Enhancing legacy ERP systems with Microsoft Power Platform

On-premise ERP Systems have been the default system of record for the past 30+ years. They are the legacy systems used by millions of business globally which are running strong but lack modern technology. Organizations can find it difficult to improve their business processes and user experience without upgrading or moving the systems to a new cloud-based ERP application like Microsoft Dynamics 365. Organizations may also have challenges finding the necessary talent to incorporate complex AI / ML with their existing on-premise legacy apps. 

One option is to use Microsoft Power Platform to enhance the legacy ERP experience. Microsoft Power Platform is a low code application platform (LCAP) that provides multiple components (refer below figure) to use with existing system of records and add new technological capabilities. This blog discusses some of the business process automation that can be enabled by Microsoft Power Platform.

      #1 - Order to invoice process – Consider the scenario of a order to invoice business process. Typically, a customer sales order is received from website or email as an attachment and entered into the CRM or ERP system. This leads to the user creating a purchase order in the legacy ERP system to procure materials or products from the supplier. Supplier processes the PO and ships the products to the Customer (drop ship). Supplier sends packing slip and invoice to the business.  The business user invoices the customer. In a legacy ERP system, this can be a very manual, error prone and time-consuming process as the volume of orders increases.  

Order to Invoice process

This process can be automated and here are some scenarios where Microsoft Power Platform can be used along with the legacy ERP application.

1. Automate Order Entry – Using Power Automate the entering of the order from email or as an attachment can be enabled. Power Automate cloud flow can trigger AI builder to scan and read the email attachment and capture the items that are ordered by the Customer. The cloud flow can trigger a Power Automate Desktop flow to enter the ordered items in the Legacy ERP system.
2. Automate Vendor Invoice entry – As above the Power Automate can also be used to automate the vendor invoice entry into the legacy ERP system.
3. Email to Customer – Power Automate can be used to trigger an order delivery email to the Customer when a Packing Slip is received from the Vendor.

There are many such use cases that can be automated using Microsoft Power Platform. An example of utilizing Microsoft Power Platform along with SAP CRM and SAP ERP applications is also shown below.

In this example Azure Data Factory is used to get data from SAP CRM and into Azure SQL. Then Power Automate flow and AI Builder is triggered to complete the automation.

Some other examples of using Microsoft Power Platform are also discussed below. 

#2 - Customer Chat-bot - Power Virtual Agent can be used on the Portal to answer queries from Customer. Customer goes to the Portal and want to know the status of the order. Power Virtual Agent can be enabled to trigger a Power Automate Flow to query the database and get status of the order and provide the information to the Customer. The Chat-bot capability can also be enabled to assist in answering queries on product inventory and pricing.

#3 - Gain business insights – Power BI can be used to develop visuals and dashboards to gain insights from business data. Power BI can connect to legacy on-premise systems using the data gateway. Power BI Desktop can be used to develop powerful visuals dashboards. Power BI can help empower business users to work with the data, model complex business scenarios and get insights they need to take actions and business decisions.   

Microsoft Power Platform as a low code app platform can help to empower your employees to do more with your existing legacy applications. Hope this makes you to try one of the Power Platform products. Do let me know about your experience using Microsoft Power Platform with your existing legacy applications.

Thanks for reading.

365WithoutCode     

@mihircrm