Automate Business Card Management with PowerApps AI Builder

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. The Business Card Reader App 2.1. Connecting to SharePoint 2.2. Connecting to Contacts Entity in Dynamics 365 2.3. Connecting to Outlook Contacts
3. Building the Business Card Reader App 3.1. Inserting the Form Builder 3.2. Connecting to SharePoint Data Source 3.3. Customizing Field Names 3.4. Adding Submit Functionality
4. Adding Contacts to Outlook 4.1. Creating a Flow to Create a Contact in Outlook 4.2. Customizing Contact Details 4.3. Testing the Outlook Integration
5. Connecting to Dynamics 365 Contacts 5.1. Changing the Data Source to Common Data Service 5.2. Customizing Field Mapping for Dynamics 365 5.3. Submitting Contacts to Dynamics 365
6. Conclusion

Building a Business Card Reader App from Scratch 💼📇

Are you tired of manually entering contact information from business cards into your digital address book? In this article, we'll walk you through the process of building a sophisticated business card reader app using AI Builder. By leveraging Microsoft Power Apps and connecting to various data sources such as SharePoint, Dynamics 365, and Outlook Contacts, you'll be able to streamline your contact management process with ease. So let's dive in and turn those stacks of business cards into digital gold!

1. Introduction

In today's fast-paced business world, collecting and managing contact information is crucial. However, manually entering this information can be time-consuming and prone to errors. That's where the power of AI comes in. By utilizing AI Builder, an AI model training and consumption service, we can create a business card reader app that automates the process of extracting contact details from business cards. But before we dive into the technical details, let's take a step back and understand the app we'll be building.

2. The Business Card Reader App

The business card reader app we'll be building allows users to capture an image of a business card using their smartphone's camera and extract the Relevant contact information automatically. The app utilizes AI models to detect and recognize the different fields on the business card, such as the person's name, job title, company name, email address, and phone number. Once the information is extracted, it can be stored in various data sources, including SharePoint, Dynamics 365, and Outlook Contacts. This ensures that the contact information is readily available and easily accessible across different platforms.

2.1. Connecting to SharePoint

One of the key features of our business card reader app is the ability to connect to SharePoint. SharePoint provides a centralized platform for storing and managing information, making it an ideal data source for storing contact details. By connecting our app to a SharePoint list, we can easily store and retrieve contact information whenever needed. The integration with SharePoint is seamless, allowing users to maintain a single source of truth for their contacts.

2.2. Connecting to Contacts Entity in Dynamics 365

For users who are already leveraging Microsoft Dynamics 365 for their customer relationship management (CRM) needs, it is essential to have the business card reader app integrated with the system. By connecting the app to the Contacts entity in Dynamics 365, the extracted contact information can be directly saved into the CRM system. This ensures that the contact information is Synced and up-to-date across both the business card reader app and Dynamics 365.

2.3. Connecting to Outlook Contacts

In addition to SharePoint and Dynamics 365, our business card reader app can also seamlessly integrate with Outlook Contacts. Outlook Contacts provides a convenient way to manage personal and professional contacts, making it an ideal data source for our app. By connecting the app to Outlook Contacts, users can save the extracted contact information directly to their Outlook address book. This ensures that the contact information is readily available across different devices and email clients.

3. Building the Business Card Reader App

Now that we have a clear understanding of the business card reader app and its integration capabilities, let's explore how to build this app from scratch using AI Builder and Power Apps. The step-by-step process outlined below will guide you through the creation of the app.

3.1. Inserting the Form Builder

To start building our business card reader app, we need to insert the form builder into our Power Apps canvas. The form builder allows us to create a user interface for capturing and displaying contact information. By dragging and dropping the form builder onto the canvas, we can easily arrange and customize the layout of the contact fields.

3.2. Connecting to SharePoint Data Source

Next, we'll connect the form builder to the SharePoint data source. This connection enables us to retrieve and store contact information in a SharePoint list. By selecting the "Connect to Data" option and searching for SharePoint, we can establish a connection to the desired SharePoint site and contacts list. Once connected, the form fields will automatically populate based on the SharePoint list's column names.

3.3. Customizing Field Names

To ensure that the contact information is accurately captured, we need to customize the default field names in the form builder. By clicking on each field, we can unlock the properties and change the default values. For example, we can change the default value of the "First Name" field to "businessCardReader.FirstName" to Align it with the AI model's output. This step ensures that the extracted contact information is correctly mapped to the corresponding form fields.

3.4. Adding Submit Functionality

To complete the form builder, we need to add the submit functionality. By adding a button and naming it "Submit Contact," we can define the actions performed when the button is clicked. In this case, the submit button will save the contact information to the SharePoint list. Additionally, you can also customize the success message or perform additional actions, such as triggering a notification or updating other data sources.

4. Adding Contacts to Outlook

Now that we have successfully connected our business card reader app to SharePoint, let's explore how to add the extracted contact information to Outlook as well. This integration ensures that the contact information is synced across different platforms.

