Dataverse vs SharePoint Lists
When SharePoint lists become the wrong choice, and why Dataverse is worth the investment for operational systems. The Dataverse vs SharePoint Lists decision is one we walk every new client through before any build work begins.
What Dataverse Actually Costs
Transparent pricing so you can budget properly. No surprises, no hidden fees, and no consultancy retainer creep. For the canonical Microsoft pricing reference, see the Microsoft Power Platform licensing documentation on Microsoft Learn.
Microsoft Licensing
Dataverse licensing is consumption-based. You pay per user, per month, based on how they access the platform.
Power Apps Per-App Plan
~£8/user/month, access to one app. Best for field operatives, site managers, or users who only need a single application.
Power Apps Premium Plan
~£16/user/month, unlimited apps. Best for power users, office staff, or anyone needing multiple applications.
Dataverse for Teams
Included with M365, limited capacity of 2GB per tenant. Good for prototypes, not for production Dataverse for business apps deployments.
Typical Implementation Costs
Fixed-price engagements based on scope. All pricing includes data modelling, security design, ALM setup, and C# plugin development.
Small Deployment (10-20 users)
£3k to £8k setup, plus £400 to £800 per month licensing. Single app, basic workflows, 2 to 4 week delivery.
Medium Deployment (50-100 users)
£8k to £20k setup, plus £1.5k to £3k per month licensing. Multi-app system, integrations, 6 to 8 week delivery.
Enterprise Deployment (200+ users)
£20k to £50k setup, plus £4k to £8k per month licensing. Complex integrations, multiple environments, 10 to 12 week delivery.
Enterprise Dataverse data architecture built to scale
Everything we build on Power Platform Dataverse follows the same governance-first principles, from schema design through to ALM pipelines.
Schema and Data Modelling
Relational entity design, relationship architecture, column-level security and business rules built to support your operational data volumes and access control requirements.
C# Plugin Development
Server-side business logic in C# plugins, including sort orders, validations, calculated fields, complex transactional operations and custom workflow steps targeting .NET Framework 4.6.2.
Security Role Design
Granular role-based access, column-level security, business unit hierarchy and team-based security models to ensure the right people see and edit the right data.
Enterprise Integration
Bi-directional integrations with SAP, Dynamics 365, Sage, CAFM platforms and bespoke systems using REST APIs, OData and custom connectors.
ALM and DevOps Pipelines
Azure DevOps pipelines and PAC CLI automation for structured Dev to Test to UAT to Production deployments, eliminating manual solution transport and the errors it creates.
Solution Architecture
Managed and unmanaged solution design, publisher configuration, solution versioning and dependency management for enterprise-grade deployment governance.
Dataverse data architecture designed before any screens are built
The schema decides what's possible. Get the Dataverse data model wrong at the start, and you're either locked into a system that can't grow, or you're paying for a rebuild within twelve months. We design the data architecture first, every time, against your real operational requirements rather than a generic template.
That means relational tables, proper lookups, calculated columns where they belong, alternate keys for integration, and a security model mapped to your business units. The screens come later, once the foundation is solid. For the official architecture guidance we work from, see the Microsoft Dataverse design documentation on Microsoft Learn.
Built governance-first, not added as an afterthought
Most Dataverse implementations fail because they treat data modelling, security design and ALM pipelines as nice-to-haves rather than foundational requirements. We build these into every solution from day one, which is why our Dataverse for business apps deployments scale without rework. For the official guidance, see the Microsoft Dataverse documentation on Microsoft Learn.
What governance-first means in practice
- Proper Dataverse schema design before any screens are built
- Dev, Test and Production environment strategy as standard
- Full technical documentation delivered on handover
- User training included in every engagement
- 30-day hypercare support post go-live
Connected Systems We Integrate
Dataverse for business apps across your sector
The same Dataverse foundation supports very different operational requirements. Here's what we typically build for each of our three core sectors.
Asset and Contract Management
- Building portfolios and site hierarchies
- Planned preventative maintenance schedules
- Supplier and subcontractor records
- Contract renewals and cost tracking
- Reactive maintenance ticketing
- SLA monitoring and compliance reporting
Project and Delivery Tracking
- Project hierarchies and phase tracking
- Subcontractor performance scoring
- RFI and variation management
- Snagging and defect workflows
- RAMS approval and audit trails
- Programme milestones and handover
Production and Quality Systems
- Equipment registers and OEE tracking
- Non-conformance and CAPA workflows
- Supplier quality scorecards
- Batch traceability and recall procedures
- ISO audit preparation and evidence
- Shift handover digital forms
Power Platform Dataverse, integrated with your tech stack
SQL Server Integration
Bidirectional sync with on-premise or Azure SQL databases using Dataverse virtual tables or custom connectors.
ERP and CAFM Systems
Real-time integration with enterprise systems like SAP, Dynamics 365 Finance, MRI, Planon, and FM:Systems.
SharePoint Document Libraries
Native integration with SharePoint for document storage, version control, and approval workflows linked to Dataverse records.
Ready to work smarter?
Tell us about your biggest operational challenge. We’ll scope a solution built around your team, your data and your goals — with no commitment required.