As we look at the Release Wave announcements, I want to talk specifically about what’s coming for Power Apps!
With the Power Platform 2024 Release Wave 1, it’s evident that Microsoft is delivering a new wave of exciting features and updates to Power Apps, targeted at users and developers. This post will outline the key features from the Release Wave 1.
Building Modern Apps
Power Apps is rolling out updates focused on modernizing apps by default, resulting in higher developer productivity and user satisfaction. Developers can take advantage of modern controls, responsive templates, and offline capabilities, streamlining the app development process.
Similarly, users will benefit from a refreshed interface, simplified sharing options, and improved collaboration tools, enhancing overall user experience.
Copilot for Power Apps Makers and Users
Microsoft Copilot introduces AI and natural language capabilities to Power Apps, accelerating app development and enabling advanced data analysis. App developers can leverage Copilot to expedite app creation, modify functionalities, and work seamlessly with data. Users can utilize natural language to explore data and navigate apps, resulting in an intuitive and seamless user experience.
Enable Enterprise Scale
Upgrades to Power Apps Studio include enhanced monitoring and code management tools, catering to the needs of makers working on larger and complex applications. These improvements offer makers and administrators greater visibility and control over their solutions, ensuring seamless implementation and management of low-code solutions across the organization.
Features to Look Out For
The top focus areas in this release include:
- Modern App Development: The use of modern controls, responsive templates, and offline capabilities to streamline development processes and enhance user experiences.
- Copilot Integration: AI and natural language capabilities integrated into Power Apps to accelerate app development and enhance data analysis.
- Enhanced Monitoring Tools: Upgrades to Power Apps Studio offer improved monitoring and code management tools, ensuring greater visibility and control over solutions.
Here are a few additional features that I think are the most impactful items coming to Power Apps in Release Wave 1 2024:
- Use Modern Screen Templates to Easily Build Canvas App Screens
- Canvas makers can swiftly integrate modern, responsive screen templates into their Canvas apps with just a few clicks.
- Updated Canvas app screen templates offer a fresh set of modernized templates containing modern controls and responsive containers, empowering makers to customize templates according to specific needs.
- Modernize Maker Experience Security Settings
- Enable makers to utilize a modern and accessible security role editor while creating apps.
- A new security role editor panel called “New Role” allows makers to configure security role settings within Power Apps, including column security profiles, ensuring a seamless and efficient security management experience.
- Use Generative AI Testing for Canvas Apps
- Simplify application testing and automation processes by leveraging generative AI testing for Canvas apps.
- Copilot assists users in building appropriate test cases and scripts for canvas apps, automating the generation of test assets and facilitating the testing process.
- Users can create and automate tests seamlessly, enhancing the testing experience and enabling scalable app deployments.
- Use Copilot Easily in Canvas Apps
- Copilot functionality is seamlessly integrated into Canvas apps connected to Microsoft Dataverse data, providing users with instant access to AI assistance for data analysis and insights.
- Copilot is enabled by default in canvas apps connected to Dataverse data, requiring no special configuration. Users can leverage Copilot to ask questions and gain insights into their data, enhancing the overall user experience and productivity.
- Make Direct Calls to SQL Server Stored Procedures
- Streamline app development processes and improve performance by enabling customers to make direct calls to SQL Server stored procedures using Power Fx, eliminating the need for data movement and improving data call and update performance.
- Customers can directly call stored procedures using Power Fx, enhancing the efficiency of action-based apps and improving paging and refreshing capabilities, ultimately enhancing app usability and performance.
With the Power Platform 2024 Release Wave 1, Microsoft Power Apps continues to lead the way in low-code application development. These advancements highlight Microsoft’s commitment to empowering businesses with scalable and efficient app development solutions. As businesses continue to focus on digital transformation, Power Apps empowers makers and users to demonstrate their creativity and drive innovation.
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