Our solution is a fix to all those award conversations you might have with friends, family or employees. The howler is a message delivery service sending what you wish to send, in the desired tone of voice straight to the physical howler on their desk.
Technical Architecture
Our flow is pretty simple, yet elegant, if we might say so ourselves:
Flow starts with the input from your chosen Wizard/Witch. Input whatever you want, to who you want, in the tone of voice you want. In one of two possible ways:
Into our seamless React Static Web Application. The app fetches secrets from Github secrets to ensure that no messages get out of hand
Use our public API directly if you are more of a hacker-witch
The message is posted to our Power Automate flow and stored for archivation in Dataverse
A Python Flask app accepts the incoming letter. Processes it to add a magical touch tone of voice and transforms it to text-to-speech though Azure Speech Services and OpenAI APIs.
Audio file is played on a Bluetooth speaker and the Arduino makes the letter physically move.
{ “sender”: “Bellatrix”, “recipient”: “Sirius”, “sentiment”: “Angry but polite”, “subject”: “The end”, “body”: “You’re definitely fired.” }
Fabric Fera Verto
Set up of a Fabric instance, but sadly we ran into region problems
For the future we would like to add the data from Dataverse through a Fabric Link to prepare our data for our analyst department
The data platform team can use Howler data to gain valuable insights combining it with other business data
Low-Code Charms
Half of our solution is built on low-code.
Power Automate is the skeleton of the solution, and Dataverse is the brain and blood. The rest of the body is made in Python and React.
Without low-code, it would have been impossible to deliver such a good solution in such a short time. This helps us greatly to shorten the distance from design to finished product.
We also have a Model-driven app for Howler support that helps our magical advisors if something goes wrong during message delivery
Pro-Code Potions
For the frontend, we’ve created a React Router app, with hot-reloading for DX, sass for styling and react-scripts providing the necessary scripts for running, building, and testing the project
For the backend, we are using Flask, written in Python (aka. Parselmouth). We’re doing the following:
Use Azure Cognitive services to enchant the input message in the form of a letter appropriate for reading aloud, and adjusting the tone of voice etc.
We use the same service to create a audio file with the enchanted-message
Send commands to the Arduino in order to start and stop the physical motor in the howler-letter while the audio is playing.
Digital transformation
Our solution provides value to any business that wants to shorten the time it takes for awkward conversations or long messages.
We streamline everyday life by allowing users to enter a short message, which is read out to the recipient as a longer, more appropriate text. This will save everyone a lot of time and awkward moments.
ALM Magic
Using GitHub actions for CI/CD; we are building the application, and then deploying the build/image to our Azure Static Web app.
We were planning to set up Github security for code scanning and dependabot to ensure updated dependancies; but did’nt have the budget for GitHub Advanced Security.
Magic Matrix
As this is primarily designed for the Hogwarts school, we also were planning to archive the messages and audio-files in Sharepoint, with proper access control and governance; done through Power Automate.
As well as SMS notifications, we were planning to send teams notifications as an additional service.
A Low-code App to help Wizards with their mental health, after so many attacks and traumatic experiences, there is no doubt many of them need to keep check on their working hours and mental well-being.
First they must register when the enter or leave Hogwartz.
Then a report will be create for each of them:
Then a score will be provided:
In case they receive a bad score they will be prompted to take a mental health quiz:
We went out on a mission to elevate the businesses of Diagon Alley by improving the customer experience and creating a solution to help the business automate their day-to-day tasks and improve their efficiency and revenue. As a way of simplifying the development, we have chosen to focus on the local pet store as proof of concept solution, but always with plans of expanding in the back of our heads
In our attempt to move the store lines to the cloud, we have a given the customers a Power Portal website where they can sign in to order pets, food and cages, select a preferred estimated delivery time in addition to the cost of individual items and in total. To help the customers use this site, we have also developed a “magic” mirror that gives recommendation for a pet and provides a QR-link to the registration form with the suggestion automatically set.
The customers can also get an easy access to the website using our “magical” smart mirror known as “Mirror of Noitceles”. While standing in front of this mirror, a camera will take their picture and, using Azure Open AI, will recognize facial features and come up with a suggestion for a pet. They will also be given a QR-code they can scan that provides them a link to the registration website with the recommended pet already set in the registration form.
By using the Power Platform to create the solution, we have created an easily accessible solution that could be implemented into Teams and therefore by available for business owners that works on the floor all day. This way, we also can provide an integrated connection with SharePoint and their documents handling and simplify communication by implementing textmessage, phonecalls and pre-made Power App components.
This also gives an easily maintained database in the shape of Dataverse, and by synchronizing this to Fabric we also have solid foundation for adding future modules that can improve the experience by sharing data between different businesses and develop complex AI-solutions that will improve their experience and return of interest further.
As the business using our solution, and their customers, are registering data into Dataverse, we are synching this into Fabric in the backend part of the solution. To maximize the value of Fabric, we also have connected an Power BI report that displays the data we need to improve the solution in the best way possible.
By doing this we are creating a massive data collection that can be used to improve the solution between business and train AI-models to create an even better solution and modules to add on in the future.
Category: Low-Code Charms
Our solution is mainly taking advantage of the magical powers within the low-code Power platform. We are using Power Pages to maintain a website for customers where they can register their order to the store. This is also connected to our smart mirror that recognized customers, suggest a pet based on their appearance and provides them an QR-link to this website with the suggested pet already selected.
We are also using a model-driven Power App to maintain the data within the Dataverse, and allows the employees to handle the customers order. They are able to see all orders, pets, and type of food in a entity-view (tables) – as well as an Admin-form with a kanban-board (thank you Resco) for updating Order-statuses and see the sales-stream, and a PowerBi-report (connected to Fabric). The store owners also have an “Admin”-page set up with an overview of available pets, their aisle location and more, with the possibility to register new Pets as they become available.
The solution is further improved by using Power Automate to automate tasks that that usually takes unnecessary time, like sending and receiving text message or generate supplier agreements in SharePoint and sending supply orders.
Category: Pro-Code Potions
As a lot the customer functionality is handled by low-code solutions, the heavier aspects of the solution is handled in the backend using more traditionally coded functionality.
We have a Raspberry Pi configurated with the “Magic mirror” node.js solution (https://magicmirror.builders/), and have improved this by adding and adjusting modules, including a list view of a Dataverse table and the generation of QR-code that send customers to the ordering website. We also have adjusted the Power Pages website by using jQuery to implement URL parameters so the suggested pet shows up automatically.
We have set up a scraping solution to the Harry Potter Wiki-page to integrate data from this universe, and are using the external python package “Cv2” to handle API’s for facial recognition. Oth er technologies we have used are msal, axios, Flask and Websockets.
Category: Digital transformation
As a lot the customer functionality is handled by low-code solutions, the heavier aspects of the solution is handled in the backend using more traditionally coded functionality.
We have a Raspberry Pi configurated with the “Magic mirror” node.js solution (https://magicmirror.builders/), and have improved this by adding and adjusting modules, including a list view of a Dataverse table and the generation of QR-code that send customers to the ordering website. We also have adjusted the Power Pages website by using jQuery to implement URL parameters so the suggested pet shows up automatically.
We have set up a scraping solution to the Harry Potter Wiki-page to integrate data from this universe, and are using the external python package “Cv2” to handle API’s for facial recognition. Oth er technologies we have used are msal, axios, Flask and Websockets.
Category: Magic Matrix
We are using a combination of Teams and Power Platform to create a magical solution for businesses and customers. We have document handling in SharePoint, Customer communication with phone calling and text messages in Teams as well as a good integration with Power platform
The Arctic Cloud Developer Challenge has been an exhilarating ride, pushing our creativity and technical prowess to new heights. For our final solution, we created a Sorting Hat Quiz app together with a Physical Talking Hat, merging the best of the digital and physical worlds. In this blog post, we’ll break down how we approached the challenge and highlight how each category shaped the final product.
Inspired by the magic of the Harry Potter universe, we decided to build a Sorting Hat Quiz app that not only sorts users into their Hogwarts houses but also has a real-world interactive element. Student can choose how he would like to be sorted, digitally or physically.
Now, let’s see how our solution corresponds to each category:
Fabric Vera Verto
We have created a dashboard in PowerBI showing us deep magical insights and statistics about distribution of student’s answers.
The hat interface uses python to orchestrate TTS STT and backend communication.
We use Terraform to deploy the entire backend, package the backend web app, and update the code.
The backend code is java script that can handle multiple conversations at once.
One backend to rule them all
We are also customizing the low code Web app with our pro code
following our journey, and we hope you feel as much magic in our solution as we do!
Digital transformation
By offloading the work from the old Sorting hat to the digital version it enables seamless logging and analytics.
It enables multiple students to be sorted at the same time from all types of locations.
We can pull statistics from the sorting giving an insight in the details of the sorting process
ALM Magic
Environment variables in bot
Terraform automatically updates the backend to the newest code
We have a sign in using phone number and username.
The app is automatically deployed to Teams users that is in the tenant.
We make pretty code
The question pools are stored in Dataverse making it easy to manipulate the quiz
We are using ALM (CI/CD) pipeline and releases the CRM solution form development to , UAT and production environment’s
Magic Matrix
We are using the magic of Teams
Accessibility: Backend is API compatible making it possible to integrate with anything; Speech to text with whisper, and text to speech with Eleven labs making it accessible as long as you can talk
Privacy: LLM does not train on user conversation; Voice input is not stored
By leveraging the strengths of each category—Fabric Fera Verto, Low-Code Charms, Pro-Code Potions, Digital Transformation, ALM Magic, and the Magic Matrix—we were able to create a Sorting Hat Quiz app and a physical talking Sorting Hat that deliver a magical, interactive experience. Our solution pushed the boundaries of what’s possible, seamlessly blending digital and physical technologies to engage users in an unforgettable way.
