Simplify business logic

  • 5 minutes

Microsoft Power Platform offers several low-code/no-code automation options. However, you might occasionally need extra help for more complex scenarios. Power Fx functions fill this gap by providing an easier way for you to create custom automations with a low-code approach. In other words, it helps you provide easy-to-read, Excel-style formulas and reusable logic that works across multiple apps without duplication. As a result, automation is simpler, more intuitive, and easier to maintain.

Understanding when to use Power Fx over other tools is key in maximizing its benefits and keeping automation intuitive and efficient. When determining if a function is the best fit for your scenario, consider whether it:

  • Is stored in Dataverse for centralized access.
  • Integrates with Dataverse and external data sources through standard or custom connectors.
  • Runs synchronously (in real-time) for instant processing.
  • Is reusable across multiple applications.
  • Connects with Microsoft Power Platform tools, including Power Apps and Power Automate.
  • Accepts parameters to activate dynamic inputs.

The following examples revisit the discount code calculation scenario, and they show how Power Fx Functions would be the most effective tool to solve a problem.

Your company wants to grant a 20% discount on a customer's order based on the following criteria:

  • The order is at least 50 dollars for cash payments or at least 100 dollars for credit payments.
  • The customer has no overdue invoices.
  • The order isn't placed on a federal holiday.

This example poses several challenges:

  • Complex conditions - You need a complex conditional statement that involves AND and OR conditions:

    (order > $50) AND (cash)

    OR

    (order > $100) AND (credit)

    Business rules can't process complex conditional statements, so you can't use one as a solution.

  • Related records - You need to know the customer's payment status, which would be on a related record. Again, this issue eliminates business rules because they can only process data from one table at a time.

  • External data - Retrieving the federal holiday schedule requires an external API, which business rules and classic Dataverse workflows can't handle. While Power Automate flows could fetch this data, they run asynchronously and would delay the result.

Instead of piecing together multiple tools, a Power Fx function offers a simpler, more efficient solution. It can process complex conditions, access related records, and integrate with external data sources, all in real time.

Example: Resolve issues with input parameters, external data, and reusability

Your company sells products across multiple US states, each with different shipping options. Due to proximity, some states qualify for a lower delivery charge, which eliminates the need for an external shipping company. The system must check the state and quickly validate whether the order qualifies for the reduced rate in real time, before the user submits their order.

This example poses these challenges:

  • Input parameters - The shipping address is required for evaluating shipping options, but classic Dataverse workflows and business rules can't handle this dynamic input. Using a flow to retrieve the shipping options would delay the order submission because the flow can't apply it in real time.

  • External data - Shipping options can change frequently, so the system needs to retrieve this data in real time from an external source. However, business rules and classic Dataverse workflows can't integrate with external data sources.

  • Reusability - You need to use the shipping logic across multiple apps and points of sale. Adapting business rules, flows, or Dataverse workflows for each app would require significant extra customization.

In this example, a Power Fx function is the simplest solution because it can accept input parameters, process in real time, connect to external data, and is reusable.

These examples are only a few that highlight how Power Fx functions reduce complexity, minimize dependencies on multiple tools, and make automation more intuitive. With Power Fx functions, you have better access to business logic, which can help you reduce errors and increase efficiency across Microsoft Power Platform.