How to Build a Custom CRM with Power Apps and Save Time and Money

Why Build a CRM with Power Apps?

Power Apps is a low-code tool within Microsoft’s Power Platform that makes building applications accessible without extensive coding. Many traditional CRMs are costly and require adapting to their limitations, but Power Apps lets you build a CRM aligned with your processes. Power Apps integrates with other Microsoft 365 products like Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint, ensuring seamless data flow and simplifying collaboration. Since it’s built on Microsoft Dataverse, Power Apps is also scalable, adapting easily as your business grows.

Define Your CRM Requirements

Start by outlining what your CRM needs to achieve. Identify the key features, data points, and workflows your CRM should support. Consider how different departments will use the CRM and any specific automations that would improve client management. Defining these goals early on ensures the CRM meets your business’s unique needs, helping you shape its structure and functionality.

Set Up Your Power Apps Environment

Next, create a new environment in Power Apps, which serves as the foundation for your CRM. Setting up permissions and user roles at this stage is critical for data security. Define who can access and edit client data, ensuring that only authorised team members have the appropriate permissions to manage sensitive information.

Design Your Data Model in Microsoft Dataverse

The data model is the backbone of your CRM, defining how customer information is structured and stored. Use Microsoft Dataverse to set up tables for essential entities, such as customers, contacts, leads, and sales activities. This structured data model will store all client interactions and support linking related data, like associating a contact with their respective organisation or a lead with a specific project. With a well-organised data model, you’re building a CRM that can easily scale as your business grows.

Build the CRM Interface in Power Apps

With the data model in place, begin building your CRM interface using Power Apps’ drag-and-drop builder, which is accessible even to non-developers. Choose between canvas apps, which offer flexibility for customising the interface, and model-driven apps, which are more structured and ideal for CRM applications. Design the main screens for your CRM, including dashboards, data entry forms, and client interaction logs, ensuring the interface is intuitive and user-friendly for team members.

Automate Workflows with Power Automate

Incorporate automation with Power Automate to improve efficiency. Automating repetitive tasks, such as sending follow-up emails or creating reminders for client interactions, saves time and reduces human error. Power Automate workflows can trigger actions based on specific events within the CRM, helping your team manage client relationships proactively and consistently.

Embed Analytics with Power BI

To support data-driven decision-making, embed analytics within your CRM using Power BI. Power BI allows you to create dashboards displaying sales metrics, customer engagement trends, and key performance indicators, which can inform your client engagement strategies. These real-time insights enable your team to refine approaches and make data-backed decisions.

Benefits of Building a Custom CRM with Power Apps

Building a CRM with Power Apps offers substantial benefits. A custom-built CRM tailored to your workflows enhances operational efficiency and reduces costs. The integration with Microsoft 365 allows for a centralised data management platform, simplifying collaboration across departments. Additionally, Power Apps is designed to scale with your business, enabling your CRM to grow and evolve without the need for costly overhauls.

Conclusion

So, can you build a CRM with Power Apps that saves time, money, and aligns with your business’s unique needs? Power Apps provides a flexible, affordable platform for creating a custom CRM solution that integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365, helping you streamline operations and manage client interactions efficiently. For businesses looking to reduce costs without sacrificing functionality, a Power Apps CRM is an ideal solution that adapts and grows with your business.

About Us

Emerge Digital is a technology and digital innovation company and Managed Services Provider dedicated to helping SMEs achieve tech-powered growth.

From custom CRMs built with Power Apps to cyber security and cloud infrastructure, our services are designed to help your business operate efficiently and competitively. If you’re ready to build a custom CRM, Emerge Digital is here to guide you every step of the way.