Getting Buy-In on Power Platforms

Bobby Steurer

A couple of years ago, I had engaged with one of Microsoft's nonprofit partners to discuss licensing for Power Apps, Automate, and BI. We negotiated a very attractive, low-cost offer for all three. However, when the proposal was submitted to our IT admins, the idea was shut down, as IT was in the middle of a Microsoft license renewal org-wide. We're a large healthcare org, and kind of at the mercy of large healthcare org logistics when it comes to things like this.

I recently became a manager over a budding “data and digital fundraising” team, and I feel like it's time to open the case back up. We're moving so fast as a department, and the tools/tech out there are rapidly growing, too. I'm afraid we're just going to get shot down again, and I'm already feeling a bit stifled in my job creatively. ("Bored" isn't the right word as there's never a dull moment, but you get what I mean.) We recently suffered a large ransomware attack, and security is now a bit on the extreme side. I feel like that's another barrier, and an understandable one…mostly.

Any Power experts out there know of some compelling ideas for asking for this again? I definitely have use-cases I can include.

Thanks for your help, guys.

-Bobby

Dariel Dixon 2

@Bobby Steurer This is quite strange, as the Power Platforms are a MS product. I would have thought that your new contract would have already included access in some way. If not, that's a big missed opportunity. It's clear that no one in your department had any involvement in that decision (which is another issue), but I don't know if asking a nonprofit partner may be the right plan of attack. Do you have a way of getting in contact with the organization's MS representative? I would be very surprised if they didn't already have access somewhere else down the line, and may not have enough licenses.

The Power platform community has a ton of cool apps and automations that could possibly make everyone's life easier. I think picking a use case that makes sense and will be within your time constraints sounds like a good idea.

Austen Brown

@Bobby Steurer - Check out this Engage Blog post from last year, it discussed how to build a business case proving ROI for potential automation projects. Since security is a concern, also take a look at Microsoft's Data Loss Protection Policy area - it determines what applications can talk with the Power Platform.

Article: https://blog.blackbaud.com/building-the-business-case-and-proving-the-roi-of-your-extensibility-project/

DLPP Information: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/admin/wp-data-loss-prevention

Bobby Steurer

@Dariel Dixon @Austen Brown Thank you both so much for your responses. I think I've got a plan and some movement here.