Session Abstract

Every Power Platform project starts with the same question: where should the data live? In this session, we’ll take a practical look at Microsoft Dataverse and see how it compares to two familiar alternatives, SQL Server (and Azure SQL) and SharePoint Lists. We’ll cover what makes Dataverse different: native integration with Power Apps, Power Automate, and Copilot Studio; a low-code experience that doesn’t require a DBA; and built-in, enterprise-grade security down to the row and field level. We’ll weigh those strengths against the raw power and flexibility of SQL and the simplicity and low cost of SharePoint Lists. You’ll see where each one shines and where it falls short. You’ll walk away with a clear decision framework for picking the right platform for your scenario, so you can build faster, scale with confidence, and avoid costly re-platforming later. Whether you’re a seasoned architect or just getting started with the Power Platform, you’ll leave with insights you can apply right away.

Serge Luca

Serge Luca (aka "Doctor Flow") has been MVP 20 times and is a Power Platform MVP; he is based in Brussels (Belgium), where he works as a Power Platform Solution architect. He has designed more than 16 Enterprise Flow projects. He is an international & Ignite speaker and a frequent blogger. Serge has executed several assignments for the Microsoft SharePoint team (Redmond) worldwide and has worked for Microsoft Learning as a Subject Matter Expert in SharePoint and Workflow Foundation. He has trained more than a thousand developers in SharePoint. He is also the author of the famous Master Class Microsoft Power Automate and Master Class PowerApps workshops. He helped the Power Automate team create the "Microsoft Power Automate in a Day" workshop. He created the open-source Power Platform BPM Toolkit available on GitHub.Serge previously worked as a researcher for the University of Namur (Belgium) and is also a Microsoft (USA) contractor.