Power Pages is Microsoft’s most recent addition to Power Platform; a straightforward way to create low-code, data-driven business websites without compromising on security.
Microsoft Power Pages is an evolution of Power Apps portals; adapted to suit a range of web-building capabilities, with distinguishing new features to improve the platform added in 2022 release wave 2. Here is our roundup of key features of Power Pages to keep on your radar:
Design Studio
Design Studio within Power Pages provides enterprise-grade, ready-to-go websites without the need for complex coding, opening the platform to users of varying technical skills. The tool allows users to build and customise webpage components within a single interface, using four marquee experiences (also known as workspaces) to provide a seamless web-building experience:
- Using the Pages workspace component, users can design webpages with the simplicity of drag-and-drop design. This workspace also offers a variety of no-code components to easily add to pages, such as images, videos, and business data forms.
- Styling workspace provides 13 pre-set themes to style your website; each theme lets users customise site colours, fonts, buttons and section margins – allowing for online branding. Power Pages also automatically renders the page format to suit the user’s viewing platform, whether that is mobile, desktop or tablet.
- Data workspace provides a simple way to view and manage data related to the website. This is stored in Microsoft Dataverse, and can be sorted into tables, forms, and lists.
- Set up workspace is the hub where key components of your Power Pages website can be configured, such as authentication providers, table permissions, progressive web apps and access to admin centre.
Template Hub
Template Hub provides default templates to cover page structures, navigation, and commonly used pages. The option to customise pages to fit your specific business needs is also available, for example, Microsoft has provided an After School Program template to demonstrate how Template Hub can be used as a registration portal to assist with event management. This tool can be used for stand-alone or recurring events in any industry, providing emails, tables, and customisable data.
Similarly, scheduling capabilities are on offer through Template Hub’s scheduling template (allowing external stakeholders ease of booking meetings) as well as application submission and new employee onboarding checklist templates – each being easily modifiable to suit specific project needs.
Learn Hub
Learn Hub is a resource to maximise the Power Pages experience for the user. This feature gives in-depth guidance and step-by-step tutorials – via video or written formats – on Power Pages capabilities and how to make the most of them.
Advanced development capabilities
Although Power Pages’ low-code ease of use is an attractive feature for many, Microsoft has not neglected pro developers. Visual Studio Code, Azure DevOps and the Microsoft Power Platform CLI can enhance business application websites, providing developers with further functionality when using Power Pages. As a whole, Power Pages is integrated with other Microsoft Power Platform components such as Power Automate, Power BI, and Power Virtual Agents – creating an end-to-end web building platform.
Other useful features of Power Pages:
- A frequently asked questions (FAQ) tool for all aspects of business, including products, services, and policies.
- The option to offer customer self-service tools, for example, registration and appointment systems.
- Partner operations portals to support partners through supplier support, sustainability tracking and supplier onboarding, while retaining security through authentication protocols.
- Page content can be localised in languages of over 40 countries, allowing your business to reach a global audience.
Power Pages’ addition to Power Platform demonstrates how complex processes can be made easy with Microsoft solutions. If you would like to find out more about Power Platform capabilities, get in touch today.