Learn Low-Code/No-Code

Unlike traditional software development that requires a programmer or developer to write lines of code to create the desired features and functions, low-code/no-code tools let non-professional developers (sometimes referred to as "citizen developers") as well as professional developers easily drag and drop components and connect them together to create apps and workflows.

Low-code/no-code solutions can reduce cost and time normally associated with app development, so this type of development is a very desirable option for businesses worldwide.

You can discern the difference by their naming classification. Low-code programs may require the user to do some level of coding though not nearly as much as required for traditional application development. No-code programs do not require any coding experience by the user.

Microsoft Power Apps and Power Automate offer simple, more accessible ways for a wide range of non-technical users to build applications, including:

• Business users: individuals who are not developers but need to create custom applications to support their day-to-day business operations. Power Apps and Power Automate provide a visual and easy-to-use interface for building and automating business processes, making it possible for business users to create custom applications without writing code.
• IT professionals: individuals who work in IT departments and are responsible for creating and deploying software applications. Power Apps and Power Automate provide a low-code platform for IT professionals to build and deploy applications faster and with less effort.
• Developers: individuals who write code to build software applications. Power Apps and Power Automate can complement the skills of developers by providing a platform for automating common tasks and integrating with existing systems and services, freeing up time for more complex programming tasks.
• Small business owners: individuals who own and run small businesses and need to automate their operations and improve their productivity. Power Apps and Power Automate provide a low-cost solution for small businesses to build custom applications and automate workflows, without needing to invest in expensive software development resources.
• Enterprise users: individuals who work in large organizations and need to create and deploy custom applications to support business operations. Power Apps and Power Automate provide a scalable and secure platform for enterprise users to build and deploy applications, integrate with existing systems and services, and automate complex workflows.

No, business users do not need a programming background to take advantage of Power Apps and Power Automate . Power Apps and Power Automate are designed to be low-code and no-code platforms, meaning that users can build custom applications and automate workflows without writing code. Instead, users can use a visual interface and pre-built connectors to create applications and workflows.

The visual interface provides drag-and-drop tools for designing the user interface, defining logic and behavior, and connecting to data and services. Pre-built connectors provide integration with a wide range of systems and services, including cloud-based services like Office 365, Dynamics 365, and other enterprise systems like databases and line-of-business applications.

This makes it possible for business users who do not have a programming background to build custom applications and automate workflows, improving productivity and reducing the time it takes to bring new applications to market. However, it is still possible for more technical users, such as IT professionals and developers, to use Power Apps and Power Automate to build more complex applications and automate more complex workflows.

Microsoft Power Apps is a low-code platform for building custom applications. Here are six common use-cases for Power Apps:

1. Data Collection and Management: Power Apps can be used to build custom forms and apps for collecting and managing data, such as customer information, sales data, or employee data.
2. Process Automation: Power Apps can be used to automate repetitive business processes, such as expense reporting, time tracking, or approvals.
3. Mobile Apps: Power Apps can be used to build custom mobile apps for a variety of use cases, such as field service, asset tracking, or inventory management.
4. Customer Engagement: Power Apps can be used to build custom apps for customer engagement, such as surveys, feedback forms, or appointment scheduling.
5. Workflow Automation: Power Apps can be used to automate workflows and integrate with other systems, such as email, calendars, and file storage, to streamline and automate business processes.
6. Reporting and Dashboards: Power Apps can be used to build custom reports and dashboards, providing real-time insights into business data and performance. Power Apps can also be integrated with Power BI, Microsoft's business intelligence and analytics platform, to provide more powerful reporting and analytics capabilities.

1. Email and Document Management: Power Automate can be used to automate routine tasks such as forwarding emails, copying files, and organizing folders.
2. Business Process Automation: Power Automate can be used to automate routine business processes, such as approvals, task assignments, and data collection.
3. Integration with Other Systems: Power Automate can be used to integrate with other systems and services, such as Office 365, Dynamics 365, and other cloud-based services, to streamline and automate business processes.
4. Event-Driven Automation: Power Automate can be used to trigger automated workflows based on events, such as new data in a database, changes to a file, or updates to a calendar.
5. Data Backup and Recovery: Power Automate can be used to automate routine data backup and recovery tasks, ensuring that important data is protected and recoverable.
6. Alerts and Notifications: Power Automate can be used to send alerts and notifications, such as reminders, status updates, or alerts when critical events occur. Power Automate can also be integrated with other communication tools, such as Teams and Slack, to provide a unified communication platform.

Yes and more credentials are expecting with the release of other LCNC tools. Earning professional certification proves to employers (current and future) that you have strong, professional LCNC skills. This can give you a significant career advantage.

Industry-recognized certifications for Power Apps and Power Automate are under Microsoft's Power Platform framework. As a Microsoft Authorized Partner, ONLC can help you prepare with authorized training classes for any of the Power Platform certifications.

Additionally, ONLC has Education Advisor available to assist you with any questions about our classes, training options and savings opportunities. Our knowledgable advisors can help you find the training that aligns with your career goals and budget. ONLC's Education Advisors are available weekdays via CHAT or at 1-800-288-8221.

See Power Platform Certifications .

Yes, individual users can gain free access to Microsoft Power Apps and Power Automate. Microsoft offers a free trial for Power Apps and Power Automate that allows users to test out the platform and try building custom applications and automating workflows.

In addition, Microsoft also offers a free Power Apps Plan and a free Power Automate Plan, which provide access to a limited set of features and capabilities. The free plans are intended for personal use and may have some limitations compared to paid plans, such as restrictions on data storage, number of runs, or the types of services and systems that can be integrated.

To get started with Power Apps or Power Automate, individuals can sign up for a free trial or free plan on the Microsoft website, and then download and install the required software. Once the trial or free plan is active, users can start building custom applications and automating workflows using the drag-and-drop interface and pre-built connectors provided by the platform.

Yes, a company needs special licensing to use Microsoft Power Apps and Power Automate. Power Apps and Power Automate are part of the Microsoft Power Platform, which is a suite of low-code and no-code tools for building custom applications and automating workflows.

To use Power Apps and Power Automate, a company needs to purchase one of the available licensing plans, which typically include a combination of access to the Power Apps and Power Automate platform, as well as other related services and features. Some licensing plans may also include access to other products in the Power Platform, such as Power BI for business intelligence and analytics, or Power Virtual Agents for conversational AI.

The specific licensing requirements and options for Power Apps and Power Automate vary depending on the needs of the company, such as the number of users, the complexity of the applications being built, and the data and services being integrated. It is recommended to consult with a Microsoft representative or authorized reseller for information on the best licensing plan for a specific organization.