We are incredibly proud of our final product, and we believe it not only meets the requirements of the Arctic Cloud Developer Challenge but also sets a new standard for how apps can bridge the gap between the virtual and physical worlds.
At Hogwarts, we’ve revolutionized the administration of social events and classes, and student attendance tracking through a seamless integration of Dynamics Customer Insights Journeys, Pro-Code, Power Automate, Liquid, custom pages and Power pages.
By combining these technologies we have made both classes and social events easier to administer for the system users. The system users only have to create the events and there is no need for the users to create segments, emails or journeys. By combining technology from MappedIn, Power Automate and Power pages the status of the event registrations are handled by the system and removing a burden from the users since they no longer have to delete data (to cancel an event registration) or manually check in an event registration in a other table.
Navigating the vast and magical halls of Hogwarts can be quite the adventure. To make it easier for students and professors to find their way around, we’ve integrated Mappedin’s innovative search bar and routing functionality. Whether you’re looking for a specific classroom, common room, or office, Mappedin provides multiple ways to find your destination quickly and efficiently.
In addition to searching for rooms, Mappedin allows users to set routes to their desired destinations. Once a room is selected, the system provides step-by-step directions, ensuring that students and professors can navigate the castle efficiently. This routing functionality is particularly useful in a large and complex building like Hogwarts, where finding the shortest path can be a challenge. Whether you’re heading to the Great Hall for a feast or the Astronomy Tower for a late-night class, Mappedin has you covered.
By using MappedIn we’re able to send out real time communication as students approach classrooms, by using the Customer Insights Journey functionality. We’re using customer insights journeys to send communication that contains a link with utm parameters. When the students open up the link a customer journey using the trigger “When Marketing Site Visited”. We’re then able to get the link they open which also have the contact ID and The event Registration ID. By using a power automate and a custom trigger we can get the event registration and change the status to “Attended”.
Image of the process for classes:
Image of the process for Social Event:
User interface and landing zones
Students and professors are presented with a model-driven application where they open a landing page (custom page). From there students have a separate landing zone from the professors andhere they can navigate to other areas of the application. The custom page has three navigation points, the social events, the active classes for today and the Marauders map for getting a guide to show you around the school. The navigation points are connected to views, forms and other custom pages in the Model-driven app using PowerFx Navigation() function. From the Student landing zone, there is a PCF with a gamification aspect. Students can compete in fetching the Golden Snitch and score House Points and level up. Each time they level up the snitch moves faster.
See your classes and get guidance from the map. When approaching the class room you get a message that is based on location, registrating you for the class automatically.
Category Alignment
Fabric Fera Verto Our solution creates deep magical insights through:
POWER BI
In our Hogwarts App, we’ve conjured up some magical tools to make life even more exciting for our students and teachers. These enchanting features are designed to inspire, motivate, and bring a touch of wonder to everyday activities. Here is a list over our Magical Insights:
House Points Tracker The battle for house glory just got more thrilling! We’ve introduced a House Points Chart, where students can keep track of the current standings and see which house is leading the charge. The bars shimmer in the house colors—scarlet for Gryffindor, emerald for Slytherin, sapphire for Ravenclaw, and gold for Hufflepuff—bringing the spirit of friendly competition to life.
Golden Snitch Leaderboard Catch the Snitch, and claim your glory! The Golden Snitch Leaderboard highlights the top players in the beloved Snitch-chasing game. The rankings sparkle with magical hues: gold for first place, silver for second, and bronze for third. Will you be the next Seeker extraordinaire?
Class Attendance Tile At Hogwarts, striving for 100% class attendance is a noble goal! To aid in this quest, we’ve added an Attendance Tile to the report. It reveals how each class fares in attendance, with fascinating insights. However, beware—the data shows a troublingly low turnout in Defense Against the Dark Arts! Could a bit of extra encouragement—or perhaps a strong Patronus—be the solution?
Students by House Chart Curious about the balance of Hogwarts houses? The Students by House Pie Chart offers a delightful overview, showing the distribution of students across the four houses. Each slice of the pie is enchanted with its house color, providing a clear and colorful glimpse into Hogwarts’ magical diversity. This tool fosters greater understanding and unity among the houses.
With these mystical updates, we’re ensuring that every student and professor can dive deeper into the wonders of Hogwarts life. Keep exploring, keep competing, and most importantly—keep the magic alive!
Low-Code Charms We’ve woven powerful low-code spells through: Power Pages for event registration Power Automate flows for attendance tracking Custom pages with responsive design to enhance users’ experience Enhanced date handling through PCF Model-driven app to help teachers administrate the school
Marketing Events automation To ease the task of creating new Subjects every Semester, we have decided to use some Power Automate automation 😊
This flow will run at the beginning of each year, and for every semester contained, it will iterate through all the subjects that take place during it and will create an event for every occurrence of the subject.
Finally, for every student that enrolled into the subject, it will create an event registration for every event.
Teachers can: Assign points to the different houses.
Handle emails sent to the customer and check the events and event registrations created through our different automation processes.
Define the different rooms in which subjects can take place and link them to the interactive app
Power Pages
We used Power Pages to customize our event registrations and upcoming sessions – responsive and user friendly.
Through our Power Pages portal, where they can browse and sign up for both classes and social events. Upon registration, a Power Automate flow checks event capacity and automatically assigns the appropriate status, followed by a confirmation email containing event details, a QR code, and a cancellation link (Generated by power automate). Students receive timely reminders as the event approaches. Should plans change, students can easily cancel their registration through a personalized link, triggering another Power Automate flow that updates their status to “Cancelled”.
When a student is created in Dataverse a power automate triggers generating a unique url to an overview of their upcoming classes. The url is sent out with marketing emails to student as the semester start is approaching to all of the students. When a event is created a unique url to that event is created. The url is then connected to the buttons on each event card presented in the event gallery.
We used FetchXML to fetch data from Microsoft Dataverse. It allowed The Golden Snitches to query for complex queries with filtering, sorting, and aggregation, making it ideal for creating dynamic and interactive content in our Power Pages Portal for the students and Professors.
Because we are getting the form dynamically trough fetch xml we can remove another burden from the user that would need to copy a script and add it to a page. But now we can display the form by using liquid:
Custom page – Responsive design
Using containers, horizontal and vertical, to structure the layout and have proper responsiveness to resize and adjust the layout according to user screen size. Utilizing the dynamic values of Parent to set the width and height of controls within the screen
HTMLtext, syntax and code principles:
Use of $ to reference dynamic values within a string.
Seamless navigation: Utilizing the custom page within model driven apps makes it possible for us to easily navigate to other areas of the model-driven app.
We developed a PowerApps Component Framework (PCF) using MappedIn’s React-based SDK documentation. This allowed us to embed their robust mapping and navigation functionality directly into Dynamics 365. The solution enables users to visualize spaces, navigate between rooms, and even calculate optimal routes within buildings. Custom PCF for semester date management.
Map in action
PCf’s react fragment example.
Custom PCF with an animated catchable golden snitch
Azure AI implementation for voice recognition (Ask Cathrine)
Powershell for advanced pipeline deployment
To ease the deployment of our PCFs, we made a short Powershell scripts that updates the version of both the solution and the PCF automatically before its compilation.
Specialized field customizations: Integration with Resco components
We used DateRangeBuilder PCF from Resco to enhance the creation of new Semesters in our App.
Oneflow: • Auto-dispatches contracts faster than a Nimbus 2000 • Tracks signatures with the precision of the Marauder’s Map • Sends confirmation owls (emails) that would make Hedwig proud
Now Muggle parents can sign from their “mobile devices” (fascinating contraptions), while Professor McGonagall tracks everything from her enchanted dashboard. The whole system runs smoother than a well-brewed Felix Felicis!
Digital Transformation We’ve bridged operational gaps through: Maximum event capacity field:
Power automate that updates the event registration status based on the maximum capacity of the event.
We are then using generic journeys to send out the event registration with a QR code. And reminders for the event. Point Taken also use Power Automate to generate a cancellation URL on the event registration that will be sent out with the emails in the generic journey.
Cancel url on the event registration:
Power automate that generate the cancel url for sending out with the marketing emails:
The students will then be able to click the link and be navigated to a site on the power page where they can cancel their event registration.
When the students click the button they trigger a power automate that changes the event registration to status “Canceled”:
Since the social events also is only for students and employees at the school we will be able to track when the students is getting near the room of the event. We will then again use generic journeys with emails to track the attendance. The administration will then be able to send out communication after the event like surveys or other content.
ALM Magic Our ALM strategy includes:
Git Connect integration
We used Power Platform’s new Git Connect functionality to automate the commit process for solution changes.
This feature allows changes made in Power Platform to be committed directly to an Azure DevOps repository, with the user who made the changes reflected as the commit author. This integration not only saved time but also ensured proper traceability and alignment with our team’s Git workflows.
1. Components contained in the solution separated by name 2. Authors of the commits.
DevOps pipelines for building PCFs
To handle the custom PowerApps Component Framework (PCF) components, we reused and adapted an existing pipeline. This pipeline automates:
Version Updates: Using a PowerShell script, we increment version numbers to maintain proper versioning.
2. Solution Packaging: The pipeline packs the updated PCF into a deployable solution.
3. Deployment: The final step deploys the solution directly to our environments. This automation reduced manual effort, minimized errors, and ensured smooth delivery of components across environments.
Solution segmentation
Entra ID security implementation
Microsoft Entra ID Security Groups To simplify user administration and have better control of user access to the environments, we have created teams of type Microsoft Entra ID security groups.
