Power BI + PowerApps: From Insight to Action in One Dashboard

Power BI + PowerApps: From Insight to Action in One Dashboard

by | Apr 15, 2025 | Power BI, Powerapps

Ever looked at a Power BI report and thought,
“Cool, I see the problem—but now I have to go somewhere else to fix it”?

Well, not anymore.

By integrating PowerApps directly into your Power BI dashboards, you can take action on your data without ever leaving the report. Whether it’s updating records, submitting feedback, or triggering workflows, this combo is a game-changer for business users.

Let’s walk through a real-world example to show just how easy—and powerful—this integration can be.

🚨 The Scenario: Helpdesk Ticket Dashboard

You manage an internal IT helpdesk team. Your Power BI dashboard already shows:

  • The number of tickets that are open, resolved, or overdue.
  • A list of ticket details (like priority, technician, and department).
  • Filters to slice the data by date, issue type, or team.

So far, so good.

But here’s the pain point:

You can see the tickets, but you can’t do anything with them.
Your team still has to open a separate system (like SharePoint or a ticketing tool) to update the status or assign someone new.

That’s extra work. It slows people down. And it kind of defeats the point of having a live dashboard.

💡 The Fix: Embed a PowerApp Right in the Report

Step 1: Add the PowerApps Visual

Inside Power BI:

  • Add the PowerApps custom visual from the marketplace.
  • Drag in the relevant fields (like Ticket ID, Status, and Assigned To).
  • Choose to create a new app or use one you already built.

Let’s go with creating a new one.

Step 2: Build a Simple App

PowerApps will open in your browser with the data fields passed over.

You build a basic app:

  • Display ticket info in a form.
  • Add a dropdown to update the status.
  • Add a “Save” button that writes back to your data source (like SharePoint, SQL, or Dataverse).

Step 3: Embed and Use It

Once you save and publish the app, it’s live in your Power BI dashboard.

Now, when your manager clicks on a ticket row in Power BI, the app:

  • Instantly shows the details of that ticket.
  • Lets them update the status or assign someone new.
  • Pushes the update back to the source—and Power BI reflects the change in real time.

Magic, right?

🧠 Why This is Awesome

🔹 Benefit🔍 What it Means
No more switching toolsHandle updates right inside the dashboard.
Live data, live actionsUpdates are reflected instantly in visuals.
Cleaner workflowsFewer steps, less confusion.
Custom apps for your exact needsTailor the app for your process.

✨ Bonus: Add Automation with Power Automate

Want to take it further? You can plug in Power Automate to:

  • Send an email when a ticket is marked “Urgent.”
  • Trigger follow-ups after 3 days of inactivity.
  • Log updates to an audit trail automatically.

Your PowerApp becomes a workflow hub right inside your BI report.

🚧 Things to Keep in Mind

As cool as this all is, here are a few things to watch out for:

🖥️ Power BI Desktop Can’t Run the App

You can set everything up in Power BI Desktop, but the embedded PowerApp only runs in the Power BI Service (online). It won’t function in desktop preview mode.

🔐 Users Need the Right Permissions

Anyone using the dashboard needs access to:

  • The Power BI report
  • The PowerApp
  • The data source (e.g., SharePoint, SQL, Dataverse)

If someone’s missing a permission, things won’t work—and the errors aren’t always clear.

📤 PowerApps Can’t Write to Power BI Datasets

You can’t update a Power BI dataset directly through PowerApps.
Instead, PowerApps writes to the original data source (like SharePoint or SQL), and Power BI refreshes to show the updated info.

🧼 Keep It Clean

Since your PowerApp is embedded in a dashboard, keep it:

  • Simple and focused.
  • Fast-loading (avoid too many controls).
  • Easy to use with minimal training.

💸 Licensing May Apply

If you’re using premium connectors (like SQL or Dataverse) or advanced features, your users might need PowerApps premium licenses. Make sure to check your org’s licensing plan.

Wrap-Up: Smarter Dashboards, Faster Decisions

Power BI tells you what’s happening.
PowerApps lets you do something about it—right then and there.

This integration helps teams take immediate action based on live data. It reduces friction, streamlines operations, and brings your insights to life.

If you’re already using Microsoft’s Power Platform, this combo is a no-brainer.

Building Apps with Copilot in PowerApps

Building Apps with Copilot in PowerApps

by | Mar 31, 2025 | Copilot, Powerapps

Microsoft Copilot in PowerApps is transforming app development by enabling users to build applications quickly using natural language descriptions. Instead of manually designing forms, tables, and workflows, users can describe what they need, and Copilot generates app components automatically.

