Key insights
- The 2025 Release Wave 1 for Power Platform highlights key investment areas from March to October 2025, focusing on products and features such as Power Apps, Power Automate, and CoPilot Studio.
- Power Apps introduces the Plan Designer for app creation, extensible in-app agents for intelligent workflows, and enhanced AI capabilities. Notable features include managing source code for Canvas apps and using Copilot in model-driven apps.
- Power Pages enhancements focus on web agents, AI-assisted form-filling, dynamic list visualization, and governance policies. A new file upload process and Entra external ID setup wizard are notable improvements.
- Power Automate emphasizes AI-first automations with self-healing capabilities and a new process map for end-to-end management of cloud and desktop automations. The introduction of Copilot to create expressions is a highlight.
- The introduction of Microsoft CoPilot Studio brings support for custom agents with Microsoft 365 CoPilot integration. New conversational channels like WhatsApp and SharePoint are included.
- AI Builder enhances content intelligence with document processing and prompt engineering tools. Features like streamlining prompt generation with fragments and versioning offer improved usability.
Introduction to the 2025 Release Wave 1
The Power Platform Boost Podcast has recently released its 50th episode, focusing on the 2025 Release Wave 1 for Microsoft's Power Platform. This episode provides a comprehensive overview of the upcoming features and updates set to roll out from March to October 2025. The hosts, Nick Doelman and Ulrikke Akerbæk, delve into the details of the release notes, highlighting their personal favorites and discussing the broader implications of these updates for users and developers alike.
Key Investment Areas and New Features
The 2025 Release Wave 1 is packed with new features and enhancements across various products within the Power Platform. The podcast episode emphasizes key investment areas, including
Power Apps,
Power Automate, Co-Pilot Studio, AI Builder,
Microsoft Dataverse, and governance and administration. Each of these areas is set to receive significant updates aimed at improving user experience, enhancing AI capabilities, and streamlining processes for developers.
Power Apps: Enhancing User Experience
Power Apps is one of the major focus areas in this release wave. The introduction of the Plan Designer is a standout feature, designed to assist users in planning solutions to business problems before creating their apps. This tool promises to help users set data models, define user roles, and establish security protocols. However, while its potential is evident, there are concerns about its applicability in production environments. Many see it as a valuable tool for proof-of-concept projects or as a starting point for more detailed work.
Other notable updates in Power Apps include the ability to manage source code for Canvas apps, AI-driven form filling, and natural language search capabilities. These features aim to make app development more intuitive and accessible, allowing users to focus on creating value rather than getting bogged down by technical complexities.
Power Automate: Streamlining Workflow Automation
Power Automate is set to receive a slew of updates that leverage AI to enhance workflow automation. The introduction of process maps stands out as a significant improvement, offering a visual representation of end-to-end process dependencies. This feature promises to simplify the debugging process and provide a clearer overview of automation logs and connections.
The integration of Co-Pilot into Power Automate is another exciting development. It aims to assist users in creating and editing expressions, making it easier to work with complex workflows. Additionally, the promise of self-healing automations, while intriguing, raises questions about reliability and user control.
Co-Pilot Studio: Expanding AI Capabilities
Co-Pilot Studio continues to evolve, with new capabilities that integrate custom agents with
Microsoft 365 Co-Pilot. This update includes support for actions, additional enterprise knowledge sources, and the ability to upgrade agents for broader functionality. The introduction of simulated test data is particularly noteworthy, as it promises to enhance the testing process by providing a controlled environment for verification.
However, the rapid pace of changes in Co-Pilot Studio's user interface has been a challenge for some users. While the updates are promising, there is a need for a more intuitive user experience to ensure broader adoption and ease of use.
AI Builder and Microsoft Dataverse: Enhancing Data Processing
AI Builder is receiving significant attention in this release wave, with updates that focus on content and decision intelligence. The introduction of the Prompt Builder allows users to create custom prompts, enhancing the flexibility and applicability of AI Builder in various scenarios. This feature is expected to open up new use cases and streamline document processing workflows.
Microsoft Dataverse is also undergoing enhancements, with support for larger solution files and expanded virtual table capabilities. These updates are designed to improve data management and integration across different environments, providing users with more robust tools for handling complex datasets.
Governance and Administration: Strengthening Security and Compliance
The release wave places a strong emphasis on governance and administration, with updates aimed at enhancing security and compliance. New features include secure data access using filtered views, improved resource monitoring, and enhanced tenant-wide inventory views. These updates are crucial for organizations looking to manage their Power Platform environments more efficiently and securely.
Additionally, the introduction of group admin roles and bulk operations on managed environments offers new ways to delegate responsibilities and streamline administrative tasks. These features are particularly beneficial for large enterprises managing multiple tenants and environments.
Conclusion: Navigating the Future of Power Platform
The 2025 Release Wave 1 for Microsoft's Power Platform is poised to bring significant advancements across various products and services. While the updates promise to enhance user experience, streamline workflows, and expand AI capabilities, they also present challenges in terms of adoption and integration. As users and developers navigate these changes, the focus will be on balancing innovation with practicality, ensuring that new features deliver tangible benefits without overwhelming users with complexity.
As the Power Platform continues to evolve, staying informed and engaged with these updates will be crucial for maximizing their potential and driving successful outcomes in the ever-changing landscape of digital transformation.
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