We created a security group in Entra ID where we add the users we want to give access to the environment.
We then created a team of type Microsoft Entra ID Security Group in Power Platform where we assigned the Entra Group to the team. We then assigned the team the desired security roles:
We now only have to add users to the Group in Entra ID to give access and assign the users security roles.
Power automate – Force Sync users from Entra ID Groups Now that we have automated and gotten more control of the granting access to users to the environment apps and automations, we need to force sync the users.
The users will not appear in Dataverse unless they have logged into the environment. But building a power automate flow we can solve this issue:
The flow will be triggered once a day and then it will get the members of the Entra ID group. The flow then uses the force sync action to sync the users.
Solution Strategy The team have created a solution strategy that separates the different types of components in different solutions for easy deploy and a better development process.
Power Platform Pipelines We have used Power Platform Pipelines to automate the deployment process between environments.
Power Automate Connectors – Service Principal:
A service principal is specific to Microsoft Azure and is used to grant applications access to Azure resources. We have used a Service Principal for our Power Automate connectors to make sure that the governance of the flows is exceptional.
Magic Matrix We’ve created an enchanting experience using: If another pandemic hits or a troll attacks the school, teachers will be able to stream the classes to teams. With Dynamics Customer Insights Journeys and Microsoft Teams, the professor can easily plan, host, and follow up on live-streamed events, so that the students never miss a class.
Concept: Imagine stepping into Professor Snape’s potion lab, where magic meets modern technology. At PowerPotters of Cepheo, we’ve reimagined potion production using IoT, AI, and automation to create a seamless, efficient, and intelligent system—perfectly blending the wizarding world with real-world innovation.
End-to-End Scenario: The ur solution begins with a voice command or sensor data triggering a production order in Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (D365FO). From there:
Approval workflows in a beautifully designed PowerApps interface ensure strict oversight.
IoT sensors monitor potion brewing in real time.
Power BI dashboards visualize live inventory, production orders, and trends, enabling better decision-making.
Legacy ASCII-based systems, like the ETON packaging machine,for integration with packaging systems
Every component works harmoniously to eliminate manual steps, increase efficiency, and enhance user experiences for potion masters and house-elves alike.
User Story: Professor Snape manages a bustling potion lab where students brew elixirs daily. When a student initiates brewing:
A voice command or sensor input creates a production order in D365FO.
Snape reviews the potion request in the Alchemy Approval App, approving or rejecting it.
Approved potions are tracked in real time on the Power BI dashboard, where Snape monitors ingredient usage, inventory, and production status.
Students add ingredients, telling the cauldron which they use, and the cauldron IoT reports back the ingredient details to D365FO.
A plethora of support systems has been added as well to make the complete process of managing a laboratory simple and effective, such as:
Sharepoint and Teams messaging to the team of Elfs working the laboratory
AI-based input of masterdata into D365FO
Third-party solutions for ease of work
Impressive backend FO X++ actions.
This end-to-end process ensures a smooth, magical potion production workflow!
Important notice for our fabulous judges. We know you have a lot to read, so from here on, the blog post is split into each of your categories so that you can save time!
2. Fabric Fera Verto
Concept: Fabric Fera Verto, or “Data Transformation,” is the magical core of our potion production analytics. Using Power BI and Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (D365FO), we’ve built a seamless flow of data to empower potion masters with insights. By visualizing inventory, production orders, and potion trends, we’ve turned raw data into actionable magic.
Key Components:
Dataflow from Dynamics 365 FO to Power BI:
Data from D365FO is extracted using an OAuth legacy connection, ensuring a secure and reliable pipeline.
Key information includes inventory levels, production orders, and ingredient usage.
Power BI Dashboard:
Business Value: The dashboard is displayed in the alchemy lab, providing real-time insights into:
Inventory Levels: Tracks current stocks of potion ingredients and finished elixirs.
Recent Potions: Displays recently completed brews for trend analysis.
Active Production Orders:
Potion name, quantity, and approval status (e.g., “Pending Approval”).
Bill of Materials (BOM) visualization showing ingredients required for active orders.
Impact: Potion masters can manage resources effectively, reduce ingredient shortages, and plan future brews.
Cloud-Powered Updates:
The Power BI report is published to the Power BI Cloud with scheduled updates, ensuring near real-time data for potion production insights.
Future Scalability with Fabric
The integration is designed to grow with the needs of the alchemy lab. As potion production increases, transitioning to Fabric tables would:
Improve Efficiency: Fabric provides a unified data source that ensures faster queries and streamlined data transformations, reducing latency.
Enable Real-Time Updates: Potion masters could make decisions instantly, whether adjusting production schedules or responding to ingredient shortages.
Support Increased Data Volume: As more IoT devices feed data into the system, Fabric’s robust infrastructure can handle higher data loads without compromising performance.
Why This Earns Fabric Fera Verto:
Seamless Data Integration: The solution connects D365FO to Power BI, bridging transactional data with analytical insights.
Real-Time Insights: The dashboard equips potion masters with live data for informed decision-making.
Scalability: The system is designed to evolve, with future enhancements like Fabric enabling even more seamless updates.
3. Low-Code Charms
Concept: Our low-code innovations ensure that the magic of potion production flows effortlessly across the lab. Using Power Automate and a responsive Canvas app, we’ve created intuitive workflows for approvals, notifications, and user interactions—eliminating manual effort and ensuring streamlined processes.
Key Components:
Production Order Creation Flow:
Trigger: When a student initiates brewing (via voice or IoT sensor), a Power Automate flow creates a production order in D365FO.
Key Steps:
Retrieve potion details, including name, quantity, and requirements.
Generate the production order in D365FO, ensuring every potion has a structured workflow.
Update status fields to track progress through the brewing lifecycle.
Approval Workflow in the Alchemy Approval App:
Canvas App: A beautifully designed app lets Professor Snape approve or reject potion requests with ease.
Notifications to sponsors (via SMS or Teams) about potion status or ingredient shortages.
Updates to SharePoint lists for elf task management, ensuring no steps are missed in potion production.
Why This Earns Low-Code Charms:
Automation First: Manual processes like potion approval and ingredient monitoring are replaced with automated workflows.
User-Centric: The app and flows simplify approvals and provide clear, actionable information to users.
Visual and Accessible: The responsive, Harry Potter-themed app adds both functionality and flair, making it easy for potion masters to manage brewing on the go.
4. Pro-Code Potions
Concept: The true magic of our potion production system lies in the pro-code components, where custom Python scripts, X++ extensions, and hardware-level integrations make the impossible possible. By blending IoT, AI, and robust coding practices, we’ve created a solution that bridges the physical and digital realms with precision and scalability.
Key Components:
Python for IoT and AI Integration:
IoT Sensor Management:
Python scripts like sensor_script.py process data from the ultrasonic level sensor, ensuring precise liquid measurement in potion cauldrons.
Real-time readings are transmitted to Power Automate, enabling immediate workflow adjustments.
Voice Recognition:
Using voice_script.py, the system leverages the OpenAI Whisper API to translate spoken potion names into actionable triggers.
This enables seamless, hands-free initiation of potion brewing.
Integration Orchestration:
integration_script.py ties sensor readings, voice inputs, and Power Automate flows together, ensuring that each step of the process aligns perfectly.
X++ Extensions in Dynamics 365 FO:
Custom Extensions:
Example: AdCustGroup_Frm_Extension ensures tailored functionality for potion-specific processes like production orders and inventory updates.
Field extensions and event handlers provide flexibility for tracking potion-specific data in D365FO.
Business Logic:
Custom X++ code facilitates real-time updates to production orders, inventory tracking, and seamless integration with Power Automate.
ESP32 Firmware Deployment:
Automated Deployment:
A GitHub Actions workflow automates the process of flashing firmware to the ESP32 microcontroller.
Key features include dependency installation (esptool), direct flashing via shell commands, and a self-hosted runner for stable deployments.
Hardware Integration:
The ESP32 monitors potion brewing equipment, sending real-time data to the cloud and triggering workflows when thresholds are met.
Why This Earns Pro-Code Potions:
Hardware and Software Synergy: Python scripts and ESP32 firmware ensure seamless integration between IoT devices and workflows.
Advanced Customization: X++ extensions tailor D365FO for potion production, enabling real-time updates and efficient inventory management.
Efficiency and Reliability: Automated firmware deployments and modular script design make the system scalable and error-resistant.
5. Digital Transformation
Concept: Our potion production platform is a shining example of digital transformation. By integrating IoT, AI, dashboards, and workflows, we’ve revolutionized potion brewing at Hogwarts, streamlining processes for students, potion masters, and house-elves alike. This transformation isn’t just magical—it’s impactful, reducing manual effort and enhancing collaboration while creating a more efficient and connected potion lab.
Key Components:
IoT-Driven Automation:
Sensors: Ultrasonic level sensors continuously monitor potion cauldrons, sending precise measurements to Power Automate for real-time adjustments.
Voice Commands: AI-powered voice recognition eliminates manual input, enabling potion masters to initiate production hands-free.
Workflows and Approvals:
Power Automate orchestrates end-to-end processes, from potion initiation to approvals and inventory management.
The Alchemy Approval App ensures oversight with an intuitive interface for reviewing and approving potion requests.
Real-Time Data Visibility:
The Power BI dashboard provides live updates on:
Inventory levels for ingredients and potions.
Production status, including Snape’s approvals and BOM requirements.
This visibility empowers potion masters to make informed decisions, reducing bottlenecks and ensuring resource availability.
Legacy System Integration:
The ETON packaging machine, reliant on ASCII files, is seamlessly integrated into the workflow using automated file generation.
