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90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

  • 1.  90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 02-12-2020 21:51
    Edited by Peter Wolf 02-12-2020 21:51

    Hi everyone - Eric and I will be presenting on the Microsoft Power Platform alongside (actually not alongside - we are each going sequentially but you get what I'm saying here) Steve Malmgren.

    As an FYI, we use the tools to create customer solutions and we use them internally. We're going to paint the big picture (that's me), some quick little things to inspire you (Eric), and dive into the deep waters with a Sage 100 integrated solution (Steve).

    The hope is that it will give you a great understanding on why you should care about this stuff.

    The reality is - you should attend this session because Microsoft is using the Power Platform to eat other vendors' lunches. So even if you have no desire to roll up your sleeves and figure it out to create customer solutions, you should absolutely be aware of its strengths and selling features.

    And hopefully you will all see the cool things you can do with it.

    We won't have enough time to give a deep view so I'm going to put together a few links with great resources that you can use to dig deeper (although frankly you can use Google and find some too - there are thousands of sites dedicated to sharing info about Power Platform these days - that's how good of a job Microsoft is doing).

    I am also not opposed to sharing some of what we have seen so far and my best crystal ball guess at what is coming down the road. 

    I'll cut to the chase on that last bit: Microsoft is going to be unrelenting at creating a suite of configurable (that can be customized when necessary) tools that help businesses do their job without the need to pay a rocket scientist to do it for them. This is going to impact all of us in the technology space so ... if you can't make the session, feel free to hit me or Eric up at the conference.

    If there's interest, we can do a follow up webinar of Q&A that will most likely arise. 

    See you all in a few weeks!



    ------------------------------
    Peter Wolf
    Azamba Consulting Group
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 02-12-2020 22:00
    I for one am absolutely looking forward to this presentation. It's been on my list of tools to learn in 2020 so thank you for taking the time to put together this presentation.

    ------------------------------
    Chris Mengerink
    Director
    DWD Technology Group
    Fort Wayne IN
    260-399-8653
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 02-13-2020 00:32
    I am really looking forward to this one, too! Automation is coming to our industry from all directions. If we want to be able to advise our customers in "ERP" we must also know these things that intersect with it -- like this.

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    Jerry Norman
    President, 90 Minds
    Smartbridge Partners
    512.419.1444 x112
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 02-13-2020 09:42
    Can not wait for this session, and am excited for the follow-up session now, too!

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    Michelle Taylor
    ERP Consulting Manager, CS3 Technology
    918-388-9772
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 02-13-2020 11:47
    Peter, this is super exciting! Let's get together you, Clark and I to learn more about your framework, there might be ways to partner. We're incorporating Power BI into our platform, and we'll eventually incorporate other MS Power platform apps. The bulk of our business is still with Tableau, especially now that our user license has a lower pricing than Power BI's. Anyway, there are many companies embracing MS BI tools and we look forward to learning, evolving and then empowering ERP and CRM VARs to help their clients to be more data-driven.
    By the way, we're also will hosting a MOTM break out session showing our new Advanced Analytics that starts at $299/month. It incorporates artificial intelligence, machine learning and natural language. Now one just needs to know English to create new reports. It's that easy!
    Safe flights and see you soon!
    Joni

    ------------------------------
    Joni Girardi
    Dataself Corporation
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 02-13-2020 12:16
    As Peter said, Microsoft is highly focused on evangelizing and developing the capabilities of the Power Platform.  There are many resources and opportunities to get involved and learn more about the 4 distinct products and communities comprising the Power Platform suite.  Some of these resources cost money and some don't.  Here is an example of an all day online conference coming up on March 20th that is free. It offers sessions for beginners to experts and covers all the products. Check it out if interested.
    POWER PLATFORM ONLINE CONFERENCE
    Microsoft remove preview
    POWER PLATFORM ONLINE CONFERENCE
    Date: March 20 2020 Time: 06:00 - 3:00PM PDT Last year over 30,000 people joined us for the Microsoft Flow Online Conference. Now, we are coming back and want YOU to join us for the 2020 POWER PLATFORM ONLINE CONFERENCE!
    View this on Microsoft >
    https://www.microsoftevents.com/profile/form/index.cfm?pkformid=0x9914011abcd


    ------------------------------
    Jeff Mack
    President and CEO
    ICS Support
    Redmond WA
    425-820-6120
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 02-14-2020 10:37
    General Power Platform question(s):
    This will work with anything that has a REST API?  
    What Steve is developing for Sage for this is REST API endpoints, or is it something more specific to the Power Platform?

