We know that with Power Apps we can make all the Apps that may interest us. Sometimes we limit ourselves to make a simple App for the team that asks for it the most. We leave aside some departments that maybe are not so tech-savvy.
We are going to start publishing a series of posts with concrete examples of Apps that we have made for different clients. We will pixelate the data that may be sensitive but the Apps we are going to discuss are all in use in different customers of ours or even in our own home.
In these examples, we will focus on Apps that are connected to the D365 ecosystem, although your ERP or backend management systems do not matter in these cases. The solutions detailed in these articles can be developed against any other management tool.
What do I need to work with Power Apps?
The first thing you need is to have Microsoft 365 accounts. It does not matter what type of license you use for office automation. Power Apps licenses are in addition to the user’s licenses. Today (07 2022) there are three main economic models for using Power App.
- Plan per application
- Plan per User
- Pay-per-use plan.
Secondly, we need a terminal to use the application. This terminal can be a desktop PC, a tablet or the phone itself. We are not going to go into more detail about the licensing model or the types of devices.
We will focus on a concrete example of the use of Power Apps for the reception of goods in a warehouse.
Power Apps warehouse reception
Obtaining information from warehouse personnel is not always a simple task. When we receive orders from several sources simultaneously, it is essential to know the availability of raw materials or goods in stock at all times.
In general, the processing for the registration of the information when the goods have been received is usually delayed. As a consequence, the information that reaches the other departments of the company is not usually immediate and in many occasions, the processing for the entry of these goods is not carried out in the most friendly way.
At Revertis we have developed an App that makes it easier for warehouse personnel to register the merchandise at the same time that the previously ordered material is received. In this case, the App developed by Revertis connects directly to D365 Business Central. From their own phone, warehouse personnel can receive goods in a fraction of the time normally spent. Warehouse personnel access the App directly from their phone.
By accessing the menu “WAREHOUSE RECEIPT” you will see all the purchase orders pending to be received. Instead of having to access from your PC, the waiter can move with his own phone to receive the goods directly.
With the filtering capability in Power Apps, the waiter can search for the order by supplier name, amount, order number or any reference that is convenient for him:
Once the order is selected, all the goods items included in the order are displayed.
In the first item/line of the order, we see how we are indicating the receipt of 100% of the goods ordered in this item.
In the second, we are indicating that the supplier has only delivered 150 units of the 200 requested.
In the third, we reflect the possibility of indicating an excess delivery. The application also allows to register incidents such as: material in bad condition and to directly save photos of the goods received.
When the waiter confirms the receipt, he is instantly informing the office staff directly in D365 Business Central. The office user can even schedule alerts so that he doesn’t have to go to the front desk.
With Power Apps, you can create specific Apps for your company to facilitate a repetitive task for a team or group of people. It is not necessary that the App has a lot of functionalities, Apps that facilitate the accomplishment of simple, concrete and repetitive tasks are much more valued. We create as many Apps as necessary for the different members of the team. Not everyone performs the same tasks within the company and it is important to adapt to the needs of each team and each environment.
Making accurate, current and timely data available to our team helps the team perform better and strengthens the sense of belonging to the company. Well-informed employees feel more involved. Revertis achieves this through its extensive experience in business management. We have more than twenty years of experience in the world of Microsoft ERP (D365 and Dynamics AX). We can quickly provide your company with an App that gives more autonomy to your teams. All this from the employee’s own cell phone if so decided.