This modernization reduces manual input, ensuring the machine operates in sync with modern systems.
Accessibility for All Users:
House-Elf-Friendly SharePoint Lists: Tasks and potion requirements are published in a simple format, ensuring elves can manage their duties effectively with minimal digital training.
Why This Defines Digital Transformation:
Efficiency: IoT and workflows automate repetitive tasks, saving time and eliminating human error.
Collaboration: Students, Snape, and house-elves are all connected through the platform, ensuring transparency and teamwork.
Enhanced Decision-Making: Real-time dashboards and AI-driven insights provide actionable information for smarter, faster decisions.
Legacy Modernization: Integrating old systems like ETON showcases how digital transformation can bridge the gap between the past and the future.
6. ALM Magic
Concept: True magic lies in the details, and for Team PowerPotters, Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) has been the wand that brings order to the chaos of customization. From naming conventions to robust deployment practices, we’ve built a foundation of clarity, consistency, and scalability that ensures our solution runs as smoothly as a perfectly brewed Felix Felicis.
Key Components:
Naming Standards:
Consistent naming conventions across all artifacts make customizations easy to identify and manage.
Examples:
AdCustGroup_Frm_Extension: Form extension for custom potion-related workflows.
AdCustGroup_Frm_dsCustGroup_Extension: Datasource extension to enhance potion data tracking.
AdCustGroup_Frm_EventHandler: Event handler for custom logic tied to potion production orders.
These standards ensure every artifact is self-explanatory, reducing the effort required for onboarding or debugging.
Error Handling and Logging:
Python scripts include robust try...except blocks with detailed logging, enabling traceability and quick resolution of issues.
Example: In sensor_script.py, logs capture real-time sensor readings and flag anomalies, ensuring the potion brewing process remains uninterrupted.
Similarly, X++ code in D365FO includes structured error handling to protect data integrity during custom operations like inventory updates.
CI/CD Deployment Cycle:
Azure DevOps Pipelines:
Pre-build pipelines prepare the build server, ensuring all dependencies are available before starting.
Express builds validate core functionality, while full builds ensure a complete release package.
Webhooks for Notifications:
Successful deployments trigger webhooks to notify the team via Teams, ensuring everyone stays informed.
GitHub Actions for IoT:
ESP32 firmware deployment is automated using GitHub Actions, streamlining hardware updates and maintaining consistency.
Mocking for Testability:
The inclusion of mock modules (e.g., GPIO mock) enables rigorous testing of hardware-dependent Python scripts without requiring physical devices. This ensures stability before deployment.
Why This Earns ALM Magic:
Clarity: Naming standards and modularity make the codebase easy to understand and extend.
Reliability: Error handling and logging practices ensure stability and quick debugging.
Efficiency: CI/CD pipelines and automated firmware updates minimize manual intervention while maintaining quality.
Future-Proofing: Mocking and deployment practices enhance scalability and adaptability.
7. Magic Matrix
Concept: The Magic Matrix represents the interconnected web of systems, tools, and platforms that make our potion production platform a seamless, unified experience. By integrating Dynamics 365, Power BI, IoT, Teams, and SharePoint, we’ve created a cohesive solution where every component works in harmony to ensure efficiency, transparency, and collaboration.
Key Connections:
Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (D365FO):
Central Hub: D365FO serves as the backbone, handling production orders, inventory management, and BOM tracking.
Custom Extensions: X++ code enhances functionality, ensuring potion-specific processes like ingredient monitoring and approval workflows are perfectly aligned.
Power BI Dashboards:
Data Visualization: Directly connected to D365FO, Power BI provides real-time insights into production statuses, inventory levels, and potion trends.
Cloud Integration: Published to Power BI Cloud, the dashboards are accessible across devices and updated regularly to keep potion masters informed.
IoT Devices:
ESP32 Sensor Integration: Sensors monitor potion cauldrons in real-time, feeding data into Power Automate for precise workflow adjustments.
Firmware Automation: GitHub Actions workflows ensure ESP32 firmware is always up to date, enabling reliable data collection.
Power Platform:
Power Automate: Acts as the orchestrator, connecting IoT inputs, D365FO workflows, and approval processes.
Canvas App: The Alchemy Approval App integrates directly with D365FO, allowing Professor Snape to review and manage potion requests in a user-friendly interface.
Teams and SharePoint:
Notifications via Teams: Webhooks notify team members when a new production order is approved or when a deployment is completed.
Elf-Friendly SharePoint Lists: Simple lists provide house-elves with clear instructions for managing ingredients and potion schedules, ensuring accessibility.
Why This Earns Magic Matrix:
Unified Ecosystem: By connecting tools like D365FO, Power BI, IoT, and SharePoint, we’ve created a fully integrated platform.
Cross-System Collaboration: Teams and SharePoint ensure seamless communication and task management across all users.
Legacy Modernization: Integrating the ASCII-reliant ETON machine demonstrates our ability to bridge old and new technologies.
Real-Time Data Flow: Connections between IoT devices, D365FO, and Power BI enable informed, real-time decision-making.
8. A Magical Farewell: Mischief Managed!
As the final chapter of our journey at ACDC 2025 closes, Team PowerPotters would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank you” to the organizers, judges, and fellow participants who’ve made this hackathon an unforgettable experience. Like a well-brewed Polyjuice Potion, this competition has shown us how a perfect blend of creativity, teamwork, and technical prowess can create magic!
Canvas App and AI Builder Hermione’s beaded bag can hold unlimited amounts of ingredients, spells and potions, as well as a myriad of other handy things. With the Hermiones Beaded Bag Canvas App the students can take a picture of an ingredient and it will automatically detect what kind of ingredient it is, identify it from the ingredient list, and add it to the student ingredient inventory.
3D Map of Hogwarts Students at Hogwarts walk around the school to collect ingredients to make potions throughout the year. With a school this size it’s hard to keep track of where they have been and where ingredients pop up, but luckily for them, they can navigate virtually through the 3D model of the building straight from the app.
Potion Matching Agent Once they have collected an ingredient, its added to their ingredient inventory in the Beaded Bag, and they can start making potions. To explore the craft of potion making they can enlist the help from the magical potion match making agent who can tell them what potions they can make with the ingredients they already have, but also what ingredients they are missing to make potions they need.
The agent help the students to manage their inventory for them, and once they have all the ingredients they need to make potion the agent adds that to their potion inventory. This agent is available to the students through the Hermione’s Beaded Bag app, but also through the Diagon Alley website. There are rumors that Dumbledore himself has even added it to his own personal teams chat.
Collect, get points, graduate and get a diploma As the students evolve, collect ingredients and make potions, they get points based on the level of difficulty. These points are a crusial part of the points neede to level up in their Owls levels as well! This is a neat way for the professors and headmaster Dumbledore himself to keep track of the students progress. When students reach a certain level, a diploma is automatically created and will be signed by Dumbledore himself. Pure magic. The students will receive an SMS that they have graduated to a new level, and they will get an email with the diploma, signed by Dumbledore and their professor.
Tracking progress The professors keep an eye on the students progress, inventory and levels all the time, and they build reports in top of the data which they use to report to Dumbledore. This way they can help students who struggle, sort and filter students based on the type of potions they find, and maybe intersect before the students who are up to no good do any harm.
Business Value
The real world impact of our solution might not be obvious at first glance, but we work a lot with non-profit and volunteer driven companies. We know that there is a constant awareness with these companies to lower the efforts on administrative tasks and optimize the impact of every donated amount.
One of the administrative tasks that take a lot of time and effort is matching volunteers with activities. This is because finding the right activity fit for the right volunteer rely on a myriad of aspects; Certificates, Certifications, Courses, Competencies, Languages they speak and interest they have. If we can create an AI driven solution that is smart enough to look at all of these aspects and perspectives and automatically match volunteers with activities, we can get an incredible upturn in volunteer activities.
This solution can also be used by search and rescue. The app allow you to scan objects and move through buildings, and also have a way to track and view where you have been and what areas of a space that has been searched. This could potentially be life saving in a critical situation.
Low Code
We have used an object detection model to scan ingredients and add them to the bag.
The model is custom-built and trained on images we have captured ourselves of various objects around our premises.
We have mapped the images to different labels so the model can recognize the objects. These objects are matched with our ingredients in Dataverse.
We have created a canvas app where you can navigate to collect ingredients. Here you have the ability to use your phone camera to take whatever picture you like of an object that is recognized as an ingredient. The ingredient will be listed in a table just below your image.
In the inventory you can see all of your collected ingredients using the custom objective detection model.
Canvas app and AI builder for adding ingredients to inventory
Pro Code
3D geolocation mapping
By leveraging the web browser geolocation API inside a Canvas App PCF component, we were able to provide a 3D representation of the active users’ current location inside the venue.
We were able to find a simple volume model of the buildings on the map service Kommunekart 3D, but these data seem to be provided by Norkart, which is not freely available.
We decided to scrape the 3D model off of the site, by fetching all the resources that looked like binary 3D data. We found the data was in B3DM format and we found the buildings in one of these. We used Blender to clean up the model, by removing surrounding buildings and exporting it to glTF 3D file format, for use in a WebGL 3D context.
The representation of the 3D model, we decided to do with Three.js, which let us create an HTML canvas element inside the PCF component and using its WebGL context to render out the model in 3D. The canvas is continuously rendered using requestAnimationFrame under the hood, making it efficient in a browser context. The glTF model was loaded using a data URI, as a workaround for the web resource file format restrictions.
