The Common Data Service is a foundational element of Power Platform, yet it isn't an actual software product that would be sold directly on a per user basis. The history as well as the future of CDS make it a complex part of the licensing puzzle for customers - and Microsoft.
The low-code tools are making it easier than ever to have data flowing between different systems and presented in a custom UI that may bypass the original enterprise applications altogether. However, this does not free you from the requirement of having a license for these systems. Welcome to the world of multiplexing.
The changes in how Microsoft positions the various products in its portfolio are a common source of confusion and misunderstanding on Power Apps licensing. This blog post will examine the impact that the rise of Power Platform has had on the surrounding product offerings of Office 365 and Dynamics 365.