Here’s how Copilot is enhancing app development and making it more accessible for business users:

1. How Copilot Simplifies App Design

Before Copilot, building an app in PowerApps required:
✅ Defining data tables in Dataverse.
✅ Creating UI elements like forms, galleries, and buttons.
✅ Writing logic using Power Fx and integrating workflows in Power Automate.

Now, Copilot automates most of these steps by understanding plain-language descriptions.

💡 Example:
A user can type:
“I need an app to track employee vacation requests with approval workflows.”

Copilot will:
✔ Suggest data tables for employees, vacation requests, and approvals.
✔ Generate a user interface with forms for submitting and approving requests.
✔ Recommend automated workflows to notify managers and update approvals.

This significantly reduces the time and effort needed to build an app.

2. Generating PowerApps Components with AI-Driven Prompts

With Copilot, you can generate key app elements just by describing them.

🟢 Forms & Input Fields

  • Users can say: “Create a form to capture customer feedback with name, email, and rating.”
  • Copilot generates a pre-built form with input fields and a submit button.

🟢 Data Tables & Relationships

  • A user can request: “Create a table for sales orders linked to customers.”
  • Copilot sets up relational tables in Dataverse automatically.

🟢 Galleries & Lists

  • Users can say: “Show a list of all open support tickets with status and priority.”
  • Copilot creates a gallery control displaying tickets in a structured layout.

🟢 Dashboards & Charts

  • Users can request: “Add a sales dashboard with a chart showing monthly revenue.”
  • Copilot suggests charts and KPIs for data visualization.

This AI-driven approach removes the need to manually configure each component, making app creation faster and more intuitive.

3. Customizing and Refining the AI-Generated App

After Copilot generates an app, users can:
✅ Modify forms and layouts with drag-and-drop tools.
✅ Fine-tune data relationships in Dataverse.
✅ Customize logic using Power Fx formulas.

💡 Example:
If Copilot generates a form but the user wants to add a dropdown for selecting employee roles, they can:

  • Click on the form.
  • Add a Choice field for “Role” (Manager, Engineer, HR, etc.).
  • Bind the field to a Dataverse table or enter static values.

This blend of AI automation and manual customization gives users full control over their applications.

4. Copilot-Powered Suggestions for Workflow Automation

Once an app is built, Copilot can also help automate business processes through Power Automate.

💡 Example Use Cases:
✅ “Send an email when a new order is placed.”

  • Copilot suggests a workflow that triggers an email notification whenever a new record is added to the Orders table.

✅ “Create a Teams notification when a project is overdue.”

  • Copilot generates a flow that checks due dates and sends reminders via Microsoft Teams.

✅ “Update inventory levels automatically when a sale happens.”

  • AI-powered automation adjusts inventory counts after every sale.

This makes it easy for non-developers to integrate powerful automation into their apps.

5. Real-World Example: Expense Tracking App

A finance department wants an Expense Tracking App where employees can submit and track reimbursements.

🔹 Step 1: Describe the App
The user types:
“I need an expense tracking app where employees submit receipts, and managers approve or reject claims.”

🔹 Step 2: Copilot Generates Components

  • Creates a Dataverse table for expenses (Employee Name, Date, Amount, Status).
  • Builds a form where employees can input expenses and upload receipts.
  • Adds a dashboard for managers to review pending approvals.

🔹 Step 3: Automate the Approval Process
The user asks:
“Send a Teams message to the manager when an expense is submitted.”

Copilot generates a Power Automate flow that:
✔ Notifies the manager on Teams.
✔ Updates the Dataverse record when approved or rejected.
✔ Sends an email confirmation to the employee.

✅ Final Result: A fully functional Expense Tracking App built in minutes instead of days!

6. Key Benefits of Using Copilot in PowerApps

✅ Faster Development – Reduces app creation time from weeks to hours.
✅ No Coding Required – Empowers business users and citizen developers.
✅ AI-Powered Recommendations – Automatically suggests data structures, UI elements, and workflows.
✅ Seamless Integration – Works with Dataverse, Power Automate, and Microsoft 365.
✅ Improved Accuracy – Reduces manual errors by intelligently setting up data relationships.

Final Thoughts

Copilot in PowerApps is revolutionizing low-code development by allowing users to create intelligent, data-driven applications with simple language prompts. Whether you need a customer service app, sales tracker, HR portal, or project management tool, Copilot makes it easier than ever to build and automate solutions with minimal effort.

Leveraging AI and Copilot in PowerApps

Leveraging AI and Copilot in PowerApps

by | Mar 7, 2025 | Copilot, Powerapps

PowerApps has revolutionized the way businesses create and deploy custom applications. By integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and Copilot into PowerApps, organizations can enhance efficiency, automate repetitive tasks, and make data-driven decisions with ease. In this article, we explore the impact of AI and Copilot in PowerApps, its key capabilities, and real-world applications with practical examples.

