Microsoft Power Platform is waiting for you

In this fast-paced environment, many people have forgotten about creativity, exploration, and the feeling of satisfaction that comes from creating something. There are several free tools that accompany every Microsoft and Office 365 license that will help you not only help your boss and team, but also increase the time available for focusing on your passions. I hope this article inspires you to open one of these tools and allow yourself to explore something new and unknown. Let me tell you about some of the solutions we have created at EIRE Systems using this platform.

Device management application with Power Apps

Using a SharePoint list as a base, we created an IT device inventory application. Administrators can now easily update the status of each device, whether it be in storage, in repair, in use, or retired, and cross-references this with user identities. We added warranty dates and support page links for ease of use. Users can also press the HELP button in the application, which opens an Outlook email draft pre-populated with device details and the support email address to facilitate immediate contact with the support team. In addition, we created a phone application that scans device barcodes and automatically searches the SharePoint list for a corresponding entry. The entry can then be updated with any new information. Administrators may also use this functionality to easily determine if new devices need to be purchased for new employees and to assign them accordingly.

Power Automate 

Individual users and companies are seeking ways to enhance their task, project, time, and information management capabilities. The productivity app market continues to expand globally in 2024. Instead of utilizing paid applications, consider leveraging some of the most popular productivity templates readily available in Power Automate for rapid and straightforward deployment. The “Follow up on a message” feature enables users to right-click any received or sent message and create a reminder for themselves on a selected date and time. Another convenient automation available by right-clicking a message is to “Create a Planner task from a message.” Use “Create a Planner task when a channel post starts with TODO” or “Post a channel message when a new task is created in a Planner” to keep your team organized and on top of their tasks. Furthermore, automation can be set up to “Create a task in Planner when a new email arrives in a shared mailbox”. This ensures that follow-ups are not missed, and responsibilities can be easily tracked. 

Connect to the future with Power Automate

All the solutions I have introduced heretofore are available with the basic Power Automate license. For more adventurous use, I recommend trying the Premium plan. This gives you access to many new possibilities, including HTTP requests. Combining the “When a new mail arrives” trigger with an HTTP Post request and parsing it through JSON will allow you to automatically have ChatGPT offer you insights and solutions to any email, or even to draft a message in response! However, using ChatGPT in this way will incur additional length-dependent costs for each request. Additionally, there are significant security risks associated with accidentally sharing sensitive company data.  As such, proceed cautiously when using this tool. As a safer and more economical solution, it is possible to set up your own Private AI into which proprietary information can be fed without risk, as it will not leave the company’s network. In the not-too-distant future every company will be running their own Private AI. Flourishing in such an environment will require leaders who are familiar with the challenges and possibilities involved. 

Here at EIRE Systems, we strive to be at the forefront of information technology, and I hope to see you there too!