Power Platform 101

In this episode of Power Platform 101, Rory Neary and Jukka Niiranen discuss the evolution of the Power Platform, the impact of AI on content creation, and the importance of user stories in app development. They share insights from their experiences in the tech industry, the transition from traditional CRM systems to cloud-based solutions, and the significance of governance in citizen development. The conversation also touches on the future of apps, the role of social media in tech, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for new users of the Power Platform.

Links
FinModeler 
https://www.finmodeler.com/

LevelUp 
https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/level-up-for-dynamics-365/bjnkkhimoaclnddigpphpgkfgeggokam?hl=en

IanusGuard for licensing
https://www.ianusguard.com/

New vs Old Advanced Find blog post https://jukkaniiranen.com/2022/02/modern-advanced-find-test-drive/

Generative pages - Microsoft Post
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-apps/maker/model-driven-apps/generative-pages

Newsletters versus a blog https://jukkaniiranen.com/2024/06/why-start-a-newsletter-instead-of-writing-a-blog/
Chapters

🎧 Power Platform 101 – Rory Neary with Jukka Niiranen
00:00 – Introduction & welcome
 01:00 – From Twitter to LinkedIn: Community and authenticity
 04:30 – Blogging, newsletters, and life after the MVP program
 10:30 – Jukka’s Power Platform origin story
 15:40 – From Microsoft CRM to Dataverse and Power Platform
 20:00 – The evolution of apps, AI, and the future of low code
 27:30 – Specializing within Power Platform: Picking your lane
 35:00 – Governance, client expectations & agile user stories
 43:00 – What Jukka does today: Consulting, architecture & licensing
46:00 – 🧭 Something Old: Classic Advanced Find
49:50 – 🆕 Something New: Generative Pages in Power Platform
54:15 – 💡 Something Borrowed: JanusGuard licensing framework
56:10 – 💙 Something Blue: Cloud trust & global data politics
58:40 – 🏆 Something Jukka’s Proud Of: Building FinModeler on Power Platform
1:00:10 – 🎶 Desert Island Discs & closing thoughts
 1:04:40 – 🎵 Outro: Take Me Home, Country Roads

In this episode of the Power Platform 101 podcast, Rory Neary and Craig White discuss their journeys into the Power Platform, the evolution of the technology, and the implications of AI. They reminisce about their early encounters, share insights on community contributions, and reflect on personal projects that have made an impact. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced within the Power Platform and the importance of user experience.

Useful links
Craig's blog https://platformsofpower.net/
Matthew Devaney's blog https://www.matthewdevaney.com/
Takeaways

The Power Platform has evolved significantly since its inception.
Community contributions play a vital role in the growth of the Power Platform.
AI is a powerful tool, but it comes with environmental considerations.
Galleries in Canvas Apps are essential for visualizing data effectively.
The new Power Platform Admin Center enhances user experience and governance.
Blogs like Matthew Devaney's provide valuable resources for Power Platform users.
Preview features can be risky to use in production environments.
Personal projects can lead to unexpected opportunities and community engagement.
Music can evoke strong memories and connections to specific times in life.
Humor can be a great addition to functional applications.
Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
02:55 Reminiscing and Early Connections
05:42 Journey into Power Platform
10:47 Transitioning from NHS to Higher Education
21:20 Consultancy and Current Role
23:06 AI and Its Implications
28:13 Future of AI and Personal Reflections
30:34 Something Old: The Timeless Gallery
35:06 Something New: The Power Platform Admin Center
37:49 Something Borrowed: Celebrating Matthew Devaney
42:31 Something Blue: The Frustrations of Preview Features
46:37 Proud Moments: The Formula One Power App

Summary

In this episode of Power Platform 101, Rory Neary interviews Michael Roth, a Power Platform administrator, about his journey in the field. They discuss the evolution of Power Platform, the challenges faced in development, the importance of governance and security, and the collaborative nature of administration. Michael shares insights on environments, permissions, and the impact of Microsoft's Co-Pilot on the platform. The conversation also touches on the need for continuous learning and offers advice for new administrators. The episode concludes with a fun segment about music and personal reflections.

Takeaways

Power Platform administration is a collaborative effort.
Governance is essential for long-term success.
Continuous learning is crucial in the ever-evolving Power Platform.
The Center of Excellence Starter Kit is invaluable for admins.
Understanding environments and permissions is key to effective administration.
Co-Pilot can significantly impact how we use Power Platform.
Many admins fall into their roles by accident.
Community support is vital for Power Platform administrators.
Explaining your job can be challenging to non-technical people.
It's important to manage expectations in Power Platform administration.

