How we helped a UK lending company replace multiple spreadsheets and disconnected systems with a single Power Apps loan management solution — complete with automated credit checks and CRM integration.
This Power Apps loan management project transformed how a UK commercial lending company processes applications. Before our engagement, their team juggled multiple Excel spreadsheets, Google Sheets, and disconnected tools — creating a fragmented workflow where applications regularly fell through the cracks.
We delivered a centralised loan portal built on Power Apps with SharePoint as the data backbone, featuring direct integrations with Creditsafe for credit scoring, Companies House for company verification, and Zoho CRM for customer data synchronisation.
The lending team faced significant operational problems that were costing them time, money, and customer satisfaction:
Loan applications tracked across multiple Excel files and Google Sheets with no single source of truth. Different team members had different versions.
Staff logged into Creditsafe separately, copied results manually, and often forgot to run checks until late in the process.
Customer data in Zoho CRM was completely separate from the lending process. Duplicate entry was common, and records frequently didn't match.
Management couldn't see pipeline status without manually checking with each team member. Reporting took hours to compile.
Applications were taking 2-3 weeks to process when competitors were turning them around in days. The team estimated they were losing 15-20% of potential deals simply because applicants went elsewhere while waiting. Compliance was also a growing concern — with no audit trail, they couldn't demonstrate their process to regulators.
We designed and built a comprehensive Power Apps loan application portal that centralises the entire lending workflow. The solution replaced all spreadsheets with a structured, automated system that guides applications from initial submission through to completion.
A purpose-built canvas app provides the lending team with a clean, intuitive interface for managing applications. Staff can create new applications, view pipeline status, and access all relevant documents from a single screen.
The portal connects directly to external services, eliminating manual data lookups and ensuring consistent, accurate information:
Automated credit checks triggered on application creation. Risk scores and credit limits pulled directly into the application record.
Instant company verification, director lookups, and filing history. No more manual searches or copy-paste errors.
Bi-directional sync keeps customer records aligned. New applications create CRM contacts; status updates flow both ways.
Automated workflows handle routing, notifications, and escalations without manual intervention:
SharePoint serves as the secure data backbone, providing structured lists for application data, document libraries for supporting files, and full version history for compliance. Custom views give different teams exactly the information they need, while Power BI dashboards provide real-time pipeline reporting.
Average processing time reduced from 2.5 weeks to under 1 week
Every application tracked from submission to decision
Eliminated manual data entry and status chasing
Complete trail for every application and decision
"We went from hunting through spreadsheets to having everything in one place with credit checks happening automatically. The team can actually focus on lending decisions now instead of data entry. Within two months, we'd processed more applications than the previous quarter — with fewer people involved."
Yes. Power Apps built on Microsoft 365 inherit enterprise-grade security and compliance controls. Combined with proper architecture — audit logging, retention policies, and role-based access — Power Apps solutions can meet FCA, GDPR, and other regulatory requirements. This project included full audit trail capabilities and data retention aligned with financial services obligations.
Power Apps connects to external APIs via custom connectors or Power Automate flows. For this project, we built custom connectors for Creditsafe and Companies House that allow the app to call these services directly. The integration handles authentication, request formatting, and response parsing — presenting clean data to users without exposing API complexity.
This project was delivered in 8 weeks from initial scoping to go-live. Timeline depends on complexity — number of integrations, approval workflows, and reporting requirements. A simpler loan tracking system might take 4-6 weeks; more complex solutions with multiple API integrations and advanced automation can take 10-12 weeks.
Absolutely — this is one of the most common and high-value use cases for Power Apps. Spreadsheets lack validation, audit trails, proper access control, and workflow automation. A Power Apps solution adds all of these while maintaining the flexibility that made spreadsheets attractive in the first place. Most clients see ROI within 3-6 months of deployment.
Book a free 30-minute discovery call to discuss how a Power Apps solution could streamline your operations.