From Excel Chaos to Automated Product Lifecycle Management

Using Microsoft PowerApps and Azure Functions to streamline workflows, enhance collaboration, and improve data management.

Project Overview

From Excel Chaos to Automated Product Lifecycle Management

Using Microsoft PowerApps and Azure Functions to streamline workflows, enhance collaboration, and improve data management.

The Challenge

Managing Product Development with Offline Excel Files

The client faced multiple challenges in managing their product development lifecycle with online Excel files: - Version control issues - Limited collaboration capabilities - Complex workflow management - Inefficient tracking and reporting of progress - Manual data integrity enforcement These challenges hindered real-time updates and the ability to scale product lifecycle processes.

IMPACT

High

Process Inefficiency

Low-Code Solution with PowerApps & Azure Function

Edstem developed a PoC using Microsoft PowerApps and a custom Azure Function API to address the pain points: - Data Definition: Derived multiple tables from existing Excel sheets, defined primary/foreign keys, and ensured compatibility for automated import - Access Control: Implemented read/write permissions and lifecycle management for each table - PowerApps UI: Built screens using drag-and-drop elements, integrated with tables, and implemented versioning and workflow management - Azure Function API: Developed serverless Python API to handle complex logic not supported by PowerApps alone

Technology Stack

Microsoft PowerApps

Azure Functions

Python

Azure API Management

THE SOLUTION

PowerApps-Based Low-Code Solution with Azure Function Integration

The solution was developed in multiple phases: ### Data Definition - Designed table structures derived from existing Excel sheets - Defined primary and foreign keys to capture data relationships - Ensured compatibility with automated Excel imports ### Access Control - Implemented two levels of access control: table-level read/write and document lifecycle/versioning - Defined rules to promote product data from "Draft" to "Published" status ### PowerApps UI - Leveraged low-code features for fast UI development - Integrated tables with screens, supporting versioning for each row - Enabled multiple workflows and lifecycle management of data ### Azure Function API - Developed serverless API in Python for version management logic - Integrated with PowerApps to update tables with versioning information - Expanded the capabilities of the low-code platform without compromising workflow automation

Data Definition & Structure

Custom table schemas with relationships derived from existing Excel sheets and automated import compatibility

Access Control & Lifecycle Management

Two levels of access control, including read/write permissions and version lifecycle rules

< Real-Time Control

PowerApps UI & Azure Function Integration

Fast low-code UI development with drag-and-drop elements, integrated with tables and custom serverless API

Workflow Automation
Versioning Support

Data Modeling

Tables with primary and foreign keys reflecting Excel data relationships

Access Control

Read/write permissions and lifecycle management

Low-Code UI

PowerApps screens integrated with data and workflow logic

Serverless Logic

Azure Functions handling complex versioning and workflow processes

Successful PoC and Workflow Optimization

Impact & Outcomes

- Project completed in just over two months, ahead of the three-month schedule - Replaced manual Excel-based processes with streamlined low-code solution - Enhanced collaboration across teams - Supported multiple workflows and lifecycle management - Robust version control and automated data updates via Azure Function

Faster Delivery

PoC Completed Ahead of Schedule

2+ months

Improved Collaboration

Team Productivity

Streamlined Workflows

Enhanced Data Management

Versioning & Integrity

Automated Updates

Scalable Solution

Low-Code + Serverless

Future Extensibility