Newly announced: New opportunities to develop codeless/no-code solutions and new ways to integrate these applications into more environments such as Outlook and Microsoft Teams.
In these times of economic uncertainty, many people want to develop new professional skills, advance their careers, and get involved in their communities. More than 80 percent of users of low-code or no-code platforms say they would rather work for a company that invests in technical training. That’s according to our Microsoft Low-Code Trends report.
The Power Platform Conference is sponsored by Microsoft and hosted by the Microsoft community, now themed “Everybody” in Orlando (Florida) also deals with this topic. The conference brings together users who are already using Microsoft Power Platform for their own development. It brings together low-code thought leaders from Microsoft, community experts, as well as partners and customers from around the world to share their expertise there.
In addition to the conference, we are working to make the platform more collaborative, intuitive and productive for all users. We have developed new functions and offers for this, which we are introducing today:
- Power Up Skill Program: A professional development initiative designed to help people from non-technical backgrounds advance their careers with technology and low-code skills.
- Maps in Power Apps: A seamless new way to develop and deploy micro-apps directly in Microsoft Teams, Outlook and other applications with a customizable user interface.
- Co-author of Power Apps: Developers can now design and develop the same application at the same time, as co-authors in Microsoft 365.
- Improved SAP integration: New and improved ways to connect SAP data with Power Platform solutions.
- Integrated virtual agent that brings developers together in Power Apps: A conversational bot helps expand a company’s low-code/no-code community.
Introduction to the Power-Up Skill program
According to the Low-Code Trends report, 80 percent of users believe that using the Microsoft Power Platform increases their market value and potential employers. As a result, we will empower more people to accelerate their career advancement through the Power Platform.
To that end, today we’re announcing a new skills program, Power Up, designed to help citizen developers acquire key skills in low-code development—whether they need the knowledge for their current jobs or are transitioning low-code careers – Want. become a developer. You can find success stories from the program here.
“Power” offers a three-month guided curriculum of self-learning, hands-on exercises, and app development challenges. Instructor-led sessions also provide an opportunity to connect with the Power Platform community. Good Microsoft Power Platform certification and community-recognized digital badges also allow participants to find new developer jobs with their credentials and documented knowledge.
New features for the Power Platform
Maps for Power Apps
Low code makes life easier for Power Apps users, especially when using Microsoft Teams. In a hybrid world, however, working in one application while collaborating with colleagues in another application is often stressful and unproductive because you have to constantly switch back and forth.
That’s why we’re introducing Cards for Power Apps: a new, easy way to build and deploy microapps to share, collect, and connect data. For example, important decisions can be made without leaving Microsoft Teams or Outlook.
Cards for Power Apps is based on the cross-platform Adaptive Cards framework, with which developers have already shared millions of code snippets. Power Apps now offers low-code developers the ability to create maps in the familiar Power Apps drag-and-drop design – complete with a Power-Fx integration!
Microsoft built the new map design from the ground up to target modern interactive platforms and provide targeted, time-saving experiences for businesses – including surveys, data collection, and advanced business applications.
Maps for Power Apps will soon be available in public preview in Power Apps. There is more information about this here.
Co-author of Power Apps
To improve collaboration when building apps, we’re introducing co-authoring in Power Apps. It is based on the commenting feature, which allows developers of all skill levels to edit their applications in a Microsoft Office-like interface simultaneously and in real time – a key factor in streamlining low-code development.
Co-authoring will be available in public preview starting next month. Here is more information.
Improved SAP integration
Seamless collaboration is the key to better developing low-code technology. This also includes the use of ready-made solutions. SAP integration with Power Platform plays an important role, especially in central productivity scenarios. Through the acquisition of Clear Software, Power Platform now offers more than 150 Power Automate cloud flows and more than 25 Power Apps specifically developed to accelerate SAP business processes.
We have designed new applications and processes to be up and running in a few hours and cover a wide range of scenarios such as “Cash Order” or “Buy to Pay” support. More information is available here.
Introducing a virtual agent built into Power Apps
In order to always find the right support resources when developing applications, we have developed the integrated virtual agent. It points to important external resources that support app development and encourage the development of knowledge in the developer community.
Virtual agents built into Power Apps are now available. More information is available here.
Virtual Agent connects developers to Power Apps
As more employees use Power Apps to contribute to app development, the need for learning and mentoring grows. The virtual agent built into Power Apps makes this possible “Maker Matching” and other colleagues so you can work together better, create apps more efficiently and use the power of the Power Apps community in your own company.
Maker Matching intelligently connects newbies with experienced colleagues or mentors and community members who have the right skills and can help directly when they’re most needed. Maker Matching will soon be available in public preview in the built-in virtual agent.
More news at Microsoft Ignite
We’ll have more news on the evolution of low-code/no-code platforms at Microsoft Ignite October 12-14.
If you want to follow the Microsoft Power Platform conference, you can find us under the hashtag #MPPC22 on Twitter and LinkedIn. You can also follow the conference live on Twitter: PowerPlatformConf.
A post by Markus Goebel
Senior Communications Manager Data Applications and Infrastructure
