This document provides advice on developing PowerApps in a production environment. It addresses key questions around data sources, data modeling, licensing, environments, documentation, source control, connections, automation, regions, and migration. The takeaways emphasize documenting all changes, specifying user stories, using source control, collaborating in Teams, considering the global app and future modifications, and including data modeling evolutions.

1. Back from the field:
PowerApps in Production
Nicolas Georgeault – Founder and Principal Product Manager
@MuBrain Inc. | Extend your Collective Intelligence
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolasgeorgeault

2. About me
• Founder and PPM @MuBrain Inc.
• 20 years of experience in KM
• 12 years with Microsoft SharePoint
• Microsoft Specialist and Partner
• MVP for 8 years
• Machine Leaning certificate from
Stanford University
• Co-author of books about SharePoint
• Mad about Jazz music and HorseBall

3. I don’t always test my code
But when I do,
I do it in production

4. 1: Data source
Where is your data source? Cloud? On Prem?

5. 1. Data source
• Is there only one data source?
• Are you using SharePoint?
• Do you need Data Gateway for On Premises sources?
• Do you need to mix SQL and others sources types?
• Do you have an existing data governance?
• Are you planning to set DLP strategy?

6. SharePoint as a Data source
• Is there any lookup column?
• Are you working on the destination site or site collection?
• Is it a subsite?
• What are the sharing settings of this site?
• Is it a custom list?
• Are you using multiple SharePoint lists and requests?
• Will you use SharePoint to store pictures, videos, etc.?

7. Data Gateway
• What is the network latency between sources and PApps service?
• Are you using a dedicated gateway?
• Do you need Gateway Clustering?

8. 2: Data model
Is the source schema stable?

9. 2: Data model
• Is there any Custom Data Model?
• Do you already have a Naming convention?
• Do you plan to manipulate BLOBs like images, videos, audios, … etc?
• Are you reviewing regularly the Data model?
• Do you need a Common Data Model?
• How to maintain and keep consistent the Data Model?

10. CDS – Common Data Service
Customers
Only one
application
connection
Only one
dashboard
connection
CRM
Support
Marketing
…
Billing system
Invoices
Payments
…
Delivery system
Timesheets
Expenses
…
Communication
system
Emails
Phones
…
Collaboration
system
Documents
Sites
…
Customer

11. CDS – Common Data Service
Customers
Only one
application
connection
Only one
dashboard
connection
CRM
Support
Marketing
…
Billing system
Invoices
Payments
…
Delivery system
Timesheets
Expenses
…
Communication
system
Emails
Phones
…
Collaboration
system
Documents
Sites
…
Customer
This is the idea of the Common Data Service

12. 3: Licensing
P1 or P2?! What version fits for me?

13. 3: Licensing
https://powerapps
.microsoft.com/en-
us/pricing

14. 4: Environment
How to setup your Dev, PreProd and Prod environment?

15. 4: Environment
• Do you have some P2 licenses in your company?
• Are you planning to segregate environments?
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/administrator/environments-overview

16. 5: Documentation
How and where to keep documentation?

17. 5: Documentation
• Do you have your User Stories defined?
• Are you commenting your code in your code?
• How are you maintaining Data model, App, etc. consistency?
• Are you already using a Source Control solution?
• Where are you keeping all this information stored?
• Are you reviewing this documentation?

18. 6: Source control
How to keep a trace of your development steps?

19. 6: Source control
• Are you keeping sources of your app out of PowerApps?
• Each version of your app?
• Are you using a Source control service?
• Are you versioning your App? And backend?
• Did you defined your Personas?
• Are you keeping the documentation up to date?
• Did you define stories and testing plan?

20. 7: Connections
How to set users authentication to your data sources?

21. 7: Connections
• Do you have multiple connections in your application?
• Are you really using these connections?
• Are you using PREMIUM connections?
• Do you need custom connectors?
• Are your users familiar with connections concept?
• Is there any connections to external services?
• What is the regulation about used services?
• Who is responsible about data storage and regulation?

22. 8: Automation
Do I need Flow or Logic Apps? Azure Automation?

23. 8: Automation
• Are you using flow in your application?
• What are the requirements about permissions?
• Do you need to run any PowerShell scripts?
• Do you need to manage flow globally?
• Are your users comfortable with tools?
• Are you reviewing regularly processes and automation requirements?
• Are you measuring automation efficiency?
• Can you learn from automation scripts?

24. 9: Regions
Which region should I use?

25. 9: Regions
• Are your applications stored in the same Region than data?
• Is there any specific regulation constrain?
• In which Region your application will be used?
• Is there any difference between developers and users Regions?
• Are you measuring performance at data, network or app level?
• Do you need to segregate Data Groups?
• Is there any specific requirements about DLP?

26. 10: Migration
How should I move and deploy my Apps?

27. 10: Migration
• Where will you store your exported artifacts?
• Who will be in charge of extraction?
• Who will be in charge of importation?
• Are you using Custom connectors?
• Are you using CDS with customizations?
• Do you need Data Gateways?

28. Takeaways

29. Takeaways
• Document all changes
• Do not forget to specify User stories
• Keep all information in a source control solution
• Use Teams to organize collaboration around App creation
• Think globally about your App, versioning and scenario
• Include the Data Model and evolutions
• Always think to the guys that will modify this app in the next 6
months…

30. Extend your collective intelligence