The Role of AI and Copilot in PowerApps

Microsoft provides AI-driven capabilities through AI Builder and Copilot, features that allow users to integrate machine learning models and natural language processing into PowerApps and Power Automate workflows. AI Builder simplifies the process of adding AI functionalities, while Copilot enhances user experience by offering intelligent suggestions and automating tasks using conversational AI.

For a deeper dive into AI Builder, visit: Microsoft Learn – AI Builder

Key AI and Copilot Capabilities in PowerApps

  1. Form Processing – AI Builder can extract data from documents, forms, and invoices, eliminating manual data entry and improving accuracy. Learn more
  2. Object Detection – Businesses can use AI to recognize objects in images, aiding in inventory management and asset tracking. Learn more
  3. Text Recognition (OCR) – AI can scan and extract text from images and documents, enhancing productivity in data extraction tasks. Learn more
  4. Sentiment Analysis – PowerApps can analyze customer feedback, social media interactions, and reviews to gauge sentiment and improve customer service strategies. Learn more
  5. Prediction Models – AI-driven predictive analytics can help businesses forecast trends, demand, and customer behaviors. Learn more
  6. Translation and Language Processing – AI Builder supports multilingual translation and natural language processing (NLP), allowing businesses to communicate effectively across different languages. Learn more
  7. Copilot-Powered Assistance – Copilot in PowerApps helps users build and refine apps using natural language prompts, reducing development time and enhancing accessibility for non-technical users. Learn more
  8. Automated Workflow Generation – Copilot can suggest workflow automations based on user input, streamlining repetitive tasks and improving efficiency. Learn more

Examples of AI and Copilot in PowerApps

1. Automating Invoice Processing with AI Builder

Scenario: A company wants to automate invoice processing by extracting key details such as invoice number, vendor name, and amount.

Solution: Using AI Builder’s Form Processing model, the company can scan and extract text from invoices and integrate it into PowerApps.

Code Example (Power Automate Expression):

{ 
  "InvoiceNumber": "@outputs('ExtractedData')?['InvoiceNumber']", 
  "Vendor": "@outputs('ExtractedData')?['VendorName']", 
  "Amount": "@outputs('ExtractedData')?['TotalAmount']" 
}

This expression captures extracted values from AI Builder and stores them in a structured format for further processing.

2. Object Detection for Inventory Management

Scenario: A retail company wants to automate inventory tracking by detecting missing or misplaced products on shelves.

Solution: AI Builder’s Object Detection model can be trained to recognize products and their placement. A PowerApps interface allows employees to scan shelves using their mobile devices.

Code Example (PowerApps Formula):

If(ObjectDetector.DetectedObjects.Count > 0, "Item Found", "Item Not Found")

This formula checks if AI Builder has detected any objects and displays a message accordingly.

3. Sentiment Analysis for Customer Feedback

Scenario: A customer service team wants to analyze incoming support tickets to determine customer sentiment and prioritize urgent cases.

Solution: AI Builder’s Sentiment Analysis model can classify customer feedback as Positive, Neutral, or Negative, helping teams respond faster to critical cases.

Code Example (Power Automate Flow Expression):

{
  "Sentiment": "@outputs('AnalyzeTextSentiment')?['Prediction']"
}

This extracts sentiment predictions from AI Builder and integrates them into PowerApps for customer support teams to act upon.

4. Generating PowerApps UI with Copilot

Scenario: A non-technical user wants to create a PowerApps form without manual coding.

Solution: With Copilot, the user can simply type, “Create a form to capture customer information including name, email, and phone number,” and PowerApps will generate the required UI elements automatically.

Example Copilot Command:

Create a form with fields: Customer Name, Email, Phone Number, and Submit Button.

Copilot will auto-generate the UI and suggest workflow automation steps to save the form data.

Future of AI and Copilot in PowerApps

The integration of AI and Copilot in PowerApps will continue to expand, with Microsoft investing in new features and capabilities. The growing adoption of Azure AI services, Copilot, and machine learning advancements will further enhance the automation and intelligence of business applications. As AI technology evolves, PowerApps users will have more opportunities to build sophisticated solutions with minimal effort, making application development more accessible and efficient.

Conclusion

AI and Copilot in PowerApps are transforming business applications by making AI-powered automation and intelligent assistance accessible to everyone. From form processing to predictive analytics and automated workflow suggestions, PowerApps with AI Builder and Copilot empowers organizations to streamline operations, improve decision-making, and enhance customer experiences. The practical examples illustrate how AI and Copilot can be leveraged in PowerApps to solve real-world business challenges. As businesses continue to embrace AI-driven solutions, PowerApps will play a crucial role in driving digital transformation and innovation across industries.