses.
392. 22:13For instance, a team could use Power Apps
393. 22:16with standard connectors to build a document approval app
394. 22:20that pulls files from OneDrive, routes them via Outlook
395. 22:24for approval, and then logs their status back in SharePoint.
396. 22:28Similarly, a marketing team could automate social media
397. 22:31monitoring by connecting LinkedIn to Power Automate
398. 22:36and logging mentions in a SharePoint list.
399. 22:39Premium connectors require a Power App
400. 22:42or Power Automate premium license.
401. 22:45These connectors provide access to a broader range of services,
402. 22:50including enterprise-grade systems like Salesforce,
403. 22:54DocuSign, SurveyMonkey, Azure DevOps, SQL Server,
404. 22:58and Dynamics 365, and more.
405. 23:01Premium connectors are identified by a premium stamp
406. 23:05and are essential for integrating
407. 23:07with more specialized and/or mission-critical systems.
408. 23:11For example, a sales team could use Power Apps
409. 23:14with a premium connector
410. 23:16to build a custom customer relationship management system,
411. 23:20or CRM, app that then pulls data from Salesforce and allows reps
412. 23:25to update records on the go.
413. 23:27Or consider automating contract workflows
414. 23:31by connecting Power Automate to DocuSign,
415. 23:34enabling digital signatures,
416. 23:36and tracking status updates in real-time.
417. 23:39By understanding and leveraging both types of connectors,
418. 23:43organizations can build scalable, efficient,
419. 23:46and cost-effective solutions tailored
420. 23:48to their specific needs.
421. 23:51Dataverse is a scalable data service and app platform
422. 23:56that allows users to securely store and manage data
423. 24:00from multiple sources,
424. 24:01integrating business applications,
425. 24:04and using a common data model,
426. 24:06ensuring consistency and ease of use.
427. 24:09It allows Power Platform components like Power Apps,
428. 24:13Power Automate, and Power BI to work together seamlessly
429. 24:18as the backbone it supported using data consolidation,
430. 24:23display, and manipulation across the organization.
431. 24:27Dataverse helps jump-start app development using a standardized
432. 24:32data model with built-in business logic,
433. 24:35security, and integration.
434. 24:37For example, a company could use Dataverse
435. 24:40to create a customer service app that leverages predefined tables
436. 24:45and relationships, ensuring data is structured consistently
437. 24:49and securely.
438. 24:50Built-in business rules
439. 24:53and role-based security help enforce compliance
440. 24:57and reduce development time.
441. 24:59Extend Dataverse to meet specific business needs
442. 25:03and integrate across apps and services
443. 25:06to customize data models while maintaining seamless integration
444. 25:10with Microsoft 365 services like Dynamics and Office,
445. 25:16and also, of course, Azure.
446. 25:19It provides integration with Dynamics 365, Microsoft 365,
447. 25:24and Azure, along with the ability to augment data
448. 25:28with inputs from industry partners to consolidate data
449. 25:32from various sources into a single, trusted environment.
450. 25:36For instance, a finance team could combine sales data
451. 25:39from Dynamics 365 with budget forecasts in Excel
452. 25:44and market trends from maybe a third-party API via Azure.
453. 25:48This unified view supports better decision-making
454. 25:51and more comprehensive reporting.
455. 25:54Using Power Apps interface with Dataverse tables,
456. 25:57users can manage data structures directly within the platform
457. 26:01by creating new tables, importing data,
458. 26:05editing properties, and configuring security settings.
459. 26:09Power Fx, the low-code language used throughout the Microsoft
460. 26:14Power Platform, empowers users to build intelligent
461. 26:19and responsive applications and automate logic across tools
462. 26:23like Power Apps, Microsoft Dataverse, and Copilot Studio.
463. 26:29Power Fx is a general-purpose, strongly typed, declarative,
464. 26:34and functional programming language expressed
465. 26:36in human-readable text.
466. 26:39Its Excel-like syntax makes it accessible to many users
467. 26:44for rapid solution development without deep coding expertise.
468. 26:49In Power Apps, Power Fx is the foundational language
469. 26:53for building canvas apps, and it allows users
470. 26:57to control app behavior using simply formulas,
471. 27:02simplifying app development and empowering users
472. 27:05to build custom solutions tailored to business needs.
473. 27:09As an example, we see a property listing app here on the right,
474. 27:14where the visibility for the asking price control is
475. 27:18determined by the formulas listed here.
476. 27:21If IsBlankPropertyName.Text, false,true.
477. 27:27This demonstrates how Power Fx dynamically controls the user
478. 27:32interface elements based on user input.
479. 27:36In Microsoft Dataverse, Power Fx is used
480. 27:40to create calculated columns within tables.
