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Internal App Hub in SharePoint to Replace InfoPath
HAWE Hydraulik has a user-friendly Internal App Hub that streamlines business-critical processes across departments.
HAWE Hydraulik faced the challenge of replacing InfoPath with a flexible solution that could handle complex forms and workflows. Today, HAWE uses a centralized Internal App Hub in SharePoint, built with skybow, to manage key processes like tool procurement, quality risk tracking, and audits. The processes are now faster, more transparent, and easier to maintain.
Challenge
HAWE Hydraulik SE is a leading manufacturer of hydraulic components and systems, serving a wide range of industries including mechanical engineering, energy, and mobile hydraulics. Headquartered in Germany, the company is known for its high-quality, innovative solutions and strong commitment to sustainability.
Before implementing their new Internal App Hub with skybow, HAWE Hydraulik was facing a strategic technology dilemma.
For many years, internal processes at HAWE were built on InfoPath forms and SharePoint workflows. But with Microsoft phasing out support for InfoPath (mainstream support ended in 2021, with full retirement coming in July 2026), the company needed to act.
❌ Staying on InfoPath posed growing operational and security risks.
❌ Migration options were difficult to plan.
❌ HAWE wanted to remain within the Microsoft and SharePoint ecosystem.
❌ Out-of-the-box SharePoint features fell short
SharePoint out-of-the-box quickly proved to be insufficient: customization options for forms, workflows, and actions were extremely limited. At the same time, many internal processes at HAWE relied on complex forms and dynamic workflows – requirements that simply couldn’t be met with SharePoint’s native capabilities.
HAWE was looking for a modern solution that would provide full integration with their existing Microsoft infrastructure and the flexibility and functionality their teams had come to rely on – without compromises.
In short: HAWE didn’t just want a replacement for InfoPath – they needed a future-ready platform that could support their digital transformation goals.
Why is skybow the best fit?
HAWE Hydraulik was searching for a powerful yet practical alternative to InfoPath — one that would seamlessly integrate with SharePoint and offer all the flexibility they were used to. After comparing several well-known solutions on the market, the skybow Studio clearly stood out.
skybow made it incredibly easy to replicate and even improve the logic and behavior HAWE had previously built with InfoPath:
✅ Show or hide fields dynamically based on conditions
✅ Set permissions at the field level
✅ Use complex formulas and LookUps with ease
✅ Add custom logic via JavaScript when needed
✅ Quickly apply corporate design for a professional, branded look
One major advantage: solution deployment with skybow is effortless. HAWE can move solutions from development to test or production environments without any manual steps. This saves valuable time, ensures consistency and high quality.
This unique combination of flexibility, power, and ease of use was unmatched by any other platform. With skybow, HAWE was able to build future-proof apps that not only met all functional requirements but also made the entire InfoPath replacement process faster, smoother, and more efficient.
With skybow, we can build solutions incredibly fast. The platform is very intuitive. What truly sets skybow apart is the outstanding support: you get direct access to real experts who offer smart solutions right away. It’s rare to find that level of quality in the software world. We highly recommend skybow to any company.
How IT/APP e.U. solved the challenge with skybow
To successfully replace InfoPath and modernize internal workflows at HAWE Hydraulik, our trusted partner IT/APP e.U. stepped in. Led by consultant and developer Michael Appinger, they designed and developed a tailored Internal App Hub directly in SharePoint – using the skybow Studio as the foundation.
The Internal App Hub brings together multiple digital workflows. It centralizes and standardizes processes in one modern interface – fully integrated into the existing Microsoft environment. While the hub includes numerous business applications, this case study highlights three key solutions:
🔧 Tool Classification and Procurement
This SharePoint solution manages the full lifecycle of tool evaluation and acquisition. It includes a multi-level approval workflow that ensures all tools are thoroughly assessed by technical staff before being purchased. The entire procurement process is captured – from request and evaluation to approval and inventory registration.
Using the skybow Form Designer, the solution dynamically shows or hides fields based on user input, allowing the form to adapt to the specific requirements of each tool type. This step-by-step guidance ensures users provide all necessary information without feeling overwhelmed by irrelevant details. At the same time, the skybow Workflow Builder powers a user-friendly approval process: automated notifications are sent whenever an action is required, and all stakeholders stay informed about the current status of the tool requests through real-time updates.
As a result, HAWE now has a centralized, digital “single source of truth” for tool classification, procurement, and tracking. This has significantly reduced follow-up questions and improved overall process efficiency.
📦 Quality Management of Potential Product Risks
This SharePoint solution tracks potential product issues that could arise during or after development. It covers the entire product lifecycle and captures all related information in one structured view. Responsibilities are clearly assigned, ensuring nothing is overlooked and all relevant stakeholders are informed.
To support this process, HAWE relies on the skybow Dossier feature, which brings together all relevant information about potentially high-risk products in one central, digital location. In such a critical area, it's essential that no data or documents are lost and that everything is properly documented. skybow enables secure, granular permission management to ensure that only authorized individuals can access sensitive content, while all relevant stakeholders are automatically notified.
The ability to send messages and emails directly from the solution, combined with the Dossier’s structured overview, ensures that nothing slips through the cracks — and that the right people always have access to the right information at the right time.
The result is a transparent, traceable system that safeguards product quality and simplifies audits and compliance documentation.
📝 Audit Management
The audit management app in SharePoint supports every step of the company’s internal audit processes. Users can select from predefined audit categories, with workflows adapting automatically based on the selection. Standardized forms guide users through the process, ensuring all required data, documents, and steps are completed.
Audit findings and follow-up actions can be recorded, assigned, and tracked within the app. Deadlines are defined based on priority, and automated email notifications keep everyone informed about outstanding tasks and responsibilities – even without needing to open the app.
During development, one of the key advantages was the ability to organize form fields into tabs using the skybow Form Designer. Each role involved in the audit process gets its own tab, displaying only the relevant fields, documents, and information they need. Thanks to skybow’s granular permission and visibility settings, these tabs can be shown or hidden based on user roles — ensuring clarity, security, and a highly streamlined user experience. Everyone knows exactly what to do, without being overwhelmed by unnecessary information.
Automated notifications ensure that no follow-up tasks from audits are forgotten. Auditors are kept up to date on the progress of defined improvement measures, enabling proactive tracking and full transparency throughout the entire process.
The result: A fully standardized and transparent audit process that ensures compliance, improves follow-up tracking, and keeps everyone involved informed and accountable at every stage.
What HAWE & IT/App love about working with skybow
For both HAWE Hydraulik and IT/App, skybow stands out not only because of its powerful feature set — but also because of how intuitive and efficient the platform is to work with.
The skybow Studio allows SharePoint solutions to be built and adapted incredibly quickly. Even new users can get started with minimal onboarding thanks to the intuitive interface. This makes the creation and expansion of business apps extremely efficient — saving time and resources across the board.
Another major highlight is skybow’s outstanding support: users get fast, expert-level help from professionals who know the platform inside and out. Every question is answered with a practical solution — something that’s rare in the software world.
With bi-weekly release cycles, the platform is constantly evolving, staying aligned with customer needs and Microsoft updates. That continuous improvement ensures skybow remains a future-proof foundation for digital transformation.
For Michael Appinger (IT/APP e.U.), skybow is the perfect choice for companies looking to digitize, standardize, and automate internal processes — all without compromising on flexibility or usability.
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