Power Apps is Microsoft's low-code application development platform, part of the Power Platform suite. It allows businesses to build custom mobile and web applications, such as inspection forms, expense submission tools or asset tracking apps, without the time and cost of traditional software development.
How Power Apps works
Power Apps offers two main app types. Canvas apps give full design control, built by dragging and positioning elements on a blank canvas, and are well suited to focused, task-specific apps. Model-driven apps are generated from an underlying Dataverse data model and provide a more structured interface suited to complex business processes. Both app types can connect to hundreds of data sources, including Business Central, SharePoint and SQL Server, through pre-built connectors.
How UK businesses use Power Apps
- A facilities team builds a canvas app for site inspections, allowing staff to capture photos, complete checklists and submit reports from a mobile device on site.
- A warehouse uses a Power Apps stock-take application that scans barcodes and updates inventory counts in real time, replacing a paper-based stocktake process.
- A field service business builds a model-driven app on Dataverse to manage customer assets and service history alongside Dynamics 365 Field Service.
- An HR team builds a simple app for staff to submit holiday requests, with automatic routing to the right manager for approval through Power Automate.
How Advantage implements Power Apps
Advantage designs and builds Power Apps solutions for specific business processes that off-the-shelf software does not cover well. We assess whether a canvas app, model-driven app or full custom development is the right fit, and provide the governance needed to keep apps secure and maintainable as usage grows.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a canvas app and a model-driven app in Power Apps?
A canvas app gives full design control over layout, built by dragging and arranging elements on a blank canvas, ideal for task-specific mobile or tablet apps. A model-driven app is generated automatically from a Dataverse data model, with a more structured, form-based interface suited to complex business processes.
Can Power Apps work offline?
Yes. Canvas apps built for mobile devices can be configured to work offline, storing data locally and synchronising with Dataverse or other data sources once a connection is restored. This is commonly used for field-based or warehouse applications.
Does Power Apps replace the need for custom software development?
For many common business scenarios, yes. Power Apps allows business users to build functional applications without traditional development. For complex, highly bespoke requirements, professional developers can extend Power Apps with custom code, or a fully custom application may still be the better option.
