Power Platform Community Conference 2024 is over… but the fun is just beginning!

Over three days in Las Vegas (September 18 – 20, 2024), the third annual Power Platform Community Conference (PPCC) took place. If you were there, we hope we got a chance to connect on the expo floor, at a session, or at one of the many amazing events. If you weren’t there, make sure to go next year, because PPCC is where the future of business technology takes shape.

Look no further than the fact the Power Platform now has more than 48 million users! What was once the realm of developers and engineers (coding) is now home to marketers, project managers, entrepreneurs, and “doers” from all industries and backgrounds.

This year, the conference went all-in (…is there a better place to go all-in than Vegas?) on generative AI and Copilot. Attendees got to learn and connect with experts ranging from “in trenches” developers, to Microsoft Inner Circle Partners (like Argano!) to Microsoft leadership like Charles Lamanna, Corporate Vice President, Business & Industry Copilot.

Highlights included:  

• A hearty focus on generative AI and Copilot: From the keynotes to sessions to sponsor booths, PPCC 2024 showcased how these technologies are transforming not just Power Platform, but the entire business landscape.  
• Skill development: Through sessions, hands-on training, and in-booth demos, attendees picked up valuable skills and best practices to stay ahead of the curve.  
• Networking opportunities: As always, it was more than just low code. PPCC provided a platform for attendees to connect with existing clients and partners, build new relationships, learn new tactics, and drive new business.

Having been part of PPCC since it began just three years ago, we witnessed what can only be described as a seismic shift this year. What began in 2022 as a meeting primarily focused on developers has blossomed into a massive event for IT professionals, business users, and like-minded tech enthusiasts who share enthusiasm for digital transformation. Yes, it all starts with low-code development, but PPCC packs a tremendous amount of forward-thinking business strategy into every speech, session, and get-together.

Leading with AI

According to IDC, “By 2026, 40% of net-new applications will be intelligent apps…[that] incorporate AI to enhance existing experiences and form new use cases…” That’s a lot of AI in a lot of apps and, frankly, we think that estimate is a little low.

Microsoft clearly understands where AI is going next, and shared details around its pioneering AI, Copilot, especially in connection with creating Power Apps. In an exciting new development, users can essentially have a “business discussion” through Copilot, presenting a business challenge a Power App should solve, and Copilot then helps ensure app development consistently supports that solution. It’s like having a coder, a business strategy consultant, and a project manager all in one.

But that wasn’t all Microsoft got into. Here are a few more highlights…

• Copilot for Power Automate: Microsoft demonstrated how Copilot can streamline automation workflows by suggesting actions, writing expressions, and even creating entire flows.
• AI-driven insights in Power BI: We learned the potential of AI to uncover hidden patterns and insights in data, providing businesses with a competitive edge.
• New Power Platform features: Microsoft unveiled several new features and enhancements to the Power Platform, including updates to Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power BI.
• Community awards: The conference recognized outstanding community members and contributions to the Power Platform ecosystem.

Specific updates to Power Platform announced or demonstrated included:

• Power Automate Cloud Flows New Designer Updates: Pin up to two action panels
• Power Automate Desktop Copilot: Enables you to “talk to” and show on screen actions to automate
• Power Automate Generative Actions to replace previously announced AI Flows: Enables user to describe desired outcome and connect to data sources
• Power Apps Canvas Apps Coauthoring now in general availability
• Power Platform Plan Designer
  • Defines User Roles/Personas
  • Copilot agents for each component of design (data model, solution architecture, user experience, etc.)
  • Can upload process diagrams, handwritten whiteboarding screenshots, ERD diagrams and more
• Copilot Agents (new terminology for the copilots/bots created in Copilot Studio) that work in the background independently and take actions on your behalf
• Copilot Hub
  • Shows tenant level usage of Copilots (in-product, M365 and custom)
  • Centralizes Copilot settings/feature enablement
• Fabric AI Skills
  • Enables users to leverage a data lake house to centralize data from many sources
  • Fabric copilot can be used to shape and then expose as a skill to be used by Copilot Studio
• Copilot Pages: New interactive “document” built on Microsoft Loop technology that enables collaboration and interactive context when working with Copilot

Overall, PPCC 2024 was a resounding success for attendees and ANYONE interested in leveraging the power of low code. Whether or not you were in Las Vegas, are you now where you want to be with low-code development? Do you have the tools and team to tap generative AI across Power Platform? Can you quickly, easily, and cost-effectively create the apps, BI tools, automations, and integrations that support your strategy?

If you’re not sure where to start, or if you’ve started and “hit a wall,” or if you simply want to talk low-code strategy, Argano can help. Contact us today to learn more.