Glossary

What is Power Apps?

Power Apps is a Microsoft low-code platform for building business applications. It helps create forms, panels and internal tools connected to SharePoint, Dataverse, Excel, Teams and other data sources.

Primary keyword: Power Apps

Short answer

Power Apps helps build an application when a spreadsheet, email or task list is no longer enough. It is often used for forms, case registers, status panels, simple CRMs and tools for teams working in Microsoft 365.

When does Power Apps make sense?

Power Apps is a good fit when the company already uses Microsoft 365 and the team needs one place to enter data, manage statuses and work with a simple process.

  • request or case register
  • field and administration forms
  • status panel with permissions
  • app instead of an overloaded Excel file

When is Power Apps not enough?

If the app needs a complex interface, high traffic, unusual logic, advanced integrations or a public customer-facing product, a custom web application or dedicated system may be better.

Power Apps and automation

Power Apps often works best together with Power Automate. The app gives the team an interface, while background flows send notifications, create tasks, update statuses and handle approvals.

How to use this definition in a decision

Criterion Option or view A Option or view B
Best use case

Power Apps: internal apps, forms, registers and panels in Microsoft 365.

Custom app: more freedom in UI, scaling and integrations outside MS365.

Data

Usually SharePoint, Dataverse, Excel, Teams and Microsoft connectors.

Any database, API or architecture selected for the product and organization.

Maintenance

Good when the company has admins and Microsoft 365 working practices.

Requires code, hosting and an application development cycle.

When not

When a public product, unusual UI or high scale is needed.

When a simple internal register is enough and Microsoft 365 is already in use.

FAQ

Questions and answers

Does Power Apps replace Excel?

Sometimes. If Excel has become an operational system for statuses, comments and permissions, Power Apps can provide a safer work interface.

Does Power Apps require a developer?

Simple apps can be built low-code, but company deployment still requires data design, permissions, maintenance and background automation.

Does Showflow implement Power Apps?

Showflow helps choose the right approach: Power Apps, a custom application or simple automation, depending on the process and the company's ecosystem.

CTA

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