Founded in 2019, FormMachines is an Australia-based startup that makes it easier to build enterprise forms directly inside the Microsoft ecosystem. The FormMachines platform works with Microsoft Teams and SharePoint, using a simple drag-and-drop interface to connect multiple data sources, collaboration platforms, and data fields. Interestingly, FormMachines is not a pure-play no-code platform. You can also use its programmable capabilities for advanced configurations. The platform is used by 3000+ Microsoft tenants worldwide in over 30 countries.
The original idea behind FormMachines can be traced back to 2007 when Microsoft InfoPath was widely used for form creation in Microsoft. InfoPath was retired after 2016, but the idea lives on in FormMachines’ browser-based enterprise form-builder premise.
You can connect the app to multiple data sources, even though it is purpose-built for the Microsoft Teams environment. It allows you to create fully responsive forms that can be shared across PCs, smartphones, and other mobile devices. Let us explore its features in more detail.
Inside FormMachines for Microsoft Teams
FormMachines primarily works via pinned tabs on a Teams channel. Download the application from Microsoft AppSource. Look for the +sign right next to your channel’s name, and add FormMachines from the list of available apps. You will need to provide FormMachines with the necessary permissions to interact with your Teams data. You could also set up an optional Connector to enable bidirectional data flow between FormMachines and Teams.
Here is a quick review of FormMachines’ key features:
- Flexible form hosting – The FormMachines app gives you several choices when choosing your hosting environment. You can host the form within your tenant so that users are compelled to log in before they can enter data and submit a response. Or, you can select the public hosting option that allows users to log in via the web and fill out a form anonymously. Either way, the form data will be accessible from Microsoft Teams.
- Advanced form configurations – The flagship capability of FormMachines is that it allows you to configure your forms in myriad ways. You can leverage the app’s pre-built templates – e.g., forms for leave applications, field inspection reports, monthly reviews, etc. These can be customised by adding new data fields, checkboxes, single-choice, and multi-choice questions, currency elements, date, time, and more. These features are built into FormMachines, so you won’t have to write any code.
- Multiple data connectors – The real power of FormMachines lies in its ability to feed form data into different databases such as Microsoft Azure Storage, SQL, Power Automate, and the like. This means that you can not only collect data that can be inspected via Teams, but you can also combine the data with more advanced processing warehouses. This opens up analytics capabilities as well.
- Form execution in Teams – Using FormMachines, you can create and run bespoke forms inside Microsoft Teams. Let’s say you have created a leave request form perfectly tailored to your organisation. The app lets you host and execute the form in Teams itself – as a result, employees logging into Teams can use the collaboration app for leave request management. Similarly, you could adapt FormMachines for other use cases and effectively extend Microsoft Teams’ applications.
- GUI and programmable options – FormMachines can be used by form designers and admin personnel across a broad spectrum of digital skill sets. With a little technical know-how, you can configure form templates and create your own, adding the graphical, text, and data elements required for your business objective. FormMachines also gives you the option of a programmable form builder, where you can write basic code to configure and form rules.
Why the FormMachines App Makes a Difference
Natively, Microsoft Teams lacks the capabilities to provide users with a full-scale enterprise form builder. Most low-code form apps available in the marketplace come with limited configurations and mostly focus on simple/homogenous data collection through polls or surveys. FormMachines is much more sophisticated, helping you create forms that can be used for future reference, audit purposes, and official documentation. The app has almost infinite applications, operating entirely out of Microsoft Teams, from employment forms to annual review templates.
What We Think
This could become your go-to app for companies looking for a convenient yet powerful form-building solution. FormMachines is available at an affordable $4.90 per template per month, supporting form creation and sharing for unlimited users.
You can download it here.
