2023: Microsoft's pursuit of new Business Apps opportunities

One of the most interesting moments of 2022 in Microsoft's business applications ecosystem was the revelation that Viva Sales, the company's new CRM-agnostic sales experience engine, was developed by the same team that creates Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement applications and Power Platform services. Whether or not Viva Sales finds success over the long term, the approach of blending productivity tools and business processes could serve as a useful lens through which to evaluate Microsoft's broader business applications plans for 2023 and beyond. Dynamics applications remain important, but future generations of business solutions from Microsoft could look noticeably different in a variety of ways. Let's look at several recent developments at Microsoft that could impact the future of the Dynamics 365 and Power Platform products and ecosystem.

A world of Microsoft business applications, but not always Dynamics

Microsoft could be working on the release of a new portfolio of point solutions built on Power Platform that are aimed at meeting industry or role-specific needs. Based on reporting by Mary Jo Foley, this so-called "Power House" approach would provide Power Platform licensees with pre-built business applications to serve a range of specific needs: financial approvals, contract management, or a manufacturing requirement, for example. Microsoft has not confirmed this report, but the concept would appear to align with what Microsoft has already demonstrated with Viva Sales: an app and process engine focused on the activities of one or a few job roles. Another example is the company's work to build up the elements of its own invoice approval service, with mixed results so far.