4.1. Creating a Flow to Create a Contact in Outlook

To add contacts to Outlook, we'll create a flow using Microsoft Power Automate. A flow is a sequence of actions that enable the automation of tasks across different platforms and services. By creating a flow to create a contact in Office 365 Outlook, we can automate the process of saving the contact information to Outlook. The flow is triggered when the "Submit Contact" button is clicked, and it retrieves the contact details from the form fields and creates a new contact in the Outlook contacts folder.

4.2. Customizing Contact Details

To ensure that the contact information is accurately saved in Outlook, we can customize the contact details in the flow. This customization includes defining the required fields, such as the given name and email address, and adding optional fields like company name and job title. By mapping the form fields to the corresponding contact fields in Outlook, we can ensure that the contact information is correctly populated.

4.3. Testing the Outlook Integration

Once the flow is created and customized, we can test the Outlook integration by clicking the "Submit Contact" button in the app. This action triggers the flow, which then creates a new contact in Outlook with the extracted contact information. By checking the Outlook contacts folder, we can verify that the contact has been successfully added. This seamless integration ensures that the contact information is readily available in Outlook, simplifying the contact management process.

5. Connecting to Dynamics 365 Contacts

In addition to SharePoint and Outlook, our business card reader app can also integrate with Dynamics 365 for a more comprehensive contact management solution. Let's explore how to connect the app to Dynamics 365 and sync the contact information to the Contacts entity in Dynamics 365.

5.1. Changing the Data Source to Common Data Service

To connect the app to Dynamics 365, we need to change the data source to Common Data Service (CDS). Common Data Service provides a unified and secure data platform that integrates with Dynamics 365, allowing us to access and update contact information in Dynamics 365 directly from our app.

5.2. Customizing Field Mapping for Dynamics 365

Once connected to the Common Data Service, we can customize the field mapping to align the form fields with the corresponding contact fields in Dynamics 365. By mapping the extracted contact information to the appropriate Dynamics 365 fields, we ensure that the data is accurately synchronized between the app and Dynamics 365.

5.3. Submitting Contacts to Dynamics 365

With the field mapping set up, we can now submit contacts to Dynamics 365 directly from our app. By clicking the "Submit Contact" button, the contact information is saved to the Contacts entity in Dynamics 365. This seamless integration ensures that the contact information is readily available in Dynamics 365, allowing for a centralized and up-to-date contact management system.

6. Conclusion

In this article, we've explored the process of building a business card reader app from scratch using AI Builder, Power Apps, and the integration capabilities of SharePoint, Outlook, and Dynamics 365. By leveraging the power of AI and automation, we can simplify the contact management process and ensure that contact information is readily available across different platforms. Whether you're a business professional looking to streamline your contact management or a developer Interested In AI and app development, this business card reader app provides a powerful solution. So why wait? Start building your own business card reader app today and unlock the true potential of intelligent contact management!

Resources:

• Microsoft Power Apps documentation
• AI Builder documentation
• Microsoft Power Automate documentation

Highlights:

• Build a business card reader app from scratch using AI Builder and Power Apps.
• Connect the app to SharePoint, Dynamics 365, and Outlook for seamless integration.
• Automatically extract contact information from business cards using AI models.
• Save contact information to various data sources, ensuring accessibility across platforms.
• Customize field names and mappings to accurately capture and sync contact details.
• Streamline contact management by centralizing information in SharePoint, Dynamics 365, and Outlook.
• Automate the process of adding contacts to Outlook using Microsoft Power Automate.
• Sync contact information to Dynamics 365 for comprehensive CRM capabilities.
• Simplify the contact management process and improve efficiency with intelligent tools.

FAQ

Q: Can the business card reader app handle multiple languages? A: Yes, the AI models used in the app can be trained to recognize and extract contact information from business cards in multiple languages. This enables the app to support a wide range of international users.

Q: Does the app require an internet connection to function? A: The app can function in offline mode for capturing business card images. However, to extract and process the contact information, an internet connection is required as it relies on AI models and data integration with SharePoint, Outlook, and Dynamics 365.

Q: Can the app handle scanned images with low resolution or poor lighting conditions? A: The AI models used in the business card reader app are designed to handle varying image qualities. While higher resolution and optimal lighting conditions can improve accuracy, the app can still extract contact information from business cards even in less ideal conditions.

Q: Is the app available for both iOS and Android devices? A: Yes, the business card reader app can be built and deployed for both iOS and Android devices using Microsoft Power Apps. This cross-platform capability ensures that users can access and utilize the app regardless of their preferred mobile operating system.

Q: Can the app be customized to match the branding of a specific organization? A: Yes, Power Apps provides extensive customization options, allowing you to tailor the app's design and branding to align with your organization's identity. This includes customizing colors, logos, and layouts to create a consistent and personalized user experience.