Introducing the Power Platform CoE Starter Kit
Microsoft has developed the Power Platform Center of Excellence (CoE) Starter Kit, which includes a collection of components and resources designed to assist users in planning, implementing, and maintaining Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power Virtual Agents. Since its initial release, the CoE Starter Kit has undergone several enhancements every month, increasing the number of components and improvements in functionality.
What Benefits Does Power Platform CoE Offer?
Having installed the CoE Starter Kit multiple times over the past few years, this wizard has reduced the effort and time needed to install the desired components. To stay up to date, follow this GitHub repository.
Power Automate Flows are vital for the CoE Starter Kit, enabling regular data collection from the Power Platform. A new experimental option allows data gathering through Azure Data Lake Storage, which works with the Data Export (preview) feature in the Power Platform Admin Center.
It’s important to distinguish between the Center of Excellence (CoE) and the CoE Starter Kit. Although the kit serves as a valuable tool for establishing a CoE, the real progress begins post-installation. With a few clicks, you can create a Power BI Report for sharing insights into usage and adoption. For details on setting up the Power BI dashboard, visit: [Set Up Power BI Dashboard](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/guidance/coe/setup-powerbi).
Three Main Areas of Focus in the Power BI Report
1. Monitor: Monitoring Tenant Resources
These components form the CoE foundation by organizing resources and providing admin apps for better visibility into apps, flows, and makers. Tools like the DLP Editor and Set New App Owner aid in daily admin tasks. The Core Components solution contains assets that are useful for administrators without the need to share them with other companies or end-users.
Requirement: Users need Per-User License or Power Platform Admin permissions.
For more User licensing plan details: https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/
| Scenario | Toolkit component |
| Catalog tenant resources | 1. CDS Entities: Environments, Apps, Flows
2. Admin | Sync Template v2 (Flows) – includes all Apps, Flows, Custom Connectors, Connectors, and Model-Driven Apps. 3. Admin | Sync Audit Log (Flow) 4. Power BI Dashboard 5. Custom Connector for Office 365 Audit Logs 6. Power Platform Admin View (Model Driven App) |
| DLP Strategy + Visibility | 7. DLP Editor (Canvas App)
8. DLP Customizer (Canvas App) |
| Change App Ownership | 9. Set a New App Owner (Canvas App) |
(Environments, Apps, Flows, Bots, AI Builder models, Power Pages, Solutions and Makers)
2. Govern: Driving Actions through Insights
Once familiar with your environments, consider auditing apps for compliance. Engage with developers and examine individual connections and usage patterns. Utilizing tools such as Developer Compliance Center and connector usage detection flows can be helpful in this process. The Compliance Components add a layer on top of the Core Components, but the Core Components must be installed before implementing the Audit Component.
License Requirement: Makers involved in the audit and compliance workflows will require a per-app or per-user license.
| Scenario | Toolkit component |
| Sample Audit Process | 1. Developer Compliance Center (Canvas App)
2. Flow – Compliance detail request 3. Business Process Flow for Auditing resources |
| Archive unused apps | 4.App Archive and Clean Up – Start Approval and Check Approval (Flows)
5. Admin View for App Archive and Cleanup (Model-Driven App) |
| Act based on certain connector usage | 6. Identify and add admins as owners for apps using specific connectors (Flow).
7. Locate and disable flows that use specific connectors (Flow). |
(Detailed information about the objects stated in the Monitor area)
3. Nurture: Nurturing Makers Effectively
Building an internal community and nurturing makers is key to developing a CoE. Use assets like the Welcome Email and Template Catalog to share best practices and onboard new makers effectively. The Nurture Components expand upon the Core Components, which must be installed first.
License Requirement: Anyone in the CoE community will require a per-app or per-user license.
| Scenario | Toolkit component |
| Onboard new makers, offer training and share best practices | 1. Admin | Welcome Email (Flow)
2. Template Catalog (Canvas App) 3. Admin | Newsletter with Product Updates (Flow) 4. One-day training on Management and Registration (Canvas Apps) 5. One-day training on Feedback Reminder, Registration Confirmation, and Reminder (Flow) |
| Encourage Adoption | 6.App Catalog (Canvas App) |
The CoE Power BI dashboard provides insights on governance, compliance, security, adoption, and tech debt analysis for the Default environment.
Why You Need a Microsoft Power Platform Center of Excellence?
If your organization is using or planning to adopt the Microsoft Power Platform, establishing a Center of Excellence (CoE) is vital for ensuring successful technology investments that deliver long-term value.
- People: A CoE nurtures user growth while maintaining governance. As citizen developers increase with platform adoption, organizations need to establish control to effectively harness the new talent.
- Process: Clearly define the purpose of the CoE, expected outcomes, and major business results. Key responsibilities include:
- Identifying potential solutions for improvement
- Prioritizing initiatives
- Empowering individuals/users to create their own solutions
- Estimating the production time for solutions
- Create a possible solution
- Governance of the Power Platform
- Technology: The Power Platform CoE Starter Kit simplifies launching a CoE by providing tools and support plans, particularly for Power Apps and Power Automate. It includes components for administration, governance, and nurturing, allowing IT teams to implement digital guardrails and data loss prevention (DLP) policies.
- Metrics: Many organizations face significant technical debt due to orphaned programs and data sets. The Starter Kit enables administrators to use Power BI dashboards to track metrics like size, usage, and ownership, facilitating data-driven decisions for Power Apps, Power BI, and Power Automate flows.
Conclusion
The Power Platform CoE Starter Kit helps businesses utilize Microsoft’s Power Platform effectively by offering clear processes and robust support. By empowering non-technical users, ensuring security, and promoting collaboration, a CoE drives digital transformation and fosters innovation within the organization. Establishing a CoE is not just a strategic move, it is essential for maximizing the potential of the Power Platform in your organization.
