If you use Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM, you may be pondering the choice between opting for an ISV-packaged solution or going for custom development to address your business requirements. While both alternatives have their advantages and disadvantages, the question remains: which one aligns better with your business requirements? In this blog series, we will assess and differentiate ISV packaged solutions from custom development and explain why, in many cases, ISV packaged solutions prove to be the better option for your Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM requirements.
An ISV, or Independent Software Vendor, is a company that develops and sells software products for use on various platforms, including Dynamics 365 CRM. ISV’s such as Inogic offer a wide range that are designed to address the common challenges and needs of Dynamics 365 CRM users.
involves creating software from scratch, either through professional coding or low-code/no-code tools like . It's tailored to meet specific needs but requires more time, resources, and maintenance compared to pre-packaged solutions.
IT leaders often face application development backlogs, making it challenging to focus on strategic projects. As the world shifts towards low-code/no-code development, choosing between ISV-packaged solutions and custom development involves considering factors like features, functionality, installation ease, security, user experience, and more.
In this blog, we will delve into each of these aspects and illustrate how, in many situations, ISV-packaged solutions can provide greater advantages than Power Automate, which is among the most highly sought-after technologies.
So, let's begin!
What is Power Automate, and how does it work?
is a low-code automation platform for creating workflows across various apps and services, including automating Dynamics 365 CRM tasks like sending emails, updating records, and more. It consists of flows (automation sequences), triggers (events that initiate flows), and actions (tasks performed by flows to interact with different data sources and systems) such as SharePoint, Dropbox, Azure Blob Storage, Outlook, Gmail, Twitter, etc.".
What are Packaged ISV Solutions and how do they work?
are pre-built apps offered by independent software vendors (ISVs) for Dynamics 365 users that are tailor-made to fulfil the distinctive and advanced needs of the platform. These solutions are crafted by ISVs such as Inogic, leveraging their specialized knowledge and experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365.
There are three main characteristics of packaged solutions by ISVs:
- Pre-built apps: ISV-packaged solutions come as off-the-shelf applications that require no coding or development effort for installation and use. They feature user-friendly interfaces and functionalities that simplify configuration and usage.
- Targeted business functions: ISV-packaged solutions are specialized in addressing specific business functions that are pertinent to Dynamics 365 CRM users. They offer resolutions for common challenges and issues users encounter in their everyday tasks.
- API integration: ISV-packaged solutions seamlessly integrate with Dynamics 365 CRM through the use of application programming interfaces (APIs). APIs enable these solutions to access and update data and records within Dynamics 365 CRM.
Here are a few reasons why Power Automate is less suitable than packaged solutions by ISVs for some scenarios:
- Insufficient coordination: Power Automate lacks the ability to orchestrate multiple flows or processes in a synchronized manner, requiring users to maintain their items and workflows separately.
- Limited customization: Power Automate offers little room for customization or modification of the connectors and actions provided by the platform, leaving users dependent on the existing options or necessitating feature requests from Microsoft.
- Power Automate shortcomings on an enterprise level: While Power Automate is suitable for basic automation tasks, it falls short when it comes to complex enterprise-level requirements. It lacks features like parallel branches, conditional loops, error handling, version control, and debugging. Additionally, it lacks a governance and administration framework to ensure compliance, security, and quality standards, along with a dedicated support team for both users and developers.
- Pricing complexity with Power Automate: The pricing model of Power Automate is intricate and can be confusing. It depends on factors like user type, flow complexity, connector usage, and performance profiles. Furthermore, it charges extra for AI Builder credits when incorporating AI features. There are also limits and quotas associated with each plan that impact the functionality and scalability of flows. Lastly, it lacks a transparent billing system for users to monitor and manage their usage and costs effectively.
- Difficulty in developer recruitment: Finding and hiring skilled developers for Power Automate can be a formidable task, given that the platform is relatively new and demands a specific skill set.
- Lengthy solution development time period: Creating a complex Power Automate solution is a time-consuming endeavour, involving various stages such as analysis, design, development, testing, deployment, and ongoing maintenance. According to a Microsoft case study, a team of developers spent six months building a Power Automate solution that automated customer record creation and updates in Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM. This prolonged development period can delay value delivery and heighten the risk of obsolescence.
- Insufficient community support: Despite its growing popularity, Power Automate remains a relatively new platform. Some challenges may pose significant obstacles since there are fewer experiences shared within the community. Users and developers may find themselves relying on their own judgment or resorting to trial and error to identify the most suitable solutions or components for their needs. This can result in the inefficient use of time and resources.
- Absence of an "undo" option: Power Automate lacks a version control or rollback feature that enables users and developers to revert to a prior state or version of their solution or component if something goes wrong or doesn't perform as expected. In such situations, users and developers must manually rectify or recreate their work, potentially leading to frustration and reduced efficiency.
Conclusion
Although both Power Automate and ISV Packaged Solutions offer valuable options for streamlining your processes and workflows in Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM, in this particular case, ISV packages clearly emerge as the preferred choice.
Are you seeking ways to enhance your business operations? Don't hesitate to contact Inogic at crm@inogic.com and share your business use case.
Inogic stands out as a prominent global Microsoft Gold-partnered ISV, delivering innovative solutions tailored to the needs of Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Dataverse users. With a range of offerings, from to the , Inogic boasts over . Explore these apps to find the one that best aligns with your requirements. If you can't find a suitable app, reach out to us for a comprehensive analysis by our certified experts.