The coordinates from the user’s mobile device comes in as geographical coordinates, with longitude, latitude and altitude. The next step was to map these values relative to a known coordinate in the building, which we chose to be the main entrance. By using the main entrance geographical coordinates, we could then convert that to cartesian coordinates, with X, Y and Z, do the same to the realtime coordinates from the user, and subtract the origin, to get the offset in meters. The conversion from geographic to geocentric coordinates were done like so:
// eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/consistent-type-definitions
export type CartesianCoordinates = { x: number; y: number; z: number };
// eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/consistent-type-definitions
export type GeographicCoordinates = { lat: number; lon: number; alt: number };
// Conversion factor from degrees to radians
const DEG_TO_RAD = Math.PI / 180;
// Constants for WGS84 Ellipsoid
const WGS84_A = 6378137.0; // Semi-major axis in meters
const WGS84_E2 = 0.00669437999014; // Square of eccentricity
// Function to convert geographic coordinates (lat, lon, alt) to ECEF (x, y, z)
export function geographicToECEF(coords: GeographicCoordinates): { x: number; y: number; z: number } {
// Convert degrees to radians
const latRad = coords.lat * DEG_TO_RAD;
const lonRad = coords.lon * DEG_TO_RAD;
// Calculate the radius of curvature in the prime vertical
const N = WGS84_A / Math.sqrt(1 - WGS84_E2 * Math.sin(latRad) * Math.sin(latRad));
// ECEF coordinates
const x = (N + coords.alt) * Math.cos(latRad) * Math.cos(lonRad);
const y = (N + coords.alt) * Math.cos(latRad) * Math.sin(lonRad);
const z = (N * (1 - WGS84_E2) + coords.alt) * Math.sin(latRad);
return { x, y, z };
}
This gave us fairly good precision, but not without the expected inaccuracy caused by being indoors.
In our solution the current position is then represented by an icon moving around the 3D model based on the current GPS data from the device.
To connect this representation to realtime data from all the currently active users, we decided to set up an Azure SignalR Service, with an accompanying Azure Storage and Azure Function App for the backend. With this setup, we could use the @microsoft/azure package inside the PCF component, receiving connection, disconnection and location update message broadcast from all other users.
Canvas App XR
To further enhance the connection between the app and the real world, we also explored the possibilities of implementing XR as part of the user experience. Using augmented reality, we could let users interactively gather ingredients, but the OOB MR components in the Canvas App does provide the necessary interactivity, so we compared Babylon.js and AR.js (with Three.js/A-FRAME) to see if any of these third party libraries would be suitable for custom PCF components. Based on early POC’s we concluded that without access to the device’s low level XR features (ARCore for Android and ARKit for iOS), we decided these
Magic Matrix
Every time you add an ingredient to your inventory you will automatically get more point that count towards the Owls level you are at. Showing the professors you are progressing. When you have reach a specified threshold you will get to a new level, and you will automatically receive a diploma and be notified by email and SMS.
Flow 1:
A trigger is set on the inventory row – if a row is added or if the quantity column is updated.
Then we compose a calculation of which level the wizard has achieved based on the potions it has made. And the quantity of the potions.
We update the wizards level – and make a HTTP Patch Request to the Graph Api and update the user in Entra with the level.
Flow 2
When the level row for the wizard/user gets modified – we check which level it is, and then start the process for sending the diploma – which is described under:
OneFlow has allowed us to create diplomas for wizards who graduate from our potions and spells program. Whenever a wizard or witch has reached the highest level, they will get a diploma signed by Dumbledore himself.
The diploma is created in Word and exported as a PDF.
We uploaded it to oneflow and created it as a contract to be signed.
We enabled the API for Power Automate Flow
Setting up the Power Automate flow to create a contact with oneflow, add a participant and then publish the contact. Then we create a new row in the Diploma custom table in Dataverse where we connect the contract to the wizard (contact).
We receive an email with the confirmation that we have received the diploma.
And the link takes us to the document
Link Mobility
Setting up the connection reference is easy
Then we add the action to send an SMS to the wizard to notify them that they have graduated!
Triggering the flow will send an SMS with the link to view the diploma!
Digital Transformation
Asking copilot agent what potions you can make with the ingredients your find, and add it to your potion inventory.
You can use your potions – or you can choose to sell it to the highest bidder. Business Central is keeping track of your inventory and allows you to sell your items through a Power Pages site.
All this magic is delivered by Copilot Studio Agents.
Creating the Agent
The magical wizard who knows more about potions and spells and ingredients than Hermione Granger herself is actually a Copilot Agent.
Connecting the agent to Dataverse as a knowledge source
In the setup we choose the tables that we want to make available as sources for the agent to draw data from.
Allow the Potions Matcher to create potions
The agent will be able to create new potions in your inventory in the beaded bag based on the ingredients you have. To allow for this the agent is granted permissions to create new rows in the Potion Inventory table on the users behalf
The end result being that the copilot agent is capable of doing magic on behalf of the students.
Business Central
The potential when connecting Business Central with Dataverse is incredible. We know that well fed students are happy students, and by allowing them to sell their potions on a website they will be able to earn some money while in school.
Fabric Fera Verto
Collecting all of this data is all good and well, and the different professors responsible for this solution needs to report on the students different levels to headmaster Dumbledore. To achieve this we send data to Fabric and create Power BI reports
We built a lakehouse to store all the data from Dataverse and the Harry Potter dataset. So that we could clean the data and also share the data with other professors that need the insight.
We use Dataflow Gen 2/Direct Query to always have the latest data for Dumbledore. And cleaned up the data in the process to easier make reports.
Used Power BI desktop to form relationships and to make the reports
Business Value Reporting and keeping track of progress, activity levels, geographical differences as well as demographic differences within the volunteer group is incredibly important, and we know that the evolution of volunteer efforts in the global scope is changing. As we as humans change our ways and habits, our activities, loyalties (or lack there of) is also changing. Like all other enterprises, the volunteer programs around the world has to evolve with it. But what to do? What are the trends? What works and what doesn’t? It’s all there in the data, and with the right type of reporting and analytics we can get the crustal insights to evolve the programs with the rest of the world.
ALM Magic
We have set up power platform pipelines and have used solutions for all our components. Developing the datamodel first, using the new Plan Designer first to give us inspiration and doublechecking our way of thinking, and then building the data model from scratch to make sure we get the naming convention just right and follow best practices.
Business Value The other aspects of our solution is not so exciting maybe, but we have made sure to follow development best practices by having security roles, environments and pipelines set up. We developed a naming convention and a solution strategy on day one and we have followed it. We have made sure that we create a solution that we are proud of to the point where we can show it to customers as-is – because that is exactly what we will do on a tech day event at Itera on February 6th. Wish us good luck 😀
Let the Power Potters harness this method to charm their way to flawless, fast-paced development! 🧙♂️
The pipeline:
Naming conventions
What
Convention
Example
Columns
Pascal case
pp_PowerPotters
Solutions
Capital letter for each word, short and descriptive name
Power Potter Potion Solution
Forms
Views
Adding copilot to agent and moving across environments
Of course, because we developed the datamodel in DEV, we could also easily develop and train the Copilot Agent in DEV and move it to production using solutions and Power Platform Pipelines, as well as the AI Models, and the Power Pages site
Entra ID Security Groups
We use Entra ID / Azure AD Security groups to control who has access to the different environments.
The Weasley twins are thrilled to unveil their latest magical innovation: ✨Weasley Wizarding Wonders App✨– your ultimate digital companion for surviving and thriving at Hogwarts! 🪄
This enchanting app brings the Weasley magic to your fingertips, offering exclusive access to their pranks, products, and more. The app ensures you have all the wizarding fun and mischief in one place. Magic is just a tap away! 🧙♂️🧙♀️
About the App
This magical platform brings together everything a Hogwarts student could ever need, all in one convenient place:
🎩 SortHat
Curious about your Hogwarts house? Let the SortHat reveal whether you belong to Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin!
🏆 HouseCup
Track house points in real time! Find out which house is in the lead and view details on who earned (or lost) points, and why, all thanks to those diligent professors.
🎭 Pranks
Unleash your inner mischief-maker! Shop for legendary prank supplies from Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, and team up with the PrankBot for sneaky, hilarious, and perfectly timed pranks—whether it’s for friends, rivals, or even a professor (if you’re brave enough).
💡 HogHacks
Discover insider tips from fellow students on how to make the most of your seven magical years. Plus, ask Hermione-bot anything—from homework help to navigating tricky calendar changes.
🦉 OwlChat
Say goodbye to parchment and quills! This modernized owl-post system lets you message classmates and professors directly within Teams (feature coming soon).
⏳ Time-Turning
Stay on top of your schedule with a magical calendar that keeps track of your classes, Quidditch matches, and other activities. Feeling adventurous? Use the time-turning feature to glimpse how your calendar—and life—might shift!
The Magic Behind the Curtain 🖥️✨
Our enchanted digital platform was brought to life using a mix of cutting-edge (and magical) technologies:
Power Apps: The backbone of our app, enabling us to create a seamless and interactive experience for every Hogwarts student.
PCF Components: Adding custom functionality and extending the app’s magic beyond its default capabilities.
Power BI: Keeping track of house points and other data in real-time with beautifully visualized insights (because even magic needs analytics!).
SharePoint: The repository for all Hogwarts resources—secure, organized, and magically accessible (yes, we have a “valid” reason why).
Copilot Studio: Providing advanced AI-powered assistance, including the brilliant Hermione-bot, making sure every student thrives in their magical journey.
