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Writer's pictureAlan Campbell

Power Apps Predictive Analysis with Python

Updated: Oct 30, 2023

Welcome to our expansive blog series dedicated to unveiling the step-by-step process of creating a powerful Microsoft Power App that seamlessly integrates with Python scripts to perform robust regression analysis on data sourced from Microsoft Dynamics Business Central, setting a predictive sales trend for the foreseeable future.


In this immersive series, we journey through an innovative setup where Power Apps calls upon a Python script via a custom connector, fostering a dynamic platform where predictive analytics meet application development. Our Python script, securely stationed as an Azure function app and accessible as an API, becomes the pivotal element in deriving actionable insights from historical sales data.

Showing a power app that calls Python through a custom connector to perform a linear regression of business central item ledger sales data.
Python Linear Regression Analysis of Business Central Item Ledger Data

Mapping the Future through Historical Data


Business decisions that are data-backed not only provide a solid ground for current strategies but have the inherent power to chart out a predictive course for future business avenues. The series focuses on utilizing the data from Microsoft Dynamics Business Central, specifically honing in on months and sales revenue parameters, to draft a potential pathway of sales through the mathematical simplicity and accuracy of linear regression models.


We break down the complexities of a linear regression model, making it easily comprehensible, and illustrate how to use past sales data as coordinates to create a predictive sales trend. The analytical power of Python leverages the matplotlib.pyplot library to procure the slope and intercept, the core elements that will aid in forecasting sales volumes, mapping a trajectory of growth and insights.


The Python Advantage


As we delve deeper, we shall explore the versatile Python landscape which stands tall with over three decades of legacy. Python's intuitive and user-friendly syntax opens a world of possibilities, especially for beginners venturing into the programming cosmos.

Equipped with an exhaustive list of statistical and forecasting libraries such as scikit-learn, Dart, Statsmodels, Kats, and PyFlux, Python emerges as a forerunner in the analytical sphere, promising precision and ease in executing regression analyses.


What Lies Ahead


In the forthcoming series:

  1. Python Script and Azure Function App: Dive deep into publishing Python scripts as Azure function apps and exposing them as APIs.

  2. Creating Custom Connectors: Learn the nuances of forging custom connectors in Power Apps, paving a smooth path for Python script invocation.

  3. Understanding Microsoft Power Apps: Get acquainted with the dynamic Microsoft Power Apps environment and its harmonious integration with various data platforms.

  4. Regression Analysis with Python: Gain a solid foundation in regression analysis using Python, employing the rich library resources for predictive analytics.

  5. Predictive Sales Analysis: Unleash the potential of predictive analytics in forecasting sales, with a hands-on approach to leveraging slope and intercept in anticipating future sales.

Join us in this enlightening journey as we unravel the intricacies of integrating Microsoft Power Apps with Python, step by confident step, transforming raw data into a predictive tool equipped to navigate the future with precision and intelligence. Stay tuned as we embark on this analytical voyage, empowering your business to steer ahead with data-driven foresight.

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