    ------------------------------
    Phil McIntosh
    President
    Friendly Systems, Inc.
    Asheville NC
    678.273.4010 ext 5
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 02-14-2020 11:36

    Hi Phil,

     

    While there is a fairly extensive list of connectors available here https://flow.microsoft.com/en-us/connectors/, you can also build custom connectors.

     

    This link provides some info on building connectors with REST APIs.  https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/connectors/custom-connectors/  Microsoft first introduced the custom connector concept back in 2016 and you can find various articles and updates talking about the process over that time span.

     

    As far as what Sage is building, I have no specific insight into that.  We had one of our developers attend the Sage Developer Day event in Atlanta a couple months ago where there was a bit of discussion about this, but he didn't come away with anything tangible other than statements that they are going to be working with Microsoft and the Power Platform.   

     

    Jeff

     



    ------Original Message------

    General Power Platform question(s):
    This will work with anything that has a REST API?  
    What Steve is developing for Sage for this is REST API endpoints, or is it something more specific to the Power Platform?

    ------------------------------
    Phil McIntosh
    President
    Friendly Systems, Inc.
    Asheville NC
    678.273.4010 ext 5
    ------------------------------


  • 9.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 02-14-2020 11:53

    To Jeff and Phil's points ... that is one of the beauties of the Power Platform - it can connect to a lot of web services out of the box and you can build connectors to anything with a REST architecture.

    One of the things on my to-do list is to build a connector for Sage CRM so we can build cool, affordable mobile solutions for customers.

    Steve has built a connector to Sage 100 for his app. We can ask him to dig a bit deeper in that because I for one think that's an important goal of this session:

    How do each of us apply this practically to serve our own customers?



    ------------------------------
    Peter Wolf
    Azamba Consulting Group
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 03-03-2020 09:30
    During the session Steve mentioned a download of the API installer and training videos he had done.  Where are those located?

    ------------------------------
    Phil McIntosh
    President
    Friendly Systems, Inc.
    Asheville NC
    678.273.4010 ext 5
    ------------------------------



  • 11.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 03-03-2020 10:57
    I second Phil, they made it sound like it already existed. My concern is much like sData back in it's day there was no good documentation and sharing of knowledge. They need to understand that to succeed in the modern market those API must be easily accessible. I came away excited and will be diving into this more as I can see many benefits for us and our clients.

    ------------------------------
    Chris Mengerink
    Director
    DWD Technology Group
    Fort Wayne IN
    260-399-8653
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 03-03-2020 11:20

    Sage is using the Swagger platform for their APIs.

    You might try this.  https://developer.sage.com/api/accounting/api/

    I haven't played with it, but it looks like it might have some value.



    ------------------------------
    Jeff Mack
    President and CEO
    ICS Support
    Redmond WA
    425-820-6120
    ------------------------------



  • 13.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 03-03-2020 11:39
    Trying to find useful development documentation for API's for Sage 100 is difficult.  
    Notice the popup window under API's on the website.  This link may provide useful information but we wish they would be more forthcoming with information on Sage 100 specific connectors. Did Steve M provide more insight during the session?

    ------------------------------
    alan niergarth
    Velosio LLC
    ------------------------------



  • 14.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 03-03-2020 13:37
    @Jeff Mack - That Swagger file looks like it is for Sage Business Cloud.​

    ------------------------------
    Phil McIntosh
    President
    Friendly Systems, Inc.
    Asheville NC
    678.273.4010 ext 5
    ------------------------------



  • 15.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 05-29-2020 16:50
    I sat in on this session and it was really cool... but cool does not pay the bills, so I have a few questions (and posting here saves me describing the feature I am asking about). :-)
    1. Are there any sales resources available (from Sage) to help show off (or demo) the Power connector that Steve Malmgren has built?
    2. Technical documentation?
    3. Has anyone actually deployed a functional use of the new connector to a Live customer environment?


    ------------------------------
    Kevin Moyes
    Technical Systems Analyst
    Munjal White Consulting Co.
    Toronto ON
    ------------------------------



  • 16.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 05-29-2020 17:49
    Kevin,

    We saw glimpses of Power Platform stuff at the Sage Developer Day in Atlanta late last year also. We followed up a couple times in the weeks following this MOTM session asking similar questions about resources and/or demos.  We came up empty in both cases.

    I'm not aware of much Technical documentation from Sage.  FWIW - Microsoft has more learning materials available on Power Platform than you could consume in the next year.  

    We have not deployed a functional use of the new Sage connector to a Live customer for the reasons described above.