And let’s not forget our enchanting Figma designs, skillfully crafted by our talented designer! These designs were seamlessly brought to life in the Canvas App, delivering a polished yet delightfully playful and chaotic interface that perfectly captures the spirited essence of the Weasley twins. 🎨✨👨🏻🦰
Fabric Fera Verto
Datasource: SharePoint
The Weasley twins prefer not to spend too much on data storage, so we use SharePoint as a database despite its limitations. This cost-effective solution allows them to allocate resources to other priorities. (Besides, we’re quite used to this approach as consultants, since many companies opt for similar setups instead of using the slightly pricier option – Dataverse.)
We created multiple lists in SharePoint and combined them in one list creating one table for all the information we needed in order to create the report. SharePoint is functioning as the Professors portal where they are fulling in and updating the scores as they come. The Twins have gotten access to the site to make use of this data in the app. We exported this data to PowerBI, setting up Scheduled refresh on the Semantic model to ensure updated data at alle times.
House scores play a crucial role in students’ daily experiences throughout the year. To streamline this process, we digitized the scores, making it easier for students to track which house has the highest score and understand the reasons behind it. Teachers continuously award and deduct points, so it’s essential for students to stay updated on the latest scores.
Additionally, we created some example-data in different excel tables, where we further utilize OneLake to store the data, and creating one semantic model in PowerBI including these. Considering we did not use external data in our reports we decided that OneLake was not functional in our solution.
This was in the testing stage, and we decided to not use the same model and report going forward – as we went in a different direction with the app.But decided to include it in the final report to demonstrate it.
PowerBI
We created a interactive Dashboard that visualizes the data of the House Cup. We wanted to show how the points are divided between the houses, visualizing for example that Gryffindor is not in fact favored by Dumbledore.
Embedding to the canvas app: Dashboards
The dashboards were divided into two in order to make the display mobile friendly – as this was not a built-in function in canvas app. We added a PowerBI-tile – and as magic goes, it was interactive.
It may look like Dumbledore actually favors Hufflepuff…
Low-Code Charms
Power BI
Power BI is explained above this section in the Fabric Fera Verto section.
Power Apps
🎩 SortHat
The Sorting Hat greets students warmly and selects a house based on the user’s profile. To make the experience enjoyable, it uses a fun GIF, the name of the student and a picture of the houses logo.
🏆 HouseCup
The House cup is a significant event for the students as it recognizes the house that has accumulated the most points through academic achievements, good behavior, and performance in various school activities. Therefore the Weasley brothers’ thought it would be helpful for the students to have page in the app to keep track of the different housing scores. This triggers the competitive instinct and encourages them to make an extra effort and work harder in order to win the house cup at the end-of-year feast at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
🎭 Pranks
A gallery in Power Apps displays all products, complete with detailed information and pricing. This ‘Pranks’ section is based on a SharePoint list with the columns/attributes “Title” (product name), “Description”, “Price Tag” (in the currency Galleons) and “Supply” (current stock). These values are then retrieved in the Power App by adding the SharePoint list as a data source and used in the gallery alongside photos to display each item/product.
Ideally, with more time, the Weasley brothers’ would not have their shop inventory in a SharePoint list. But it is a small business and they just started their online shop journey. Also, they are saving on license costs by using what they already have. In the future, they might further develop the application architecture to better support scaling and security as the business expands.
The Copilot Bot is trained to provide comprehensive product knowledge and recommend the perfect item for any prank the user inquires about (more about this in the section: Digital Transformation under Intelligent Automation).
💡 HogHacks
A collection of tips from all students, along with a Hermione Bot that can answer any questions about the Harry Potter universe. The bot is trained on multiple Harry Potter wikis to provide comprehensive and accurate information.
🦉 OwlChat
This feature is still under development but will soon be connected to teams so that the students can chat with each other on teams.
(The prank scheduler they’re discussing is available for purchase in the prank store)
⏳ Time-Turning
The Time-Turner is a gallery connected to the SharePoint “Database” (hehe) that displays the schedule. Many students have overlapping lectures, so they need to use the Time-Turner to attend them all. This magical device turns back time, shakes, and displays an alternative schedule for each student, giving them full control over their day (Harry would have liked to have this in his third year at Hogwarts).
Power Automate and Copilot Studio
We have also utilized Power Automate and Copilot Studio, as detailed in the Digital Transformation section under Intelligent Automation, found below in this blog post.
Pro-Code Potions
The Weasley Wizarding Wonders app is a perfect example of how pro-code and low-code solutions can work together seamlessly. By implementing the PowerApps Component Framework (PCF) Gallery, we were able to infuse Fred and George Weasley’s mischievous energy into the app. Instead of reinventing the wheel, we took advantage of one of the strong suits of Microsoft; utilizing an open source library and the great publishers/developers that share their coded solutions. So we picked out two playful components that gives the user feedback on interacting with buttons in the application. The security is important when implementing open source components. So before the components where downloaded and implemented as managed solutions the code and dependencies were reviewed. We have a blogpost describing this if you want to know more and see some pictures and videos:
We initially planned to implement the Network View PCF component from the PCF Gallery, published by Scott Durow, to visualize the different housings and student relationships, as well as the distribution of students across housings. However, we decided against it due to the lack of necessary setup and configuration for our solution’s architecture. Additionally, we felt that the time required for implementation wasn’t justified compared to other tasks and features that would provide more value to the end user.
Digital Transformation: Doing More with Less While Delivering Magical Experiences ✨
In the magical world of Harry Potter, nothing is digital, but the Weasley Wizarding Wonders App brings the magic into the modern age in a spectacular way. By digitalizing students’ schedules, the twins’ store, house points, and communication, the app makes everything more accessible, organized, and efficient—transforming Hogwarts life into a seamless, tech-savvy experience.
The app is a prime example of how intelligent automation and digital transformation can revolutionize traditional processes while enhancing user experiences and driving business value. It modernizes key aspects of Hogwarts life, demonstrating how businesses can achieve more with fewer resources while still delivering exceptional outcomes.
One of the core transformations is the digitalization of the owl messaging system, replacing slow, manual letter deliveries with a streamlined, mobile-friendly OwlChat. This innovation ensures instant communication for students on their devices, making interactions faster, more reliable, and accessible anywhere. Likewise, the House Cup point system has been fully digitized, creating real-time transparency that not only boosts student excitement but also drives engagement and competition. These improvements address inefficiencies in traditional methods, delivering a better, more seamless experience for users.
The app also incorporates intelligent workflows, such as utilizing user credentials in a feedback flow. This enables students to provide feedback directly to the Weasley Twins, allowing them to continually improve the app and ensure it remains user-friendly and impactful over time. Additionally, the app features an in-app shopping cart where students can purchase their favorite prank products directly, making it simpler and more convenient to get their hands on the magical items they adore.
By transforming how Hogwarts students connect, communicate, and engage, the Weasley Wizarding Wonders App exemplifies how businesses can leverage digital tools to automate workflows, enhance customer experiences, and unlock new opportunities—all while doing more with less. 🪄✨
Intelligent automation
Automating tasks digitally brings new efficiency and convenience. This transformation streamlines communication, scheduling, and administrative tasks, allowing more focus on magical studies.
The Power Automate flow that collects feedback helps streamline the process, making everything more efficient and user-friendly. This flow is explained in this blog post.
The Hermione Bot automates answering questions from students about the Harry Potter universe, providing accurate information without needing Hermione to respond to each query individually. This efficiency allows her to focus on other important tasks and helps ensure that more students receive timely answers. Similarly, the PrankBot assists the Weasley twins by recommending products and answering customer questions from students, freeing them up to create more magical mischief and innovative products. This increased efficiency also allows them to sell more products, enhancing their business success. Read more about the chatbots here and you can se them in action under the sections HogHacks and Pranks:
Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) in Power Platform is crucial for ensuring efficient, reliable, and scalable development and deployment of applications. It enhances collaboration between developers and citizen developers, improves app quality, and ensures compliance and security. Implementing ALM in our solution required a lot of research in advance: using Application Lifecycle Management on Microsoft Power Platform as our guide provided us with the tools, luckily.
Environments
We set up three different enivornments: DEV, TEST and PROD.
Given the ease of access and existing integration within Power Platform, we opted to set up pipelines directly in Power Platform. Previously, integrating Git with Power Platform solutions required using Azure DevOps pipelines, which involved a more complex setup and management process. However, with the recent introduction of native Git integration within Power Platform, users can now connect their Dataverse environments directly to Git repositories. This new feature simplifies the process, offering a streamlined experience for both developers and citizen developers. It enables faster setup, easier change tracking, and seamless collaboration, all within the familiar Power Platform interface.
In our solution we set up the DEV environment as unmanaged, and TEST and PROD as managed.
Environment variables
Environment variables is used in the solution, pointing to two different SharePoint sites: Dev for DEV and TEST and one for Production data that is used in the PROD environment. This is useful in managing the environment long-term, keeping track of all the data and not getting it mixed together.
Neat and tidy solution:
Deleting tests and getting rid of useless elements helps to make sure the managing of the solution is easier.
You can read more in-depth about connection references, service account and ALM measures we took in our solution in this blogpost:
We arrived Thursday morning not having a specific plan set up on how to create our shared vision. Getting started therefore was a bit chaotic: trying to get ahead of all the elements to include in the solution, but without a actual plan of what was required to get there. We therefore needed to have a quick RETRO on Friday morning, looking back at the rooky mistakes we made, taking our experiences and evolving into more pro team-players. This included:
Developing a clear plan and shared vision
Prioritizing tasks: we had a lot of ideas of what we wanted to create, but narrowing it down and getting more specific was a important step to ensure having a finished product to present today
Having frequently stand-ups to clarify uncertainties in our group, getting a overview of the badges we had, which ones we needed to write and aspire to achieve, as well as setting the goals for our next stand-up.