481. 27:43This enables real-time data calculations
482. 27:45and enhances data consistency across applications.
483. 27:49For instance, an HR department can use Power Fx
484. 27:53to calculate employee tenure by subtracting maybe the hire date
485. 27:58from the current date, providing instant insights
486. 28:01without manual intervention.
487. 28:03This capability supports better reporting and decision-making
488. 28:07by embedding logic directly into the data layer.
489. 28:11Copilot Studio also leverages Power Fx
490. 28:14to enhance conversational AI experiences.
491. 28:18Users can write formulas to set variables,
492. 28:21implement conditional logic, and validate user input.
493. 28:26For example, a restaurant using Copilot Studio
494. 28:29to manage reservations can use Power Fx
495. 28:32to ensure bookings are only accepted within a 14-day window.
496. 28:36If a customer requests a date outside of that range,
497. 28:40Copilot can respond with a helpful message
498. 28:43and alternative options.
499. 28:44Overall, Power Fx, familiar syntax,
500. 28:48real-time responsiveness,
501. 28:50and cross-platform integration make it a very powerful tool
502. 28:55that's building scalable, user-friendly solutions
503. 28:59and apps, data models, or even AI-driven experiences.
504. 29:06Microsoft Power Platform integrates generative AI
505. 29:10to enhance productivity and user experiences across a suite
506. 29:16of tools: Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI,
507. 29:20Power Pages, and Dataverse.
508. 29:22By embedding AI-powered copilots into each component,
509. 29:27it simplifies complex tasks, accelerates development,
510. 29:31and empowers users to work more efficiently.
511. 29:35These copilots leverage natural language processing
512. 29:38to help users build apps, automate workflows,
513. 29:42analyze data, and manage content
514. 29:45without needing deep technical expertise.
515. 29:48In Power Apps, Copilot users simply need
516. 29:52to create applications
517. 29:53by describing what they want to track or manage.
518. 29:58For example, a user can launch Copilot
519. 30:00from the Power Apps home screen and say, "I want to build an app
520. 30:04to manage employee onboarding,"
521. 30:06and Copilot will generate the necessary Dataverse tables
522. 30:10and app components.
523. 30:12If adjustments are needed,
524. 30:13you can refine the app using natural language commands,
525. 30:17making the development process intuitive and efficient.
526. 30:21Developers can integrate conversational agents directly
527. 30:25into their apps, allowing users to interact
528. 30:28with the app using natural language.
529. 30:30For instance, a customer service app,
530. 30:33a Copilot control could guide users
531. 30:36through submitting a support ticket by asking questions
532. 30:40and capturing those responses in the conversation.
533. 30:43In Power Automate, Copilot enables users
534. 30:46to describe a process, like a send notification
535. 30:50when a document is uploaded to SharePoint,
536. 30:53that can then automatically generate the workflow.
537. 30:56It can also suggest connectors and guide users
538. 31:00through customization as needed, speeding up automation
539. 31:05and making workflow creation more intuitive and efficient.
540. 31:10In Dataverse, Copilot can generate tables
541. 31:13and relationships based on user input,
542. 31:16streamlining the data modeling process.
543. 31:18For example, a user might say, create a table
544. 31:21to track customer feedback,
545. 31:23and Copilot will build the structure accordingly,
546. 31:27assisting users who need to manage data but lack maybe some
547. 31:31of the database design experience needed.
548. 31:34Similarly, in Power Pages, Copilot can generate forms
549. 31:38and interactive elements for web portals,
550. 31:41such as a customer support site
551. 31:44with embedded ticket submission forms.
552. 31:47Finally, in Power BI, Copilot transforms how users interact
553. 31:52with data.
554. 31:53Instead of manually building reports,
555. 31:55users can describe what they want to see,
556. 31:58like "Show me a breakdown of revenue by region
557. 32:01and product category."
558. 32:03And Copilot will generate the visualization, identify trends,
559. 32:08provide recommendations, refine visuals,
560. 32:11and use natural language, and more.
561. 32:15This session provided an overview
562. 32:17of Microsoft Power Platform, highlighting its business value,
563. 32:22the role of standard and premium connectors, and the importance
564. 32:25of Microsoft Dataverse
565. 32:27in building integrated business solutions.
566. 32:30It also explored the benefits of Power Fx,
567. 32:34demonstrated how the platform services worked together
568. 32:37to create end-to-end solutions, and showed how Copilot,
569. 32:41and effectively working with AI prompting,
570. 32:45can significantly enhance productivity
571. 32:48and user experience.
572. 32:54In this section, we will describe the business value
573. 32:57of extending business solutions
574. 32:59by using Microsoft Power Platform.