    We have had folks complete Microsoft's App-in-a Day workshop as well as their 4 day Airlift workshop so we are making progress with Power Platform, but not with the Sage side of things.  I suppose we could consider reinventing the wheel within Sage but we're hoping not to.

    Sorry. 

    Jeff

    ------------------------------
    Jeff Mack
    President and CEO
    ICS Support
    Redmond WA
    425-820-6120
    ------------------------------



  • 17.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 06-01-2020 12:02
    This is a way for Sage to expand the useful life of Sage 100.  Too bad they do not say their way fit to expand the technical documentation and resources to get this out of vaporware.

    ------------------------------
    alan niergarth
    Velosio LLC
    ------------------------------



  • 18.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 06-01-2020 13:31
    Has anyone deployed into a customer site the Microsoft contacts integration?

    I haven’t even looked at it primarily because i find once you demo it and sell the concept that there are almost always “oh we don’t do it that way” or “ could you change it to do x”, “expand it to do Y”.

    I also felt the requirements to add Sage to the Office 365 access was a non starter - especially with larger security conscious customers.

    Cool concepts. Lots of roadblocks I perceived hitting about 30% of the way to completion.

    If none of that is in my tool belt and I’m reasonable certain customers ask for new features - my brain is asking “why start down this road”

    I had the same issue with BIE. Some customers loved it but wouldn’t use it if it couldn’t be further customized. Then of those maybe 25% just lived with the limitation knowing the tool would likely never be functionally enhanced.




    ---------------------------------
    Wayne Schulz - Schulz Consulting - 860-516-8990
    ---------------------------------





  • 19.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 06-02-2020 08:28
    We took some down time during the quarantine to try and add our internal Sage to Office 365 and out IT team was blown away by the requirements to get it added.  They let us do it but they basically told us there was no way our clients would be comfortable with Sage as the CSP on the tenant account.  In the process we found the same lack of documentation and knowledge at Sage, we were basically on our own to figure things out. 

    When we finished the setup we ran in to muli-factor authentication.  Sage basically told us they "think" it works with the native Microsoft MFA but not with any third parties like Duo.  The majority of our clients are using a third party to manage MFA across multiple platforms so we gave up. 

    I agree with @alan niergarth - this is essentially vaporware in its current form.​

    ------------------------------
    Bernie Lehman
    Lehman Wesley & Associates
    ------------------------------



  • 20.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 06-02-2020 09:27

    Our IT team had the same exact experience and observation that Bernie described.  Basically a non-starter in most cases.

     

    Jeff Mack

    Integrated Computer Systems

    425-284-5413 direct

    206-948-9423 mobile

    http://www.ics-support.com

    https://www.mtwocloud.com

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-mack-1660906/

     

    ICS MTWO Logo CMYK

     






  • 21.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 06-02-2020 14:18
    On the CSP - I was under the impression it could be turned off after setup - last point on this slide:




    ------------------------------
    Moira Goggin
    Executive Director
    90 Minds, Inc.
    ------------------------------



  • 22.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 06-02-2020 14:32
    I remember that too but we are still waiting for Sage to remove themselves from our account.  I'm not aware of a way to remove them, they have to do it.  I also understand that an O365 tenant account can have only one CSP so if the client has an existing CSP relationship via their IT provider it has to be changed to Sage.  I may not have all the details correct but it seems like a giant PITA and when combined with the lack of MFA support pretty much a non-starter.

    ------------------------------
    Bernie Lehman
    Lehman Wesley & Associates
    ------------------------------



  • 23.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 06-02-2020 15:52
    @Bernie Lehman Sage does not have to become the CSP.  But they do have to be added as an additional delegated administrator of the account.  They need to be able to activate it for use for the app. Delegated admin is a hard enough sell.  Requiring them to be the CSP would be a non-starter for most.

    ------------------------------
    alan niergarth
    Velosio LLC
    ------------------------------



  • 24.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 06-02-2020 16:24
    That's the magic phrase, "delegated administrator of the account" thanks @alan niergarth I couldn't recall the term!

    Here's a link on the definition https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/partner-center/customers_revoke_admin_privileges




    ------------------------------
    Moira Goggin
    Executive Director
    90 Minds, Inc.
    ------------------------------



  • 25.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 06-02-2020 16:47
    Thanks for digging up the link @Moira Goggin! ​

    ------------------------------
    alan niergarth
    Velosio LLC
    ------------------------------



  • 26.  RE: 90 Minds - shameless plug for our Microsoft Power Platform session

    Posted 06-02-2020 16:52
    Thanks for the info @alan niergarth and @Moira Goggin!​​

    ------------------------------
    Bernie Lehman
    Lehman Wesley & Associates
    ------------------------------