💡 Remember when SOAP APIs ruled the world?
Microsoft Dynamics and the Power Platform sure do.
But times have changed… dramatically.
APIs aren’t just technical tools anymore. They’re the engine behind AI, Copilot, automation, and how we deliver modern business apps today.
If you’re still thinking of APIs as “backend dev stuff” — you’re missing the bigger picture.
Let’s break down how APIs evolved in Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform, and more importantly:
What can you do to make the most of them now?
In the old Microsoft CRM days:
- SOAP-based APIs (OrganizationService, DiscoveryService)
- Used for CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations
- Strictly server-to-server — no front-end, no AI, no user experience involved
What this meant: APIs were hidden plumbing. If you weren’t a developer, you probably didn’t care.
Then came the Dynamics 365 Web API and OData v4 — opening new doors:
- Lightweight APIs for web, mobile, SPAs (React, Angular)
- Allowed JavaScript calls, portal integrations, and modern UX
- Start of “Citizen Developers” tapping into CRM without deep .NET skills
APIs today are everywhere:
- Microsoft Graph for unified user/org data
- Power Platform connectors (Power Automate, Power Apps) — pre-wrapped APIs
- AI Copilot, Virtual Agents — live data via APIs for real-time insights
- Real-world examples: Syncing Dynamics 365 with Genesys Cloud API for live call case creation.
What this delivers: Orchestration. Automation. Real-time intelligence. APIs power user experiences, not just integrations.
It’s no longer about just fetching data.
APIs are now pipelines for:
- 🔍 Contextual insights
- 🔮 Predictive data
- 🤖 Copilot interactions
You don’t just call data — you extract intelligence from it.
Here’s how to stop thinking like it’s 2010 and start designing for 2025:
What to automate first:
- ✅ Think API-first: Every app, workflow, or automation you design relies on data flow. Start with APIs in mind.
- ✅ Go beyond CRUD: Look at APIs for triggering actions, surfacing insights, connecting AI, not just pushing records.
- ✅ Use Microsoft Graph where possible: It unlocks unified views across Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, and more.
- ✅ Leverage Power Platform connectors wisely: They simplify API consumption but understand what’s happening under the hood.
- ✅ Design with real-time in mind: Batch syncs are out. Real-time API orchestration powers better customer experiences.
Conclusion
APIs aren’t backend tech anymore — they’re the enabler of modern business experiences.
From AI Copilot to Power Automate, from Microsoft Graph to your next customer portal — the smartest companies today are API-first in mindset.
👉 Are you designing your solutions with APIs and AI in mind? Or are you still treating them as just plumbing?