Power Apps Case Study: How We Automated Work Time Tracking for Oerlikon
Overview
Oerlikon — a global technology group and a leader in surface engineering and advanced materials, also known for manufacturing anti-aircraft weapon systems — faced challenges in efficiently managing project time tracking across its international operations. To address these issues, we developed a tailored Power Apps solution that streamlined work time registration, automated approval processes, and provided real-time data for management and reporting.
Oerlikon is a Swiss-based innovation leader with around 12,000 employees in 150 locations worldwide, active in areas like advanced materials, precision engineering, and anti-aircraft systems. The company is undergoing a digital transformation of its internal processes, replacing legacy systems with solutions based on Microsoft 365 and Power Platform.
OERLIKON HSE APP
Application supports the following areas:
Incident management (IM)
Task management (TM)
Safety observations tours (SOT)
Near Miss Unsafe Situation (NMUS)
Challenge
Oerlikon needed a scalable tool to:
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Replace time-consuming, Excel-based time tracking
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Allow time and leave registration from any device
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Handle multi-step approvals
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Integrate with Power BI and internal tools
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Reduce costs by phasing out third-party workflow software
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Ensure future development capacity amid rising internal demand
Solution
TTMS delivered a custom Power Apps application that addressed all of Oerlikon’s core needs. Key features:
For Employees:
- Logging hours by task and project
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Registering time off
- Copying past entries to speed up workflows
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Access via mobile and desktop
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Real-time approval tracking
For Managers:
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Time entry approval workflows (1–3 levels)
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Advanced filtering and data views by team, project, or period
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Export-ready reports integrated with Power BI
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Streamlined communication with employees via built-in notifications
The app was built using the Microsoft ecosystem and connected directly to Power BI and Dataverse to ensure scalability, security, and rapid implementation.
Result
✅ 60% less time spent on managing work hour approvals
✅ Smooth transition from legacy tools to integrated Microsoft environment
✅ Increased control, visibility, and adoption among users
✅ Aligned with Oerlikon’s long-term strategy to enable citizen developers
✅ Future-proof architecture ready for scale
Other Examples
PowerApps could be used in many departments, for example:
- The application as a plugin to Teams for employees so that they can conveniently report their holidays.
- Onboarding application for new employees.
- Application for the circulation of order documents in the sales department with a multi-level order approval system.
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