Stop Drowning in Files, Start Building No-code Apps
SharePoint + Power Automate might be your closest ally
More than a million companies use it, paying for over four hundred million users globally. Microsoft SharePoint (let’s call it SP) is part of the suite of apps you get with a business subscription to Office 365, Microsoft’s equivalent to Google Workspace.
The reason I want to talk about SP is that it’s widely misunderstood, even though it’s incredibly powerful.
Most people see SP as just a place to store documents. But it’s much more than that. SP is actually a platform for building databases — or, as they’re called in SP, Lists.
Think of SP Lists as Excel spreadsheets that your whole team can interact with online. That alone solves a huge problem: instead of scattering business data across multiple files, you can store it centrally in a web-based SP List.
On our last Automato post, I talked about Files vs Data, and made the point that using applications that centralize business information is far more efficient. Many of you already use CRM software, accounting systems, or even e-commerce platforms for exactly this reason: they centralize your data and transform it into valuable insights.
SharePoint fits into the same logic. Instead of scattering data across endless Excel files, SP lets you build lightweight applications that centralize business information and connect it directly with your daily workflows.
Once you start using SP Lists, something interesting happens:
Your data is no longer “hidden” in files.
Everyone can access the same information at the same time.
You can add rules, notifications, or even automate actions when something changes.
That’s where Power Automate comes in. Since it’s part of Office 365, it connects directly with SharePoint Lists to keep processes running smoothly.
If you are a one-person business, a non-profit, or an SMB with less than 150 employees — especially if you already subscribe to Office 365 — you could save money, work more efficiently, and focus your valuable time on tasks that require your expertise by using SharePoint and Power Automate
Here are just a few simple applications you could build without software development skills:
Project Management Tool — monitor projects, status, and related documents.
Sales Monitoring Tool — control your sales funnel, leads, status, and related documents.
Product Delivery Tool — track delivery status and related documents.
SharePoint and Power Automate can then interconnect these three applications so your Sales process, Project Management process, and Delivery process work in coordination. Power Automate manages permissions for different records, formats how data is displayed in SP Lists, sends notifications to the right team members, and generates the reports you need.
All of this with no code — and just a bit of low-code for special customizations. And even that low code can now be generated with AI tools like ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot.
👉 SharePoint is not just a file-share. It’s a platform where small business apps can live — apps that save time, reduce errors, and make teamwork smoother. And maybe you are already paying a license for it!
Wishing you a great week!
Jose.
TL;DR — SharePoint in a Nutshell
SharePoint (SP) comes with most Office 365 business plans.
It’s not just file storage — it’s a platform for building simple apps.
SP Lists = shared, online spreadsheets that centralize business data.
Power Automate connects everything and keeps workflows running smoothly.
You can build project tracking, sales monitoring, and delivery tools — all without coding.
👉 If you have SharePoint as part of your app stack, this might be the best place to start using Workflow Automations and leverage your career.
Any questions? Feel free to add a comment:
U mean you can build simple no code apps with SharePoint apart from using it to store files
That's good to know, cause I use it mostly for file storage.