New Microsoft app built in just two days lets your staff communicate during a crisis

Microsoft has released an app that allows companies to collaborate more effectively during a crisis.

Built by a team of developers in just 48 hours, the Power Apps template has been launched as businesses step up plans to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.

The platform, which combines Power Apps, Power Automate, Teams and SharePoint, can be used via a web browser, a mobile app or in Teams. It allows businesses and their employees to rapidly and effectively communicate as any situation develops.

Employees can report whether they are working from home or in an office and make requests to colleagues. This information is designed to help managers and central response teams to co-ordinate any action that’s needed.

The app also allows businesses to immediately update employees with push notifications, while information from groups such as the World Health Organisation or local government can be shared via an RSS feed. Senior staff can also provide emergency contacts specific to different locations.

PowerApps had been used to create a similar rapid response app by Schlumberger, the world’s largest energy service company. The app was one of the fastest adopted PowerApps in the world, with employees in 80 countries and 10 languages using it after just a month.

Microsoft has also made the PowerApps Push Notifications free to all users of the new program.

More features will be added in the future and support offered to organisations looking to implement the tool. A guide to the app can be found here.