575. 33:04In this section, we will see how to integrate M365, Teams,
576. 33:09and on-prem systems with Microsoft Power Platform.
577. 33:14We will also take a closer look at some additional features
578. 33:17of the Copilot Studio and give some basics on how to plan
579. 33:22with our plan designer, and more.
580. 33:25Here are four practical strategies
581. 33:27for enhancing efficiency by leveraging the integration
582. 33:30between Microsoft 365 services and the Power Platform.
583. 33:35By using Power Automate,
584. 33:36organizations can create approval flows
585. 33:40that automatically route documents
586. 33:42to the appropriate stakeholder based on predefined rules.
587. 33:45This eliminates the need for manual tracking and follow-ups,
588. 33:49reducing delays and ensuring compliance.
589. 33:52For example, a marketing team can automate the approval
590. 33:55process for campaign materials, ensuring the content is reviewed
591. 34:01and approved by legal
592. 34:03and branding teams before publication.
593. 34:06Power Platform can automate financial workflows.
594. 34:09Many organizations receive invoices via email,
595. 34:13and manually processing them can be very time-consuming
596. 34:17and error-prone.
597. 34:18With Power Automate, businesses can build flows
598. 34:21that detect incoming emails with attachments,
599. 34:25extract invoice data, validate it, and then route it
600. 34:29for approval, and store it all in SharePoint
601. 34:32and have it update their ERP system, reducing processing time
602. 34:37and improving accuracy.
603. 34:39Many organizations already use Microsoft 365 for email,
604. 34:43document management, and productivity.
605. 34:46Power Platform includes connectors for Outlook,
606. 34:49M365 users, Excel, and SharePoint, enabling users
607. 34:54to automate routine tasks.
608. 34:56For example, a user receiving dozens of emails daily
609. 35:00with attachments can create a Power Automate flow
610. 35:03that saves their attachments to the correct SharePoint folder.
611. 35:07By automating routine tasks such as sending reminders,
612. 35:11updating spreadsheets or routing requests, employees can focus
613. 35:16on more strategic work.
614. 35:18For example, a sales team can automate follow-up emails
615. 35:21after client meetings, ensuring timely communication
616. 35:25without manual effort.
617. 35:26The Power Platform, when integrated with Microsoft 365,
618. 35:30offers powerful tools to automate workflows,
619. 35:33connect services, and reduce manual tasks.
620. 35:37These strategies demonstrate how automation, connectors,
621. 35:41and intelligent workflows can reduce manual effort,
622. 35:45streamline operations,
623. 35:47and improve employee productivity across departments.
624. 35:53Microsoft Power Platform tools -- Power BI, Power Apps,
625. 35:57Power Automate, Microsoft Copilot Studio,
626. 36:00and Virtual Assistants --
627. 36:02integrate seamlessly with Microsoft Teams
628. 36:05to foster collaboration, streamline workflows,
629. 36:08and enhance productivity.
630. 36:10By embedding these tools directly into Teams,
631. 36:12organizations can empower users to build, share,
632. 36:16and act on solutions without leaving their
633. 36:18collaboration environment.
634. 36:20In Teams, you can create an AI-powered agent.
635. 36:23For example, a human resources team could deploy a Copilot
636. 36:27agent in Teams to answer common employee questions
637. 36:32about benefits or policies, reducing the need
638. 36:35for manual responses and improving response time.
639. 36:39The Power BI tab for Teams allows users to collaborate
640. 36:43on interactive dashboards and reports in real time
641. 36:47without switching applications.
642. 36:49A sales team, for instance,
643. 36:50can review performance metrics during a Teams meeting,
644. 36:54using live data to inform strategy
645. 36:56and make decisions on the spot.
646. 36:59Users can also use the new Power BI apps in Teams to bring
647. 37:04in your entire basic Power BI service into this experience.
648. 37:10Users can also edit targeted apps and workflows
649. 37:14in Teams using Power Apps and Power Automate to build
650. 37:18and publish apps directly within Teams, enabling team members
651. 37:22to use them without leaving the platform.
652. 37:25For example, a company might build an incident reporting app
653. 37:29that employees can access from a team's channel, allowing them
654. 37:32to log issues quickly and efficiently.
655. 37:35The Virtual Assistant, which is an open source template
656. 37:39that you can use to build conversational solutions
657. 37:42tailored to your branding and user experience, and also,
658. 37:46they can be configured to integrate with Teams.
659. 37:48You can configure your Virtual Assistant for integration
660. 37:52into the Teams environment.
661. 37:54Lastly, we see the right side here on our slide,
662. 37:58the Power Apps interface with Teams with templates
663. 38:02like issue report, employee ideas, and inspection
664. 38:07that users can quickly customize and deploy.
