Every company is trying to cut costs and improve efficiency. One of the biggest expenses for many companies is software licenses. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a popular ERP software solution used by many companies, but it can come with a hefty price tag. However, with the help of Power Apps, it’s possible to cut down on the cost of Business Central licenses. In this blog, we’ll discuss how to do just that.
First, to know about what Power Apps is, Power Apps is a low-code development platform that allows users to create custom business applications. It’s part of the Microsoft Power Platform and integrates seamlessly with Business Central. With Power Apps, you can create custom workflows, dashboards, and reports that can help you streamline your business processes and make better decisions.
Now, let’s dive into how you can use Power Apps to cut down on the cost of Business Central licenses.
1. Identify the users who need access to Business Central.
Business Central licenses can be expensive, so it’s important to only give access to those who really need it. Use Power Apps to identify the users who need access to Business Central and create custom apps that only give them access to the information they need. For example, if you have a sales team that needs to track leads and opportunities, you can create a custom app that only gives them access to that information.
2. Create custom workflows.
With Power Apps, you can create custom workflows that automate your business processes. This can help you save time and reduce errors. For example, you can create a workflow that automatically sends an email to your accounting team when a sales order is created in Business Central. This can help you streamline your processes and reduce the need for manual intervention.
3. Build custom dashboards and reports.
Business Central comes with a variety of standard dashboards and reports, but they may not be exactly what you need. With Power Apps, you can build custom dashboards and reports that give you the information you need to make better decisions. For example, you can create a dashboard that shows you your sales by product category, or a report that shows you your top-selling products.
4. Integrate with other applications.
Power Apps integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft applications like Excel, SharePoint, and Power BI. This means you can use Power Apps to pull data from these applications and create custom apps that give you a holistic view of your business. For example, you can create a custom app that pulls data from Business Central, Excel, and Power BI to give you a comprehensive view of your sales data.
By using Power Apps to create custom apps, workflows, dashboards, and reports, you can reduce the need for expensive Business Central licenses. With Power Apps, you can create custom solutions that are tailored to your specific business needs. This can help you save money and improve efficiency.
Microsoft Business Central is available in two licensing options: Essentials and Premium. The Essentials license costs $70 per user per month, while the Premium license costs $100 per user per month. Both licenses come with a range of features, including financial management, supply chain management, project management, and sales and service management.
Microsoft Power Apps offers several licensing options as well. The Power Apps per user plan costs $40 per user per month and includes access to a range of pre-built templates and components. The Power Apps per app plan costs $10 per user per app per month and allows businesses to create and deploy custom applications without needing to license all their users.
In conclusion, Power Apps is a powerful tool that can help you cut down on the cost of Business Central licenses. By creating custom apps, workflows, dashboards, and reports, you can streamline your business processes and make better decisions.
