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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)

TTMS teamwork

Challenge

Oerlikon needed a scalable tool to:

  • Replace time-consuming, Excel-based time tracking

  • Allow time and leave registration from any device

  • Handle multi-step approvals

  • Integrate with Power BI and internal tools

  • Reduce costs by phasing out third-party workflow software

  • 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
  •  

    Registering time off

  • Copying past entries to speed up workflows
  •  

    Access via mobile and desktop

  •  

    Real-time approval tracking

For Managers:

  • Time entry approval workflows (1–3 levels)

  • Advanced filtering and data views by team, project, or period

  • Export-ready reports integrated with Power BI

  • 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.

TTMS online

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.

Check other case studies

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Monika Radomska

Sales Manager