Developing an Offline-Capable Power Platform for Safety Tests in the Field - Innovation Partner - IoT, FinTech, Mobile Apps & Software Development, Cloud Engineering

Developing an Offline-Capable Power Platform for Safety Tests in the Field
By Arjuna Marambe

Developing an Offline-Capable Power Platform for Safety Tests in the Field

By Arjuna Marambe

Introduction

A custom Power Platform application was developed to streamline the process of recording equipment test results and reccomendations. The solution was designed with a focus on efficiency, data integrity, and offline functionality, as the client required the application to operate in environments with no internet access, such as underground or remote locations, ensuring seamless data capture under all conditions.

Data Storage with Dataverse

At the core of the application is Microsoft Dataverse, the chosen platform for secure and scalable data storage. It allows seamless integration with other Power Platform components and provides the flexibility to manage and process large volumes of test data efficiently.

Key Requirements: Offline Functionality and Data Integrity

Given the nature of the client’s work environment—where

Internet connectivity is limited and
The application is used for 6-7 hours during testing operations.

There were two critical requirements:

Offline Mode Support: The app needed to be fully functional even without an internet connection. This was crucial for ensuring that testing could proceed uninterrupted, regardless of network availability.

Data Synchronisation Every 15 Minutes: To prevent data loss, the application was designed to save progress every 15 minutes automatically. This ensured that even in the event of a system failure or loss of connectivity, the test data would remain secure and up to date.

Incremental Development Process

The application was developed incrementally, with continuous feedback from the client. This agile approach allowed us to refine and optimise the solution iteratively, ensuring that it met the exact needs of the testing procedures.

Technologies Used

Power Platform:
The entire solution was built using Microsoft’s Power Platform, which provided a robust framework for both development, testing, and deployment, and production support.

Dataverse:
As the central data storage, Dataverse enabled seamless data management.

Power Apps:
The user interface for data entry and management was built using Power Apps, providing a flexible and responsive experience.

Power Automate (Flow):
Automated workflows were created to handle periodic data saving and synchronisation tasks.

Power Apps
(UI for data entry)

Power Automate
(Sync & Automation)

Dataverse
(Data Storage)

Power Platform (Integration)

Business Outcomes

By implementing this solution, the client was able to deliver services to a major customer using an advanced approach, allowing the customer to focus on equipment testing with minimal concern for data capture.

Increased Operational Efficiency: By enabling full offline functionality, the application allowed testing to continue seamlessly in environments without internet access. This ensured that critical testing processes were never delayed, resulting in higher operational efficiency and reduced downtime.

Enhanced Data Integrity and Security: The implementation of automatic data synchronisation every 15 minutes provided robust protection against data loss, even in the event of connectivity issues or system failures. This feature safeguarded the integrity of test results, minimised the risk of human error, and ensured that all test data remained accurate and up to date.

Improved Employee Productivity: With the application’s offline mode and automated data-saving capabilities, employees no longer needed to worry about disruptions caused by connectivity issues. This allowed them to focus on core tasks, improving productivity and reducing the time spent on manual data entry or recovery.

Minimised Risk of Compliance Issues: The reliability and security of test data reduced the risk of compliance breaches, as all testing data remained consistent and properly recorded, even in challenging environments. This contributed to maintaining regulatory standards and improved audit readiness.

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