ALM involves multiple stages, including planning, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance. Effective team coordination ensures that all team members are aligned and can collaborate efficiently, including resource- and time-management, clear communication and adaptability.
Magic Matrix – Solving a Real Business Problem with the Magic of Microsoft 365 🪄✨
Hogwarts students face significant challenges that disrupt their magical education.
Disorganization leaves them without a centralized system to manage lectures, activities, or navigate the castle.
Communication is stuck in the past, relying on slow, letter-carrying owls.
The House Cup, a cherished tradition, suffers from a lack of transparency, leaving students disengaged from the competition.
Using the magic of Microsoft 365, we’ve conjured an impactful, accessible, and enchanting digital platform to solve these problems. At the same time, the app is designed to inspire engagement, creativity, and a little bit of mischief—because, after all, you’re only 12 once, and Hogwarts should be as magical and fun as possible!
The Weasley Wizarding Wonders App creates a seamless and interactive experience that transforms how students navigate their school life. Features like the SortHat help students discover their house, while the Time-Turning Calendar ensures they can keep track of their schedules, explore alternate timelines, and never miss a class or Quidditch match. The House Cup Leaderboard adds transparency and excitement to the competition, allowing students to see in real time how points are awarded or deducted and which house is in the lead.
The app’s backbone is powered by SharePoint, acting as a magical repository that organizes everything in one place—lecture overviews, Hogwarts tips, and detailed point system logs, all accessible at a moment’s notice. Teams powers OwlChat, transforming traditional owl-based messaging into a modern, instant communication system while still retaining the whimsical touch that Hogwarts students love.
The Weasley Twins’ Smart Business Strategy
From the Weasley twins’ perspective, the business value of their setup is clear. By using a Power Apps gallery connected to a SharePoint list, they efficiently manage their inventory and display detailed product information, including pricing and stock levels. This cost-effective solution allows them to save on licensing costs and make the most of their existing resources, crucial for a business just starting its online journey.
Additionally, the PrankBot enhances customer engagement by providing comprehensive product knowledge and personalized prank recommendations. This not only boosts sales but also frees up the twins to focus on creating new, innovative products and mischief. As their business grows, they plan to further develop their application architecture to support scaling and security, ensuring long-term success.
DesigningMagic–Aplayfulandchaoticexperience
The design of the Weasley Wizarding Wonders App embraces a playful and chaotic style that captures the essence of the Weasley twins’ mischievous spirit. Bold, vibrant colors and dynamic patterns defy traditional design norms, creating a visually striking and energetic user interface. This approach brings the whimsical chaos of the twins’ magical world to life, ensuring that the app feels as magical as it is functional. From bright pops of color to unexpected design elements, the layout feels like stepping into the minds of Weasleys—exciting, unpredictable, and full of surprises.
Rather than adhering to conventional design structures, the app thrives on its unconventional and fun aesthetic, making it both memorable and engaging. This style appeals to students who are looking for something beyond the mundane, turning an ordinary educational tool into a delightful experience. The vibrant visuals bring energy and excitement to the navigation, making every interaction feel playful and whimsical—just like Hogwarts itself. See our design moodboard from Figma here:
By blending these magical features with the capabilities of Microsoft 365 technologies, the Weasley Wizarding Wonders App ensures that Hogwarts students stay informed, connected, and enchanted. The platform not only solves real challenges but also enhances the magic of Hogwarts life, making school a place where every student can thrive academically, socially, and, of course, mischievously. 🧙♀️✨
I think we all agree that is has been a magical experience to be here.
TEAM Gryffindor!
Naive and happy on the day: Little did we know what we were in for..
At the core of every wizard’s journey is the quest to explore their magical potential, refine their skills, and discover the path that best aligns with their unique abilities. To provide aspiring wizards with the guidance and feedback they need to succeed, we are developing a comprehensive system of tests to assess their proficiency in the magical arts.
Our aim is to create a series of engaging and challenging tests that evaluate various aspects of magical performance. From precision in flying to advanced problem-solving within magical constraints, these tests offer a well-rounded assessment of each student’s strengths. Tailored to reflect the critical skills needed in the magical world, the tests will immerse students in scenarios where their creativity and expertise are put to the test.
Upon completing the tests, each wizard-in-training will receive a detailed performance evaluation. Whether a student excels in potion-making or flying, they will gain valuable insights into the areas where their talents truly shine. These recommendations are designed to guide them toward a fulfilling and successful magical career.
This innovative grading and evaluation system is powered by cutting-edge technology. By harnessing these advanced tools, we’re not only modernizing the evaluation process, but also creating an enchanting and transformative experience for both students and instructors.
This approach goes beyond grading; it’s about empowering the next generation of wizards to realize their full potential. With a blend of tradition and innovation, these tests serve as a bridge between magical lore and modern technology, ensuring that every student is prepared, inspired, and ready to thrive on their magical journey.
Fabric Fera Verto
In our solution we had created report for two groups of Users. For the future wizard who is going to get the report that will summarize the results of the Exams in the last step of the CRM pipline, that will be filtered by the student id. Such as this is a personal document available only to him or her:
Another key group of users we targeted includes the teachers of Hogwarts, led by Professor Albus Dumbledore. They are provided with an overview of student progress, along with statistics for the various houses—both collectively and for each individual exam:
The filters are dynamically is changing the placement of the flags in the championship dashboard depending on the current situation and sum of the points by the student that are competing in each of the houses. For this we used DAX measure:
We used data model with a fact table OWL (challenges) (with Direct Query connection type to the Dataverse) and dim tables Student (Import mode, cds connection), house (from Xsls and SharePoint), and date (Dax measure – Bravo table). Measures are separated in a separate table to make better it more structured. Measures are organized in a separate table to improve structure and clarity:
Low-Code Charms
Revolutionizing Examination Processes Through Low-Code Innovation
In today’s rapidly evolving educational technology landscape, even the most traditional magical institutions must adapt. Our implementation of Microsoft’s Power Platform demonstrates how low-code solutions can transform traditional examination processes into streamlined, automated experiences that benefit both students and examining professors.
The Power of Business Process Flows
At the core of our examination system lies Microsoft’s Business Process Flow (BPF) functionality, serving as the architectural foundation that guides students and examiners through each step of the examination journey, much like the Marauder’s Map guides visitors through Hogwarts’ corridors. This low-code approach ensures consistency and clarity, while significantly reducing the complexity typically associated with magical examination management systems.
The BPF structure provides a clear visual pathway through the examination process, automatically guiding participants from registration through to certification with the precision of a well-cast Guidance Charm. This intuitive flow reduces cognitive load on both students and examining professors, allowing them to focus on the examination content rather than navigating complex systems.
Automated Communication Through Power Automate
One of the most innovative aspects of our implementation is the seamless integration of Power Automate with Link Mobility’s SMS capabilities, providing communication efficiency that rivals that of owl post. This automation triggers at crucial moments – when the Business Process Flow transitions from the Registration to Certification stage. Students receive immediate SMS confirmation that their examination has begun, providing reassurance and establishing clear communication channels from the start, ensuring no message is lost in the owlery.
This integration showcases the versatility of low-code solutions, as complex communications that would traditionally require extensive coding (or complex charm work) are accomplished through Power Automate’s intuitive interface and our custom connector to Link Mobility.
Dynamic Challenge Management
Our examination structure introduces a sophisticated approach to challenge presentation and progression, as carefully structured as Professor McGonagall’s Transfiguration curriculum. Each examination category resides within its own form, connected to our central Challenge table. This modular design allows for easy updates and modifications without disrupting the overall system architecture.
The progression through challenges is managed through a workflow system that monitors option set field updates with the precision of the Hogwarts House Point system. As students complete each challenge, the workflow automatically advances the Business Process Flow to the next examination category based on the value in this field. This automated progression ensures a smooth, uninterrupted examination experience while maintaining the integrity of the assessment process.
Key advantages of our implementation include:
Reduced Development Time: The low-code platform accelerates the development process while maintaining robust functionality, allowing our magical institution to stay current with modern educational standards.
Enhanced User Experience: The intuitive flow and automated communications create a more engaging and less stressful examination environment, letting students focus on their magical prowess rather than technical complications.
Flexible Architecture: The modular design allows for easy updates and modifications to meet evolving examination requirements, ensuring our system can adapt quickly and readily.
Automated Progression: The intelligent workflow system reduces manual intervention and potential human error, providing outstanding reliability.
Looking Forward
This implementation serves as a testament to the power of low-code solutions in creating sophisticated, user-centered applications within magical education. By leveraging the Microsoft Power Platform’s capabilities, we’ve created an examination system that not only meets current needs but is also positioned to evolve with future requirements, ensuring Hogwarts remains at the forefront of magical education technology. As we continue to bridge the gap between traditional magical education and modern technology, our system stands ready to support the next generation of witches and wizards in their academic pursuits.
Pro-Code Potions
Enhancing Low-Code Solutions with Strategic HTML Integration: A Modern Approach to Magical Development
In our journey to create innovative solutions within the Microsoft Power Platform ecosystem at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, we’ve discovered that sometimes the most effective approach is to blend low-code capabilities with strategic pieces of traditional programming, much like combining precise potion ingredients with the right stirring technique.
Our approach to the Potions examination system involves embedding custom HTML web resources within our Power Apps solutions, particularly in areas requiring specialized user interfaces or complex interactions. We created an engaging, medieval-themed assessment environment worthy of Professor Slughorn’s approval, complete with animated elements and responsive design. This custom interface seamlessly integrates with our Power Apps solution through web resources, demonstrating how traditional coding can enhance the user experience beyond standard low-code capabilities. The implementation includes custom-styled medieval fonts reminiscent of ancient spellbooks and animated potion bottles with realistic bubbling effects. Custom HTML allows us to create lightweight, efficient interfaces that load quickly and perform smoothly, ensuring students can focus on their brewing techniques rather than technical difficulties.
