Episode Details

Artificial Intelligence is changing how organizations build business applications, but moving beyond simple demos requires much more than adding a chatbot or generating code with AI. In this episode of the M365 Show, Microsoft MVP Sara Lagerquist shares how enterprise organizations can use Generative Pages, Model-Driven Apps, and the Microsoft Power Platform to build scalable, maintainable, and production-ready AI experiences. From architecture and governance to citizen development and modern application design, this conversation explores what the next generation of business applications looks like inside the Microsoft ecosystem.

FROM BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR TO MICROSOFT MVP
Sara shares her unique journey into technology. Without a traditional IT background, she discovered Microsoft Dynamics CRM while working as an administrator and quickly realized that designing business solutions came naturally. Over the past twelve years she has evolved into an Applications Architect, Microsoft MVP, international speaker, and one of the leading experts in the Microsoft Power Platform. Her story demonstrates that understanding business processes can be just as valuable as writing code when building enterprise solutions. 

WHY MODEL-DRIVEN APPS ARE STILL THE FOUNDATION
While Canvas Apps receive significant attention, Sara explains why Model-Driven Apps continue to be her preferred foundation for many enterprise solutions. They provide built-in navigation, security, search capabilities, responsive layouts, and rapid development that dramatically reduces implementation time. Rather than replacing Model-Driven Apps, Microsoft is extending them with Generative Pages, allowing developers to create highly customized user experiences without sacrificing the benefits of the underlying platform. The result is a powerful combination of low-code productivity and enterprise scalability. 

GENERATIVE PAGES: THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF POWER APPS
One of the biggest topics in the episode is Microsoft's new Generative Pages feature. Sara explains why she believes Generative Pages represent the future of Power Apps by combining AI-assisted development with highly flexible user interfaces. Instead of spending days or weeks creating custom pages manually, developers can use AI to rapidly generate complex interfaces that integrate seamlessly into Model-Driven Apps. The discussion covers current capabilities, limitations, supported regions, preview features, and Microsoft's roadmap for expanding Generative Pages across the Power Platform. 

WHY VISUAL STUDIO CODE OUTPERFORMS THE MAKER PORTAL
Although Microsoft offers AI-powered page generation directly inside the Power Apps Maker Portal, Sara recommends a different workflow for professional development. She explains how Visual Studio Code, GitHub Copilot, and Microsoft's official Generative Pages extension provide significantly better results. Developers gain access to stronger AI models, planning workflows, wireframe generation, version control, and a far more efficient prompting experience than the browser-based interface currently provides. For organizations building production applications, this development approach offers greater flexibility while reducing costs and improving overall quality. 

PROMPT ENGINEERING FOR ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS
Building AI-generated business applications starts long before writing the first prompt. Sara discusses how successful prompting begins with understanding business processes rather than focusing on user interface design. Instead of asking AI to simply create a page, architects should clearly define business goals, user journeys, data relationships, and expected outcomes. The conversation also explores iterative prompting, planning conversations with AI, wireframe generation, and using AI itself to improve prompt quality before development even begins.