4 Real Business Challenges Solved with Microsoft Power Apps
- Craig Day
- Sep 10
- 6 min read
The Kwixand Solutions team shares 4 real-world examples of how Microsoft Power Apps help businesses solve system gaps, automate processes, and boost efficiency.
If your ERP solution is fulfilling most of of your operational needs but there’s still one or two features that your employees wish they had, you may be facing what’s known as the ‘App Gap.’ The traditional answer to closing the App Gap is custom application development, but that requires front and back-end developers, DevOps, and an infrastructure to host the application. In short, it can be expensive and time-consuming. As organizations recognize the need to fill the App Gap, they are looking to low-code/no-code technology. This is where Microsoft Power Apps can step in.
In this blog post, the Kwixand Solutions team offers key insights into how businesses can use Microsoft Power Apps to bridge system gaps, improve efficiency, and empower their teams with custom-built tools.
What is Microsoft Power Apps?
Microsoft Power Apps is a user-friendly platform designed to help businesses build custom applications without needing extensive coding knowledge or development experience.
Power Apps comes with many business benefits and you can:
Create both web and mobile apps that meet your exact business needs
Start from pre-built templates to suit your scenario or build your own apps from scratch
Easily connect to a wide range of data sources like SharePoint lists, Excel tables, or cloud databases like Microsoft Azure SQL
Integrate seamlessly with other Microsoft tools like Dynamics 365
This helps close the gaps between your business systems and allows you to create precise tools tailored to your specific needs.
📌 Read More: 10 Ways Power Apps Drives Business Efficiency
What is the Main Benefit of Using Power Apps?
The main benefit of using PowerApps is that the applications are tailor-made to fit your exact needs, so there are no missing pieces and no unnecessary elements slowing you down.
Applications can be accessed on web or mobile devices from anywhere, including offline capability to support workers who do not have access to an internet connection.
The platform also offers secure and customizable user access so that you can control who has access to your app and even which specific features they can access once they connect. As a Microsoft product, PowerApps offers robust integration with a host of services, connectors, and other applications to save you time and ensure higher levels of data accuracy and integrity.
Finally, PowerApps uses a low-code, no-code development model that makes the app creation process much simpler and faster than traditional development methodologies. Depending on the complexity of your app requirements, you could have your own custom-built app in as little as three weeks
Real-World Power Apps Examples
The Kwixand Solutions team has helped clients create Power Apps that address specific operational challenges. Here are four impactful examples that demonstrate the platform's flexibility and power.
1. Custom Equipment Maintenance and Scheduling
A client required a system that could maintain records of their equipment and resources, and to stay on top of maintenance through automated, proactive maintenance scheduling. The solution needed to be easily accessible from mobile or web-based devices, and it needed to enforce role-based security.
The team built a custom Power App that delivered all of this. The application featured configurable views, smart filtering, and user access controls. More importantly, the team implemented an automated workflow that generated maintenance work orders based on preset and configurable maintenance requirements.
Result: The client was able to was able to easily and effectively manage their equipment and resources within a single application. Additionally, they were also able to:
Shift from reactive to proactive maintenance
Reduce downtime
Save on repair and replacement costs.
2. Integrated Time & Expense Entry for Mobile Technicians
Another client, who uses Microsoft Dynamics Business Central as their ERP system, needed a streamlined way to manage technician time entries, expense claims, and vendor invoices – all from their mobile devices. They also needed their business processes automated to reduce unnecessary manual entry and review.
To deliver this, the Kwixand Solutions team created three interconnected apps:
Tech App: For technicians to log time entries and expenses
Validation App: For a different end-user who were reviewing and correcting entries submitted
Management App: For managers to review validated entries prior to posting transactions in their ERP solution.
Additionally, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) was used to auto-capture vendor invoice data from email attachments, streamlining the entry and approval process.
