Power Platform Live Virtual Mentoring Session with a REAL Pragmatic Works Customer

In a unique and insightful video session, Nate Halliwell from Pragmatic Works hosts a live virtual mentoring session with real customers—Mark, Ron, and John. This session provides a behind-the-scenes look at how Pragmatic Works supports clients using the Power Platform, including Power Pages, Power Automate, and Dynamics 365.

Session Overview

Nate introduces the session by explaining that most of his YouTube content is inspired by real-life mentoring sessions. This video, however, is a direct recording of one such session, offering viewers a genuine glimpse into the mentoring process.

Key Topics Covered

• Setting up automated email notifications using Power Automate
• Managing environment variables for seamless deployment
• Creating dynamic links to submitted applications
• Handling dormant applications through bulk deletion jobs
• Tracking unsolicited emails using Dynamics 365 Outlook integration

Automated Email Notifications

Mark shares a requirement to notify a colleague, Diane, whenever a grant application is submitted. Nate guides the team through creating a Power Automate flow that triggers on a specific field change in Dataverse. The flow dynamically constructs an email with a link to the submitted application using environment variables and HTML formatting.

Environment Variables for Deployment

To ensure smooth migration from development to production, Nate demonstrates how to use environment variables to store URLs. This approach avoids hardcoding and simplifies the application lifecycle management (ALM) process.

Handling Dormant Applications

Ron raises concerns about clutter from unsubmitted applications. Nate suggests creating a filtered view in Dataverse and setting up a bulk deletion job that runs every 180 days to remove stale records. This keeps the system clean and efficient.

Email Tracking with Dynamics 365

Mark and Ron discuss the need to track unsolicited emails related to grants. Nate introduces the Dynamics 365 Outlook add-in, which allows users to tag emails to specific records in Dataverse. This ensures all relevant communication is stored and accessible within the system.

Customer Engagement and Humor

The session includes light-hearted moments, such as the story of the "Pocket Grizz"—a good luck charm from the University of Montana. These interactions highlight the personable and engaging nature of Pragmatic Works’ mentoring sessions.

Conclusion

Nate wraps up the session by encouraging viewers to explore Pragmatic Works’ virtual mentoring services. The video not only solves real customer problems but also showcases the depth of expertise and collaborative spirit that defines Pragmatic Works.

Don't forget to check out the Pragmatic Works' on-demand learning platform for more insightful content and training sessions on Power Platform and other Microsoft applications. Be sure to subscribe to the Pragmatic Works YouTube channel to stay up-to-date on the latest tips and tricks.