![\"CRM](\"https:\/\/alistar.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/toerisme-oost-vlaanderen-toegankelijk-toerisme-sneukelwiel-1.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cWe really had no way to manage all that data. Like so many others, we each did it on our own, which led to a complete mess. Hundreds of Excel documents were scattered across our headquarters and our satellite offices. Everyone was working with their own files and sources, so it was very disorganized. We then started looking for a solution, with the guiding principle being: a single database, a single source of truth. We wanted to create a centralized overview that way, and thus save all our employees valuable time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elisa De Puysseleyr\u2014Project Coordinator<\/p>\n\n\n\n To find the right partner to support them in this effort, Tourism East Flanders developed a preliminary plan in collaboration with a consulting firm. \u201cWe don\u2019t have any data-oriented staff on our team, so together with that external partner, we conducted an analysis of exactly what we needed. This involved addressing questions such as: What exactly do we manage? How are we going to set up the data structure? How will we group our contacts, and what information do we want to track for each group? Through workshops, they helped us answer all those questions and organize them into a comprehensive overview. After that, we were able to draft a public request for proposals that clearly outlined our specific needs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAfter the public contract was published, Alistar quickly emerged as the winner, because it was the only supplier Power Apps<\/a> proposed as an alternative CRM tool. All the other vendors opted for a \u2018full-fledged\u2019 CRM system, but that was actually way too much for what we wanted to do with it. We\u2019re not in a sales environment either; our operations have a completely different context. We don\u2019t need to follow up on leads or create opportunities. So we didn\u2019t need a full-fledged CRM system. With Power Apps, we were able to perfectly meet all our needs\u2014namely, maintaining, enriching, and tracking our contacts. And of course, it was also very cost-effective!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tourism East Flanders mainly uses its Power App to manage contacts, which is already a major step forward for them. \u201cWhen you consider where we came from in terms of data management and how much time it used to take to create an address list, for example, we\u2019ve really made giant strides. We simply didn\u2019t have the habit of updating our data or keeping it all in one place. Centralizing all our data has made a huge difference. We\u2019ve also configured various features so that we can find them more easily. For example, we can register the services we offer in our Power App to see who signs up for them. This gives us a clearer overview.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alistar worked with them through a series of workshops, soliciting input from Elisa and her colleagues who specialize in specific data sets. In this way, the Power App was progressively configured and tested using sample data to achieve a satisfactory end result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBecause we focus more on service delivery in our sector-specific operations, our workflow is a little less straightforward. It\u2019s not a traditional business workflow, so we needed a custom solution. Our Power App has a personalized look, does everything we asked for, and it\u2019s our own environment, so it really feels like \u2018ours.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to integration with other systems, there\u2019s still work to be done. There\u2019s already a connection to the Flanders Tourism Basic Registry, a database where accommodation providers are required to register. \u201cThat\u2019s our source for seeing what\u2019s available within East Flanders. That data then flows into our CRM app, and we enrich it with additional information specific to our operations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, Tourism East Flanders plans to integrate with Touchdown<\/a>, a marketing automation tool. \u201cWe definitely want to set up this integration in the future, but it still needs to be worked out in more detail. We really want to take our time with it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Touchdown is a marketing tool that would allow Tourism East Flanders to implement marketing automation in addition to their Power App. With Touchdown, you can easily get started with email marketing, SMS communication, and campaign tracking. It would certainly be a valuable asset for the organization when sending targeted email campaigns to specific groups. Touchdown also makes it possible to automate customer journeys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two months after going live, about 31 people are already using the Power App\u2014that\u2019s 90% of our employees. \u201cI\u2019m getting a lot of positive feedback, even though it\u2019s still a \u2018mindset shift\u2019 for many. We\u2019ve been too lax with our data management for too long, so now we just have to adjust. We started with a clean slate, and I\u2019m confident that, in the long run, keeping everything up to date will become second nature.\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s so easy now! With just three clicks, you can remove specific groups from the system, whereas I used to have to fiddle around in Excel. Thanks to that comprehensive overview, I can also very quickly reach out to providers or organizations I wouldn\u2019t normally have much contact with. Our Power App is definitely a real asset\u2014no doubt about it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Power Apps<\/a> enables you to develop functional mobile apps that support your business needs. It can also communicate and integrate with other Microsoft 365 services, such as Power Automate<\/a>, SharePoint<\/a>, Power BI<\/a> and Exchange Online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/alistar.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/ToerismeOostVlaanderen_case_CRM_PowerApp-1024x576.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur Power App looks personalized and does everything we asked it to, so it really feels like ours<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Route<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Choosing Power Apps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cWe didn\u2019t need a comprehensive CRM system. Power Apps allowed us to perfectly meet all our needs.\u201d<\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
![\"CRM](\"https:\/\/alistar.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Woman-using-MacBook-Pro-in-the-cafe_Screenshot-2022-09-23-102913-scaled.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIntegration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mindswitch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Want to use Power Apps in your business?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n