A key takeaway from the 2024 Power Platform Conference was that 97% of Fortune 500 companies use the Power Platform to drive innovation and productivity. In addition, a 46% growth was projected for Partner Practices which is 30% higher than 2023 records.

Before exploring why this is the case, let’s recap what the Microsoft Power Platform is. In an earlier post, we covered the basics of the Power Platform. The Power Platform is Microsoft’s low code suite that allows everyday professionals to build apps, automate tasks and analyze data using simple visual tools. In this article, some of the reasons why Microsoft’s Power Platform is crucial for organizations were highlighted. These included its ability to enhance productivity, drive data-based decision-making, and provide accessible tools for custom solution development.

Why is low-code development important?

Many businesses struggle with turning ideas into functional tools because traditional software development is slow, expensive, and reliant on specialized programmers. Low code development allows businesses to avoid this challenge, remove barriers to innovation, accelerate problem-solving, reduce software solution development costs and increase efficiency. All these are essential for businesses to stay competitive.

Why are Microsoft’s Power Platform unique in the low-code solution space?

This technology stands out as a leader in the low-code space because it combines powerful automation, seamless integration, and AI-driven insights within an ecosystem that businesses already trust.

Many businesses rely on Microsoft’s Personal Productivity tools. Products like M365, Teams, and OneDrive are widely utilized in most business environments. These tools form a foundation for businesses that adopt the Power Platform to build on. In essence, existing data and business processes already running on other Microsoft Products within a business can be leveraged by the Power Platform. Unlike many other low-code platforms, Power Platform is deeply embedded within Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, and Azure, making it easy for organizations to build and scale custom solutions without disrupting existing workflows.

Another driver is its versatility. For example, with Power Apps, businesses can create custom applications tailored to their needs. With Power Automate workflows can be seamlessly automated, reducing manual tasks and boosting efficiency. Power BI provides real-time analytics and data visualization, helping organizations make smarter decisions.

Beyond its capabilities, the Power Platform is designed for both technical developers and non-technical users, empowering employees at all levels to build solutions without waiting on IT departments. Its integration with AI tools like Copilot Studio further simplifies development, making automation and customization more accessible than ever. As businesses increasingly look for agile, cost-effective ways to innovate, the Microsoft Power Platform continues to set the standard for what low-code development can achieve.

Therefore the combination of the proliferation of low-code tools, the capabilities of the Microsoft platform as well as its ability to build on other relevant business and enterprise Microsoft applications make it the go-to choice for low-code development.

What steps are smart companies taking?

The Microsoft Power Platform is a powerful tool, but without the right strategy, businesses may experience challenges trying to kick off a Power Platform practice. To keep apps running smoothly, companies should use Dataverse for structured data and integrate Azure for complex operations. Monitoring usage and optimizing licensing can prevent unnecessary expenses, while employee training and AI tools like Copilot help users get up to speed.

Security risks can be minimized by enforcing role-based access, setting Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies, and using Microsoft Purview for oversight. With a thoughtful approach, businesses can unlock the full potential of Power Platform—scaling efficiently, staying secure, and keeping costs under control.

Establishing a Center of Excellence (CoE) helps standardize best practices, while tiered access controls and approval workflows prevent unauthorized automation. Data partitioning strategies improve performance, especially for large datasets, and integrating with Azure DevOps enables better version control and lifecycle management. Additionally, leveraging AI-powered analytics in Power BI can provide insights into workflow efficiency, adoption rates, and areas for improvement, ensuring continuous optimization of business solutions.

Get Started with the Microsoft Power Platform

Companies can get started by first identifying key business challenges that can be addressed with low-code automation, app development, or data insights. A structured approach involves assessing licensing needs, setting up governance policies, and establishing a Center of Excellence (CoE) to manage best practices. Training employees through Microsoft Learn, hands-on workshops, and AI-powered tools like Copilot ensures smooth adoption.

Often companies will require a certified Microsoft Service Provider to get started effectively. For companies already utilizing Microsoft products, adopting this stack is a logical step to deepen digital transformation within their organizations. For businesses not utilizing Microsoft’s products and services, the Power Platform offers a compelling opportunity to enhance productivity and efficiency for your business.