The biggest digitalization hurdles in medium-sized buisnesses – and how the Power Platform overcomes them

Many medium-sized companies are aware of the need to digitize themselves. Nevertheless, projects often stall or fail before they really begin. The reasons for this are rarely a lack of technology, but rather overburdened IT teams, shadow IT, unclear processes and concerns about high costs.

Tools are available that could make digitization easier and more accessible than ever before. One example is the Microsoft Power Platform. It makes it possible to develop your own apps, automate processes and use data transparently without programming knowledge. This is an enormous advantage, especially for medium-sized companies.

German-speaking medium-sized buisnesses find themselves in an area of tension: On the one hand, pressure from competitors, a shortage of skilled workers and changing customer requirements is increasing. On the other hand, there is often a lack of time, budget or technical know-how to consistently implement digitization initiatives. The current economic situation is also having an impact. Many companies are therefore slowing down their digitization initiatives.

The result: frustration among the departments, overwhelm in IT, standstill in the company.

The Microsoft Power Platform relies on no-code/low-code. This allows departments to create applications, automate workflows and evaluate data without having to carry out classic software development. Many companies can start without additional license costs because essential components are already included in their Microsoft 365 plans.

Since data is stored in SharePoint, Teams or OneDrive anyway, Power Platform solutions automatically benefit from the existing security and compliance mechanisms. Thanks to the more than 1,000 connectors , external systems can also be integrated. Those who already work with Microsoft 365 benefit from the existing tenant, rights and security concepts.

Microsoft is also investing massively in AI, for example with Copilot and Copilot Studio. This keeps the platform future-proof, and AI capabilities can be seamlessly integrated into apps, workflows, and dashboards.

The best place to start is with areas that involve a lot of manual, repetitive, and tedious tasks , such as permits, digital forms, checklists/protocols, or simple HR or service workflows. An evaluation matrix (effort, benefit, risk, management visibility) helps to select the first project with a signal effect. A small prototype shows within a few days what can be scaled later – if necessary first with standard licenses.

Practical examples:

… and many more. Many of these solutions start as a small project – and quickly have a big impact in everyday life.

Low-code is successful when the guardrails are clear and have a quick effect. Instead of writing governance papers for months, a pragmatic framework is recommended. This includes environments and permissions, role models, quality and security rules, documentation requirements and, above all, the training and enablement of those who build (citizen developers). Important: Low-code is not a side project. As with Excel, many can “click”, but only with a basic understanding of data (database, relationships, queries) can reliable solutions be created.

Our experience shows that hands-on workshops with real problems deliver prototypes in a short time and create acceptance among IT and the business department.

The introduction of the Power Platform is not just an IT project, because it changes the way departments work, the creation of processes and the way teams work together. This is exactly where itmX comes in: not as a classic project service provider, but as a strategic enabler.

We support companies in introducing the Power Platform in a secure, scalable and practical way – with an approach that takes into account both IT and the business departments. These include:

• A pragmatic governance framework with clear guardrails, roles, authorizations and quality standards – without bureaucracy and with a focus on quick results.
• Enablement instead of dependency: We train citizen developers in a targeted and practical way so that they can develop apps, workflows and dashboards independently. Our goal: to empower, not bind.
• Technical and strategic sparring: Whether architecture issues, AI integration, data modeling or best practices – we accompany companies as a trustworthy partner who helps them make decisions safely.
• Quick initial successes: Together, we develop prototypes that show real benefits within a few days and ensure visible progress in the company.
• Support if needed: Even if the teams work independently, we are ready as a partner when new questions arise or more complex projects are pending.

For us, one thing is clear: A strong power platform strategy thrives on the interplay of governance, enablement and partnership-based cooperation. And this is exactly what we have been doing successfully in medium-sized companies for many years – always with the aim of empowering customers in the long term.