Microsoft Power Platform Technologies

Components, services, architecture, and use cases for modern business solutions

Microsoft Power Platform represents the core of Microsoft’s low-code development ecosystem, integrating data, automation, analytics, and artificial intelligence into a single platform. This guide explores its fundamental technologies — Dataverse, Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI, Power Pages, and AI Builder — analyzing how they work together to build intelligent business applications and processes.

Power Platform Architecture

The Power Platform is built on the Microsoft Azure cloud infrastructure and integrates natively with Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365. At its center lies Microsoft Dataverse, a cloud-based relational database that securely manages data and metadata at scale.

Each component of the platform relies on Dataverse to share data and logic, ensuring consistency and interoperability across applications. The modular approach allows combining development, automation, analytics, and AI tools flexibly to meet any organizational need.

Dataverse Power Apps Power Automate Power BI Power Pages AI Builder

This diagram illustrates the relationship between Dataverse and the main modules of the platform. All tools share a common language of data, authentication, and security, based on Azure Active Directory and enterprise governance policies.

Main Components of the Power Platform

Microsoft Dataverse

Dataverse is the platform’s core data engine. It allows organizations to store, manage, and model business information securely. It supports relational tables, business rules, business process flows, and APIs for integration with other systems. Developers can extend Dataverse using web resources (HTML, JavaScript, images, XML) or the Power Apps Component Framework (PCF) to create custom controls.

The Dataverse technologies also include client-side and server-side extensibility, role-based security, and entity relationships.

Power Apps

Power Apps enables building business applications without writing code. It offers two main modes: Canvas Apps, focused on user experience and design flexibility, and Model-driven Apps, based on data models and preconfigured logic in Dataverse. Both can use Power Fx, an Excel-like expression language, to manage logic and calculations.

Applications can be deployed on mobile devices, browsers, or embedded in Teams, SharePoint, and Dynamics 365.

Power Automate

Power Automate automates business processes and workflows. It supports two primary types of automation:

  • Cloud flows: event-driven automations using APIs, ideal for integrating cloud systems.
  • Desktop flows (RPA): automations for legacy or local systems without APIs, using recorded actions and simulations.

Power Automate integrates with the Dataverse Web API and connectors for Microsoft 365, Azure, Dynamics 365, and third-party services.

Power BI

Power BI offers data analysis and visualization tools to create interactive dashboards and dynamic reports. It can connect directly to Dataverse through Synapse Link or use datasets from SQL, Azure Data Lake, and many other sources. Administrators can manage access using Row-Level Security (RLS) to ensure controlled access to reports.

Power Pages

Power Pages enables creating external web portals connected to Dataverse. It evolved from Power Apps Portals and allows building sites accessible to public or authenticated users. Customizations can be built using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Liquid, an open-source templating language for dynamic content. Extensibility is provided through the Liquid Template Language and Portals Web API.

AI Builder

AI Builder introduces artificial intelligence capabilities to the Power Platform. It allows creating custom AI models or using prebuilt models for scenarios such as text recognition, sentiment analysis, document data extraction, and forecasting. AI models can be integrated into Power Automate flows or Power Apps to automate decision-making and business processes.

Power Platform Use Cases

Power Platform technologies can be applied across numerous business scenarios. Here are some practical examples:

  • Sales and CRM management using model-driven Power Apps and Power BI for performance analysis.
  • HR process automation with Power Automate for approval workflows and notifications.
  • Customer portals built with Power Pages integrated with Dataverse for support requests and self-service.
  • Predictive analytics using AI Builder and Power BI for demand forecasting or risk assessment.

Thanks to deep integration with Microsoft 365, Azure, and Dynamics 365, the Power Platform serves as a robust foundation for modern, scalable business solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions about Microsoft Power Platform

What is Microsoft Dataverse?

Dataverse is the underlying database of the Power Platform that allows storing and managing structured data securely. It integrates with Azure and provides APIs for development and integration.

What’s the difference between Canvas and Model-driven Apps?

Canvas Apps are freely designed for custom experiences, while Model-driven Apps are based on data models and predefined logic in Dataverse, ideal for standardized processes.

Does Power Automate replace classic workflows?

Yes, Power Automate is the evolution of classic workflows, offering more advanced cross-app automations for both cloud and desktop environments.

Can Power Pages be extended with code?

Yes, Power Pages supports extensions using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Liquid. You can also use the Portals Web API to interact with Dataverse.

Related Links

Want to learn how to use Power Platform?

Visit our training and certification section for complete learning paths on Power Apps, Power Automate, and Dataverse, or explore the recommended certification roadmap.

Explore Training Learn More about Dataverse