Back in 2019, Microsoft launched Power Apps Portals as a platform to create responsive, personalised websites that allow both internal and external users to interact with Microsoft365 data in Dataverse and to browse anonymously if required. According to Microsoft, Portals were one of the fastest-growing services in Power Platform.
However, although PowerApps Portals was aimed at the Microsoft userbase, it required some basic understanding of coding and was an extension of the PowerApps platform. This to some extent put a dampener on Microsoft’s focus for ‘no-code/low-code’ development for Citizen Developers like PowerApps and Power Automate offered.
Then, in 2022 Microsoft launched Power Pages!
Power Portals.. Reborn!
Power Pages is the new ‘reborn’ Portals…. A secure, enterprise-grade, and truly ‘no-code/low-code’ platform which allows user to create, host and manage, modern customer facing business websites, which work seamlessly across all devices and browsers.
Power Pages give the ability to provide your clients with restricted access to your Microsoft365 data in a secure manner without the upfront costs of building a website. With Power Pages, your clients can access their own profile within their Dataverse environment, add new information, add new enquiries, and consume data seamlessly. Not only that however, but like other Power Platform applications, connections to other data sources such as SharePoint, PowerBI, Dynamic365 and more are all within reach!
Design Studio
Power Pages uses the new ‘Design Studio’. The Design Studio enables makers to easily create modern, data-centric business websites for desktop or mobile without writing a single line of code. With new updates designed to support low-code and no-code solutions, makers can now effortlessly build multi-step forms that include document uploads with the Pages and Data Workspaces.
Makers can use responsive templates to help them on their website building journey. In addition to this, organisations can extend Microsoft Dynamic365 applications using templates such as customer self-service, community self-service and partnership relationship management.
Pro-Development
While designed for Citizen Developers, pro-developers should not feel left out! With seamless integration for Power Pages Design Studio and Visual Studio Code, developers can further extend page content in HTML5 and Liquid, manipulate CSS, JavaScript and other technologies for a traditional web development experience!
As with other Microsoft products, Power Pages is based on a subscription licensing model. Based on monthly authenticated and anonymous users per website, this means it is now easier than ever to choose the right options for any business requirement. Additionally, Microsoft provide both prepaid and pay-as-you-go subscription options to further offer greater flexibility for customers!
With all this, what is not to love about the potential for Power Pages?
For more information, check out Power Pages here