665. 38:11I think you see now how easy it is to build and share solutions
666. 38:15that are embedded into tools employees are already using
667. 38:19every day.
668. 38:21Microsoft Copilot Studio empowers organizations
669. 38:25to build intelligent, responsive AI agents
670. 38:29that enhance customer interaction
671. 38:31across multiple channels.
672. 38:33The simple, low-code interface means, for example,
673. 38:37that a customer service manager can quickly build an agent
674. 38:41that answers common questions,
675. 38:43reducing the workload on human agents.
676. 38:46The platform can connect to over 1,500 pre-built data sources
677. 38:51to ensure that AI agents have access to accurate,
678. 38:54real-time data, which enhances the quality of their responses
679. 38:58and provides accurate answers and perform tasks.
680. 39:03Automated workflows allows users
681. 39:06to define how AI agents should respond
682. 39:08to specific scenarios using Power Automate.
683. 39:11These workflows act like instructions.
684. 39:14For example, if a customer asks about a product,
685. 39:18send them an email with more details.
686. 39:21Multi-channel deployment ensures that once an AI agent is built,
687. 39:25it can be deployed across various platforms, websites,
688. 39:29mobile apps, social media, and Microsoft Teams.
689. 39:33For example, a university could deploy an AI agent
690. 39:36on its website in Teams to assist students
691. 39:39with enrollment questions.
692. 39:41Finally, a robust security and governance is a critical feature
693. 39:46that ensures AI agents are managed securely and comply
694. 39:50with organizational policies.
695. 39:52Copilot Studio includes tools to protect sensitive data
696. 39:56and maintain control over how agents operate.
697. 39:59In summary, Microsoft Copilot Studio offers a powerful,
698. 40:03user-friendly platform for building AI agents
699. 40:07that enhance customer engagement with low code,
700. 40:10seamless data integration, and automated workflows
701. 40:14for multi-channel deployment and offer a strong security base.
702. 40:22On-premises data gateways serve as a secure and efficient bridge
703. 40:27between cloud-based Microsoft Power Platform services
704. 40:31such as Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate,
705. 40:35and Azure Logical Apps, and local data sources.
706. 40:39In today's hybrid business environments,
707. 40:41where some systems are hosted in the cloud
708. 40:44and others remain on-premises, these gateways are essential
709. 40:48for enabling seamless integration
710. 40:50without compromising database security
711. 40:53or requiring data migration.
712. 40:55Gateways allow cloud services to access on-premises data
713. 40:59without moving it to the cloud.
714. 41:01This is particularly valuable for organizations
715. 41:04with strict data residency or compliance requirements.
716. 41:08A single gateway can support multiple Power Platform
717. 41:11services, enabling organizations to use Power Automate
718. 41:15for workflow automation, Power Apps for custom app development,
719. 41:20and Power BI for data visualization,
720. 41:23all accessing the same on-premises data.
721. 41:28Administrators can manage gateway clusters
722. 41:30through the Power Platform admin center.
723. 41:33This centralized interface allows IT teams
724. 41:37to monitor gateway performance, manage user access,
725. 41:41and ensure secure operations across the organization.
726. 41:45This simplifies administration and provides greater visibility
727. 41:48into how data is being accessed and used.
728. 41:51Multiple gateways can be installed in a cluster
729. 41:54to provide failure support and load balancing.
730. 41:57This ensures continuous service availability,
731. 42:00even during peak usage or hardware failures.
732. 42:03On the right, we see how cloud services like Power BI
733. 42:07and Power Apps connect to the gateway cloud service,
734. 42:10which securely encrypts and routes queries
735. 42:14to the on-premises data gateway.
736. 42:17The gateway then decrypts the credentials and connects
737. 42:20to local data sources such as SQL Server or file shares.
738. 42:24This architecture ensures secure, real-time access
739. 42:28to on-premises data with cloud-based tools,
740. 42:32eliminating the need for manual data transfers
741. 42:34and enabling seamless hybrid integration.
742. 42:39In this module, you explored how Power Platform seamlessly
743. 42:43integrates with Microsoft 365 apps and services,
744. 42:47unlocking new levels of productivity and collaboration.
745. 42:51You discovered the power of Copilot Studio
746. 42:54in building intelligent, conversational agents
747. 42:57that enhance user experiences.
748. 43:00You also learned how Power Platform connects
749. 43:03with on-premises data, bridging the gap
750. 43:06between legacy systems and modern solutions.
751. 43:10Finally, you explored the capabilities of Plan Designer,
752. 43:14a tool that helps you to visualize
753. 43:16and orchestrate your automation strategies with ease.
754. 43:20See you back soon for Session 2.