Environments, SharePoint, super slow loading

[buildbod]

I have created an Expenses app for use in our global organisation. Data for the app comes from lists in SharePoint Online.

Our Office 365 Tenant is in western Europe. The app performance is acceptable for staff in Europe - it takes about 5s to load and thereafter it works well. However for users outside of Europe the performance is dire. For example, for our staff in India it takes minutes to load - if it loads at all - it typically hang on the .... splash screen. I know it is not an issue with connectivity as other services like Office 365 and Skype work well for them.

So I started thinking about Environments and whether I should clone my app into separate Regional environments. However I'm a little confused by the PowerApps documentation.

"Each environment is created under an Azure AD tenant, and its resources can only be accessed by users within that tenant. An environment is also bound to a geographic location, like the US. When you create an app in an environment, that app is routed to only datacenters in that geographic location. Any items that you create in that environment (including connections, gateways, flows using Microsoft Flow, and more) are also bound to their environment's location."

Our Azure AD tenant sits alongside our Office 365 Tenant in western Europe. Say if I create an Environment for India and add my app to it. Do I also need SharePoint and Flow instances in India or will the app still work with the lists (and Flows) hosted in western Europe?

What else can I do to triage and resolve the slow loading (apart from using network / browser monitoring)?

[v-yamao-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi buildbod,

Please check this documentation about “Regions overview in PowerApps” for a reference:
https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/tutorials/regions-overview/

From the doc we know that Environments can be created in different regions, and are bound to that geographic location. When you create an app in an environment, that app is deployed in datacenters in that geographic location. This applies to any items you create in that environment, including databases in the Common Data Service, apps, connections, gateways, and custom connectors.

So in your case, you could create an environment for India region, you will need to create a connection to SharePoint for the environment located in India region. For Flow, an environment for India region will be automatically generated.

Please try it on your side.

Best regards,
Mabel Mao

[buildbod]

Ok I will. It's not clear from the documentation whether I need to create a database as part of the environment. I'm using SharePoint and Approvals?

Is this needed for Approvals or SharePoint?

[v-yamao-msft]

Hi buildbod,

Each environment is created under an Azure AD tenant, and its resources can only be accessed by users within that tenant.

Every environment can have zero or one Common Data Service databases, which provides storage for your apps. The ability to create a database for your environment will depend on the license you purchase for PowerApps and your permission within that environment.

If you want to use the Common Data Service databases under the environment located in India, you will need to create a database. If not, say you will only use SharePoint as your data source, without creating the database, the apps under the environment will also work for you.

Best regards,
Mabel Mao

[buildbod]

Understood.

I've set up an environment for India and the performance of the app has improved. Thank you.

[buildbod]

Actually it's still not 100%. I am getting new errors as described in this thread

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/PowerApps-Forum/SPO-connection-error-quot-Unable-to-get-property...

[v-yamao-msft]

Hi buildbod,

I have checked the issue on another thread.

Shared users are asked to create their own connection using their credentials the first time they open the app on their side, please make sure they have created the connection properly.

If they are using Web player, which browser are they using? Please suggest users to use a different browser to see if it will work.

Best regards,
Mabel Mao

[buildbod]

Tried IE, Chrome and Edge. No different.