Result: The custom power apps enabled a small team to manage hundreds of submissions using just their phones or tablets. The client was also able to:
Streamline time entry and expense approval process
Significantly reduce payroll costs
Improve invoice management, job budgeting, and cost tracking
3. Streamlined Sales Order Entry with Dynamic SKU Selection
Another client, using Microsoft Dynamics Finance and Supply Chain Management, had over 10,000 SKUs - making sales order entry complex and prone to user errors as the wrong products were often selected due to the high number of similar product codes.
They required a streamlined sales order entry solution that integrated with their existing system. The system needed to be intuitive, and process-driven to ensure that the correct items are always selected.
The Kwixand Solutions team delivered a tightly integrated, efficient and accurate sales order entry application that was specifically tailored to the clients’ needs. This app simplified sales order entry with:
Clear, process-driven criteria selection with validation of options, items, and quantities
Dynamic matching of SKUs based on selection criteria
Seamless integration with the existing ERP system
Result: With the app, the SKUs were selected dynamically based on criteria instead of relying on manual entry. This meant that the app:
Dramatically improved data accuracy
Increased data speed
Virtually eliminated entry errors due to structured selection process
The solution was so effective that the client requested a follow-up project to integrate Power Apps into their warehouse operations.
4. Centralized Data Collection & Reporting Across Departments
In our final example, a client required a single app that could:
Collect data across seven departments
Enforce role-based access
Facilitate reporting at departmental and consolidated levels
Offer internal setup and admin tools within the app itself
The Kwixand Solutions team developed a multi-screen Power App where users were routed to different interfaces based on their email and role. Each department received a tailored interface with dropdowns, radio buttons, and import functionality. Power BI was integrated for advanced reporting, and import tools allowed fast data entry from external systems.
we provided our client with the means to effectively manage their data collection, administration and reporting needs for multiple departments. We eliminated various external and highly manual data collection systems by consolidating the data and functionality in Power Apps. This drove improved visibility and reporting across departments, and increased collaboration among departmental members. Data collected is cleaner and more consistent, facilitating better reporting.
Result: The app effectively managed their data collection, administration and reporting needs for multiple departments. It also:
Centralized data collection and storage
Improved visibility and reporting
Increased collaboration and consistency
📌 Read More: 9 Use Cases of Power Apps for Manufacturers
Frequently Asked Questions About Power Apps
Can I develop Power Apps without a license?
No, you need a license, either as part of your Microsoft 365 plan or through a standalone Power Apps license. Learn more about Power Apps licensing here.
Can I use multiple environments for development?
Yes. You can create up to three development environments in addition to your production environment. This is essential for testing and staging your apps before deploying them.
Can Power Apps connect to multiple data sources?
Absolutely. Power Apps offers a wide range of out-of-the-box connectors for Microsoft services and beyond. You can even integrate on-premise data sources via APIs or secure connectors.
What’s the difference between Canvas apps and Model-driven apps?
Canvas Apps: Start from a blank screen and build freely using drag-and-drop elements. Ideal for highly customized, user-specific experiences.
Model-driven Apps: Use a standardized layout tied closely with Dynamics 365. Best for data-centric applications where form-based navigation and logic are key.
Final Thoughts
Power Apps is a game-changing tool for any organization looking to close system gaps, streamline processes, and empower teams with accessible, scalable solutions. As the examples above show, there’s virtually no limit to what you can achieve, from improving field service operations to enabling centralized reporting across departments. If your current systems aren’t keeping up with your business needs, it might be time to explore what Power Apps can do for you.
Ready to Leverage Power Apps For Your Company?
Based in Canada, Kwixand Solutions is a Microsoft Dynamics Partner with deep expertise in the Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 suite. The team brings over 50 years of combined experience and has delivered more than 200 successful digital transformation projects globally.
From ERP and CRM integrations to mobile-first field applications, Kwixand Solutions specializes in translating business challenges into practical, scalable solutions using tools like Power Apps, Power BI, Power Automate, and Power Pages. Book a free consultation to get started today.
About The Author: Craig Day is a certified Dynamics 365 Business Central Functional Consultant with over six years of experience implementing and supporting ERP solutions. He possesses strong technical expertise and deep business process knowledge, with a focus on Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 solutions.