Sound bites

"Governance is a lifelong journey."
"Power Platform is a team effort."
"Don't let expectations overwhelm you."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction 
03:46 Michael's Journey into Power Platform
09:01 Transitioning from Development to Governance
15:15 The Importance of Governance in Power Platform
21:17 Challenges in Implementing Governance
25:36 Customer Engagement and Governance Strategy
29:22 Exploring the Center of Excellence Data Kit
31:21 Recent Changes in Data Loss Prevention Policies
33:49 Valuable Resources in Power Platform Administration
35:50 Challenges in Power Platform Administration
37:09 The Impact of Co-Pilot on Power Platform
41:50 Empowering Future Administrators
46:58 Final Thoughts and Community Engagement

Keywords

Power Platform, Administration, Governance, Security, Collaboration, Continuous Learning, Co-Pilot, Environments, Permissions, Microsoft

Summary 
In this episode of the Power Platform 101 podcast, host Rory Neary is joined by guest Lisa Foster, Managing Director of Blackbird Corporate, a Microsoft Training Organisation. They discuss the evolution of SharePoint and the Power Platform, the importance of training and consulting, and the transition from InfoPath to Power Apps. They explore the challenges and benefits of on-premises versus cloud solutions, the significance of user stories in development, and the integration of third-party tools like DocuSign. Lisa shares her journey in the industry, her achievements, and her passion for motorcycle racing, while also touching on the evolving terminology around citizen developers and Power Platform makers.

Takeaways

The podcast is rebranded to Power Platform 101 for better discoverability.
Lisa Foster has a long history with SharePoint and Power Platform, evolving her business over 16 years.
SharePoint's offline capabilities are crucial for certain sectors like military and government.
Transitioning from InfoPath to Power Apps is a significant change for many organizations.
On-premises solutions have their own set of challenges compared to cloud solutions.
Training in Power Platform is a major focus, with 70% of training related to it.
Understanding the differences between Canvas apps and Model-driven apps is essential for users.
Power Automate can significantly enhance workflows for clients, but many are unaware of its full capabilities.
Integrating tools like DocuSign can streamline processes for clients.
Consulting and training together provide a unique value proposition for clients.
The term 'citizen developer' is evolving, with 'Power Platform maker' being a more suitable term.
User stories are vital for guiding development in Power Platform projects.
Power BI reporting can be complex, especially with large datasets.
Power BI Premium offers enhanced features for data refresh rates.
Old features like SharePoint alerts are being phased out, requiring new workflows in Power Automate.
New features like Copilot in Power Platform are exciting but require additional licensing.
Learning from others in the industry can provide valuable insights and improvements.
Achievements in both business and personal interests, like motorcycle racing, are sources of pride.

Chapters

00:00 Podcast Introduction and Rebranding
02:21 Lisa Foster's Journey into Power Platform
04:19 Evolution of SharePoint and Power Platform
05:49 Offline Capabilities and Security in SharePoint
08:19 Transition from InfoPath to Power Apps
11:04 On-Premises vs Cloud Solutions
12:41 Training Focus on Power Platform
14:22 Understanding Canvas Apps vs Model-Driven Apps
17:01 Power Automate and Client Use Cases
18:42 Integrating Third-Party Tools like DocuSign
20:58 Consulting and Training Synergy
23:33 Citizen Developers vs Power Platform Makers
27:06 Power Platform Training and User Stories
28:34 Power BI Reporting Challenges
30:38 Power BI Premium Features
33:10 Power Platform Integration Discussion
36:30 Old Features: SharePoint Alerts
39:24 New Features: Copilot in Power Platform
42:42 Borrowing Best Practices from Others
47:14 Proud Achievements in Business and Racing
51:24 Music Preferences and Personal Insights

In this episode of the Power Platform This and That podcast, Rory Neary chats with Ben Fetters, a Power Platform Trainer and consultant, about his unexpected journey into the Microsoft ecosystem. From his early resistance to IT to becoming a recognized voice in the Power Platform space, Ben shares candid stories, insights into Canvas Apps and Power Automate, and his experiences helping others through training and community engagement.
They explore the evolution of app development tools, the impact of user groups, and real-world project management successes. Ben also reflects on the joys (and quirks) of working with modern controls, his content creation process on LinkedIn, and the underestimated magic of the barcode scanner control.
💡 Takeaways
The Power Platform fosters instant connections among users.
Content performance is often unpredictable—just post and share.
Carousel posts are effective for educational content on LinkedIn.
Training others in the Power Platform is both impactful and fulfilling.
User groups create space for learning, networking, and collaboration.
The barcode scanner feature in Power Apps deserves more attention.
Modern controls offer better design but still have functional gaps.
The updated Power Automate designer improves usability and clarity.
Community involvement accelerates both personal and career growth.
Microsoft-based custom app solutions are a growing trend in organizations.
🔗 Links

Ben Fetters LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/benfetters/
How to speed up your apps Link
4 Power Apps coding concepts for non-developers Link
Delegation do's and dont's Link
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Power Platform Podcast
06:23 Ben Fetters' Journey into Power Platform
13:36 The Evolution of Power Apps and Automate
17:49 The Growing Demand for Custom Apps
22:59 Training and Community Engagement
29:52 The Value of User Groups
34:51 Something Old: Barcode Scanner
39:14 Something New: Modern Controls & Designer
46:33 Something Borrowed: Learning from Audrey Gordon
49:30 Something Blue: Platform Frustrations
54:28 Blow Your Own Trumpet: Project Management Wins
57:00 Desert island disk - Mr Blue Sky