Microsoft PowerApps – Model-Driven Apps - Overview

The Microsoft Power Platform reduces your development costs and does more with less by enabling you to rapidly build and share low-code apps. It’s not only suitable for enterprise and customer data management, but it also provides an integrated solution to day-to-day business challenges. The Power Platform includes:

●     PowerBI: A data visualization tool that enables data to be presented in unique, easy-to-understand, visually impressive reports.

●     PowerAutomate: An efficiency enhancement tool that makes it easy to automate business processes in the form of smart workflows.

●     Power Virtual Agents: A no-code chatbot platform by that online customer communication can be automated and accelerated at the same time

●     PowerApps: A no-code application building platform, where creating customized professional applications that meet unique needs is a walk in the park

PowerApps users can basically choose between the creation of canvas-driven apps and model-driven (model-based) apps. In this article, we will take a closer look at model-driven applications.

The purpose of model-based applications is to enable business users to map complex, data-focused business processes within the application. The focus isn't on the user interface but rather on the business logic running in the background.

Examples of such applications include a CRM (Customer Relationship Management System), HRIS (Human Resources Information System), inventory management applications, or even a digitalized solution for the company's entitlement management or onboarding process.

When all the data used by the application is available in the Microsoft Dataverse database;

When the complexity of the business logic and data driving the application is quite high;

When a fully responsive appearance is important.

A fully responsive, easy-to-assemble design;

A data-driven functionality, as the application automatically filters for possible duplication of data;

Complex backend capabilities.

Frankly spoken, it depends entirely on the purpose of the application. In general, canvas-driven applications are a good choice for solving task and role-specific problems, while model-driven applications can work better when developing end-to-end solutions. The two types of apps complement each other perfectly, thus ensuring that PowerApps can effectively support the operation of companies in every aspect.

In summary, canvas apps are more suited for simple and quick app creation, while model-driven apps are better for complex business processes and enterprise-level applications.

If you want to learn more about PowerApps Canvas-based Applications, you can also read our article "Overview of Canvas-Based Applications"!