The potion mixing happens by selecting two ingredients from your inventory, ingredients won in the previous examination categories. It is up to the student to mix the correct potions according to the riddle provided in the html web resource above. You select two inventory items, press the button “Brew Potion”, which is meticulously developed in Ribbon Workbench, and voila! If the ingredients correspond to a known potion, you gain honor and glory and also points in your exam. If the ingredients do not mix well, you make a useless potion that provide you with no points. As you mix and match, inventory items decrease in quantity or disappear completely, so make sure you take the time to understand the riddles. If all inventory items are used, or you do not have enough to brew a potion, the examination category is finished and you are redirected to the results page.
This all happens due to a magically magnificent JavaScript, utilizing the wonderful Crm.WebApi properties and methods to interact with CRM data.
Pro-Code Potions: Innovative React Components in Action
In our latest release, we’ve leveraged cutting-edge pro-code technologies to develop a suite of innovative components that push the boundaries of web application functionality. Let’s dive into the exciting features we’ve implemented:
This component streamlines the registration and identification process, ensuring quick and accurate documentation of magical personas.
Precise Facial Detection: Leverages advanced face API for accurate wizard identification
Automated Documentation: Seamlessly uploads images directly to the CRM annotation table
Technical Optimization: Automatically zooms and processes images to ensure clear, focused facial captures for identification purposes. All done directly in browser.
The Flappy Broomstick Challenge
The Flappy Broomstick game is far more than a simple diversion—it’s a sophisticated evaluation of a wizard’s most critical flying abilities:
Spatial Awareness: The intricate collision logic tests a wizard’s ability to navigate complex magical environments with precision
Reflex Assessment: Custom gravity mechanics challenge the pilot’s instantaneous reaction times and spatial awareness
Endurance Measurement: The score tracking system provides quantitative data on a wizard’s sustained flight performance
Imagine recruiting for a high-stakes magical profession like Quidditch player. The Flappy Broomstick component doesn’t just test flying—it reveals a candidate’s potential under pressure.
Easter Egg Component: The D365 Character Invasion Prank
A group of tech-savvy students have unleashed a digital prank that’s turning serious study sessions into absolute chaos. Their Easter Egg component creates a wild spectacle: as students type, random characters literally come running across their screens, interrupting their work in the most absurd way possible. I suspect the Weasley twins have something to do with this.
Imagine a student diligently working on a potions essay, only to have tiny letters and numbers suddenly sprinting across their screen, dancing, leaping, and causing complete visual pandemonium. Professors are outraged, students are in hysterics, and the magical academy’s technology department is at their wit’s end.
The prank is ingenious in its simplicity: keyboard inputs trigger these animated characters to parade across the screen, transforming mundane typing into an unexpected carnival of chaos. Serious research documents are now a playground for mischievous digital characters, turning concentration into comedy.
Technical Implementation Highlights
Developed using modern React 19
Leveraged React’s latest hooks and state management techniques
Prioritized performance and modern development practices
Seamless cross-platform user experience across desktop and mobile devices
Opted for React’s brand new compiler over virtual components. It automatically understands the codes dependencies, and optimizes rendering.
The entire project is available for exploration on our GitHub repository: sindrejv/ACDC
Azure Functions with Open AI and canvas app
The first challenge is the Certification quiz that tests the student in magical theory. This questionnaire is generated using OpenAI (GPT-4) hosted in Azure AI Foundry and uses a canvas app with Power Fx integrated into the model-driven app as the user interface. Among these technologies, we use an Azure function that is integrated with the AI to process the data so the AI output is more convenient to use in Power Fx. See the repo here:
We use open AI structured output (Introduction to Structured Outputs | OpenAI Cookbook) to genreate an json response of the quiz with the props: ‘You are a quiz bot that provide question for wizards in the harry potter universe, You must provde a question and three awnser where the questions and awnseres are a bit long, make the awnsers as difficult to awnser like microsoft sertification questions, also add the awnser in the reponse json‘
How this entire flow works is as follows: When the canvas app is loaded, the OnStart event in the canvas app triggers a Power Automate flow that posts to the HTTP-triggered Azure function. The Azure function then posts to the OpenAI deployment with a JSON template of the quiz data, which the AI provides. The Azure function processes the JSON data and sends it back to the canvas app.
Plugins:
In the solution, we use a plugin to add inventory items for the potion game. The original idea was to collect items in each game, but due to a time crunch, we created a plugin that hardcodes adding items when the user arrives at the potion game. 🙂 (The original idea was to use a custom API in Dynamics with input parameters specifying which items to add).
From a business perspective, this innovative system for evaluating wizardry skills presents a unique opportunity to tap into the growing intersection of education, technology, and entertainment. By leveraging advanced tools such as Power BI, Power Automate and Model-Driven apps, this solution not only modernizes the way magical education is assessed but also aligns with current trends in gamification and learning. At the same time the solution provides a good case for establishing methods to replace pen and paper, and increase efficiency.
The business model could capitalize on a subscription-based platform where schools, magical academies, or online learning portals pay for access to the tests, personalized feedback, and the tailored recommendations that guide students towards their magical specialties.
Furthermore, the integration of personalized recommendations offers significant business value. As students progress through the tests, they generate data that can be used to create targeted services and products. For example, based on the strengths and weaknesses identified through the assessments, institutions could offer specialized courses, workshops, or even magical tools designed to improve a student’s abilities in specific areas. The system could also serve as a recruitment tool, where students with certain talents are connected to professional organizations or magical institutions that require specialized skills, creating a direct link between education and career opportunities.
The scalability of this system is another major business advantage. The solution is designed to be adaptable, easily integrated into various educational settings, and capable of expanding as the user base grows. As the platform evolves, new magical disciplines could be introduced, or additional features could be added to improve the experience for both students and instructors. By embracing cutting-edge technology while staying true to the enchanting, fantasy-driven nature of magical education, this solution positions itself as a compelling product in both the educational technology market and the broader entertainment and gaming industry.
ALM Magic
We have used the out-of-the-box PowerApps feature (Pipelines) for our components within Power Apps, creating a core solution that is deployed to Production once it is ready. This streamlined approach ensures that the components are efficiently developed and tested before going live, maintaining the integrity of the system throughout the process. Given that this is a relatively short event, we opted to create only two environments. This decision allows us to maintain simplicity and focus on the core aspects of the solution, minimizing complexity while ensuring the solution remains flexible and scalable for the duration of the event.
Magic Matrix
We utilized SharePoint to build the report by creating a dedicated folder containing images corresponding to each house, with each image named appropriately to match its respective house.
To get the data into the Power BI we used the SharePointfolder data source to connect to a new table:
And we used Power Query transformations we got the SharePoint URL into the PowerBI report:
NerdeNinjas introduces a pioneering suite of applications, reshaping the landscape of race management through the integration of cloud-based and Microsoft Power Platform technologies. This comprehensive solution streamlines every aspect of race management, from preparation to execution, blending efficiency with innovation.
Preparatory Tools
CustomGPT: AI-Driven Content Creation
Core Function: CustomGPT, powered by GPT Studio, revolutionizes content creation, automating blog posts and solution descriptions.
Key Benefits: Offers AI-driven efficiency and consistency in content generation, crucial for digital marketing and information dissemination.
Dataverse: Advanced Data Management
Role in Data Handling: Dataverse provides a robust platform for data storage, modeling, and security.
Integration and Security: Seamlessly integrates with Microsoft services, ensuring high-level data security and streamlined management.
Python Scripts for Race Data Generation
Data Creation: Utilizes Python scripts to generate a rich dataset encompassing hundreds of race statistics.
Application: This dataset is pivotal for deep analytics and strategic planning in race management.
The Comprehensive Solution
Canvas App: Streamlining Race Enrollments
User-Focused Design: Offers an intuitive and efficient platform for race participants to sign up and receive updates.
Impact on Experience: Enhances participant engagement and simplifies their interaction with race events.
Model-Driven App for Race Administrators
Administrative Efficiency: Specifically designed for race administrators, this app streamlines event planning and management.
Automated Tools: Reduces the administrative burden with a suite of automated tools, optimizing the organization process.
Power Automate: Automated Race Statistics
Automation at Work: Facilitates automatic entry and management of race statistics, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
Integration with Data Sources: Seamlessly pulls data from various sources, providing a cohesive statistical overview.
AI Chatbot in Microsoft Teams
Advanced Features: Integrates a sophisticated AI Chatbot within Microsoft Teams, offering functionalities like chat memory and result statistics.
Enhanced Communication: Streamlines communication within teams, providing quick access to race information and sign-up features.
Power BI for Race Analytics
Real-Time Insights: Delivers a comprehensive analytics platform powered by Power BI, offering real-time data visualization and insights.
Strategic Advantage: Aids in strategic decision-making by providing in-depth analysis of race performance and trends.
Conclusion
NerdeNinjas’ solution represents a significant leap in race management technology. By harmoniously integrating advanced tools like CustomGPT, Dataverse, Python scripts, Canvas App, and Power BI, we have crafted a solution that not only addresses the logistical complexities of race management but also enhances strategic and administrative efficiency. This suite is a shining example of how cloud-based technologies can be synergistically combined to revolutionize industry practices, setting a new benchmark in sports administration and management.
Note: This expanded blog post draft comprehensively outlines the different components of the NerdeNinjas’ solution, emphasizing how each part contributes to the overall efficiency and innovation of the race management system. It’s crafted to highlight the cutting-edge use of technology in transforming traditional practices.
