Best approach: Canvas vs Model-Driven for large-scale, integrated enterprise solution?

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Posted on by AamirMehmood

Hi everyone,

I’m currently leading the architecture of a Power Platform solution and would appreciate advice from the community. The app we’re designing has an enterprise-grade scope—with over 200 Dataverse tables, complex relationships, SAP and third-party integrations, and must support a bilingual interface. The user base includes 2,500 internal users, 500 partner users, and around 150 external users.

While we recognize the strengths of both Canvas and Model-Driven apps, the business is particularly focused on a flexible and polished UI/UX, which leans us toward Canvas. However, we are cautious about performance, security, scalability, and development effort at this scale.

Given these constraints, would you recommend a Canvas-only, Model-Driven, or hybrid (MDA + embedded Canvas page) approach? What trade-offs should we consider from your experience?

Thanks in advance for your insights, looking forward to hearing how others have approached similar challenges.

Best regards,

Aamir

Categories:

Application Lifecycle Management (ALM)

Power Apps component framework

Power Platform Build Tools

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AamirMehmood 4 on at

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Best approach: Canvas vs Model-Driven for large-scale, integrated enterprise solution?

Thank you so much, Ms.Ragavendar and Erikpgh1, for your input. I truly appreciate it.

I understand that all of this is technically possible within a Canvas App. However, my question is more focused on the feasibility and suitability within the specific context outlined in my original post.

I’d greatly appreciate any additional feedback from others in the community, it would be helpful to have more perspectives on this scenario.

Thank you.

Aamir
Erikpgh1 34 on at

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Best approach: Canvas vs Model-Driven for large-scale, integrated enterprise solution?

One of the best vid / blog posts on Security and how to set up

Episode 1/10: Introduction to Dataverse Security

My curated List of Power Apps Vids many are past the basics of Model Driven Apps.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLd1fR1P3_2bWEu2KqjiHn3E5zwvIKWBAu&si=vtsq-ItWiDp5rp9X
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MS.Ragavendar 2,437 on at

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Best approach: Canvas vs Model-Driven for large-scale, integrated enterprise solution?

@AamirMehmood,

Considering this requirement - 200 Dataverse tables, complex relationships, SAP and third-party integrations, and must support a bilingual interface.

With canvas app its possible with this all acceptance criteria.

But if you will load huge no of records to the app which might lead an performance issue.

With respect to UI/UX only canvas can provide better visual.

Canvas App Standards

https://www.matthewdevaney.com/power-apps-coding-standards-for-canvas-apps/

Model Driven Best Practices

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-apps/developer/model-driven-apps/best-practices/

🏷️ Please tag me @MS.Ragavendar if you still have any queries related to the solution or issue persists.

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