Build your custom ERP solution with the new enterprise OS: Microsoft Power Platform 

As organizations grow and become more complex, they often need a more robust and integrated system to manage their operations. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have long been the go-to solution for businesses to achieve this level of integration, but they can be costly and time-consuming to implement. 

However, with the rise of low-code/no-code platforms, there is a new contender in town: Microsoft Power Platform. This platform offers a suite of powerful tools that can be used to create custom solutions for various business needs. This blog post will explore how enterprises can turn Microsoft Power Platform into their ERP system.  

Assess Your Needs 

Before building your ERP solution using the Microsoft Power Platform, you must understand your business needs. Identify the core functions critical to your organization, such as finance, procurement, inventory management, and HR. Determine the workflows and data involved in each function and the data sources that must be integrated. 

Identify Key Apps 

Once you have identified your business needs, the next step is identifying the key applications you will need to build on the Power Platform. For example, you might need a finance app to manage invoices and payments, an inventory management app to track stock levels, and an HR app to manage employee data. 

Build Apps on the Power Platform  

With your needs and critical apps identified, it is time to start building your apps on the Power Platform. The platform includes several tools that can help you create custom solutions quickly and easily, such as Power Apps, Power BI, Power Automate, and Power Virtual Agents. 

For example, you can use Power Apps to create custom forms and dashboards that streamline your business processes. Power BI can create reports and visualizations that help you make informed decisions. You can use Power Automate to automate workflows between different systems and applications and Power Virtual Agents to create chatbots that can assist employees and customers. 

Integrate Your Apps 

Once you have built your apps on the Power Platform, the next step is integrating them with your existing systems and data sources. This can be done using connectors and APIs, which allow your apps to communicate with other systems and share data. 

For example, you might integrate your finance app with your accounting system, inventory management app with your warehouse management system, and HR app with your employee database. This integration ensures that your apps are always up-to-date and working together seamlessly. 

Monitor and Improve 

Finally, monitoring and improving your ERP solution over time is essential. Use analytics tools such as Power BI to track performance metrics and identify areas for improvement. Continuously collect feedback from users and stakeholders to refine your apps and workflows. 

By following these five steps, enterprises can turn Microsoft Power Platform into their ERP system. With its low-code/no-code tools, the Power Platform provides a flexible and cost-effective alternative to traditional ERP systems, enabling organizations to create custom solutions that meet their needs. 

Take away 

Microsoft Power Platform is set to be the new enterprise OS. With the underlayer of dataverse and the vast connectors, it adds flexibility and scalability to address organizational needs. With its low-code/no-code features, Microsoft Power Platform has made the process much more feasible and accessible and is reducing the overall cost of development and quick launch time. Following the five steps outlined here, enterprises can leverage the platform and create a flexible, cost-effective, tailored ERP solution that meets their business needs.  

Are you looking for a technology partner to support you in the process? Check out Saxon’s Power Platform consulting services. Our experts will walk you through the best plan and help you fetch the best ROI quickly.