A Guide to Microsoft Power Automate and How to Easily Build Business Processes

Today’s business procedures, whether in the public or private sector, are more complex than ever. As a result, many technologies are being launched to aid in the simplification of corporate operations. Business solutions have become more popular among business owners as a way to synchronise files and organise data and increase operational effectiveness. In this article, we’ll talk about Microsoft Power Automate, how it functions, and all the advantages it offers companies.

What is Power Automate?

An intelligent cloud-based tool called Microsoft Power Automate provides businesses with problem-solving techniques to ensure that operational procedures go without a hitch. As the name implies, this Microsoft technology enables companies to automate their workflow procedures with little to no user input once the automation is enabled utilising particular and distinctive criteria.

Businesses can use this robust Microsoft application for a variety of tasks, including seamless integration to 300 and more data sources, transferring corporate data between systems, issuing reminders for tasks that are past due, and automating processes on local devices.

Users will be able to work more productively as a result, and the cloud-based integrated system will be more secure as a result of the service’s data loss prevention and activity and access management features.

How Does Microsoft Power Automate Work?

Microsoft Power Automate leverages the cloud to run a series of predefined actions. Its actions can range from sending emails to collecting data from third-party services such as Twitter. The cool thing about automation with Power Automate is that you don’t need to know how to code.

This platform allows for the creation of three different types of workflows:

• Automated Workflow where actions get activated when events occur
• Scheduled Workflows where you can schedule for a task to run at a certain period
• Button Workflows where actions can be triggered by pressing a specified button

Power Automate can be used via a web browser, desktop programme, or mobile programme. Mobile applications have limited capability even though desktop and web applications have similar feature sets.

Additionally, you can design unique flow templates with the tool. Power Automate doesn’t always require coding knowledge to create bespoke templates. In most cases, you may programme the desired functionality by simply using the already generated actions.

How to use Microsoft Power Automate?

Power Automate enables you to build automated procedures that connect your company systems and services. You can also use Power Automate from within your application in order to examine, change, or create new flows.

Manage your flow

To manage your flow, connect with Power Automate from your app.

Select Flow from the command bar.

Once you select Flow on the command bar, the following options are displayed:

• Choose Create flow to launch a new browser tab and navigate to the Power Automate website. Select Continue to use an existing template or X to close the selection or create another one on the Power Automate screen.
• Select View your flow to open a new browser tab and navigate to the Power Automate site, which displays any Flow environment flow.
• Select Sign in to flow to connect to Power Automate and view the available flows. If you are not currently logged in to Power Automate, this message will appear.

Visit the user’s manual here for additional details about Microsoft Power Automate.

Connectors, Triggers, and Actions

The complete integration of Power Automate with other Microsoft or outside services is another fantastic benefit. The connectors are what make this possible, and the programme includes around 300 predefined interfaces, with Sharepoint, Outlook, Mailchimp, GitHub, Dropbox, YouTube, and WordPress standing out.

Three terms need to be defined clearly for us to comprehend them better:

Triggers

Triggers are required to start each new procedure. Each connector has at least one trigger for when a new document is saved, a new email arrives, or a new video is published to your YouTube channel.

Actions

You need to clarify what steps to take once the procedure has begun. For example, when you receive an email from a specific person, a file will be uploaded to OneDrive and start the review process.

Connections

Connections are used when you want to connect two applications. The tool will prompt you for the credentials of each programme in the third phase of the automated procedure. These are encrypted using Microsoft security and are easy to delete at any time.

How Microsoft’s Power Automate Can benefit Businesses

Integrated Data Platform

Microsoft Power Automate creates a 360-degree perspective of your data to effectively manage all the gathered data. This will help your organisation to track and monitor to maintain every area of the business operating smoothly.
Improve Operations

The tool enables organisations to quickly produce and import crucial visualisations into certain data sets while working with the complete ecosystem. Additionally, you always have access to data, and the platform allows you to create customised apps that can aid in taking significant data-driven activities.

Cost Reduction

Power Automate reduces application development and development expenses by 70%, according to a Forrester 2021 analysis. The fact that this platform requires little to no coding for app development is a major factor in this.

Streamline and Automation

Wherever your team members are located, the platform offers remote work, which is one of its most significant advantages. It also enables your team to monitor certain projects by keeping them linked via desktop or cloud-based solutions on any device they like. By automating some operations, an organisation can work more effectively thanks to Microsoft Power Automate.

Maximise Security Efforts

Microsoft Power Automate platform uses several authentication methods, inbuilt identity management, and double encryption to safeguard user data. Additionally, there are specified security roles that grant access to particular people and enable them to carry out the necessary responsibilities. To limit access, you can also customise or design your security roles.

Who Is Microsoft Power Automate For?

Microsoft Power Automate was developed with non-technical business users in mind, in addition to citizen integrators and IT staff. Every employee now has access to automation tools, giving them the freedom to design their solutions on a simple platform.

Top 5 Microsoft Power Automate Features You Should Know

The top 5 features of the Power Automate platform are listed below for your use:

• AI Builder
• Pre-built connectors
• Dynamic Content
• Robotic Process Automation (RPA) & Digital Process Automation (DPA)
• Cloud-based data storage

Reasons Why You Should Implement Microsoft Power Automation Now!

Numerous company activities can be made automated to improve resource allocation and boost team productivity. In particular, repetitive and time-consuming tasks might be examined to see if there is a chance to automate them to save time and money and reduce the possibility of human error.

Implement Microsoft Power Automate in your organisation to:

• Streamline routine actions
• Boost workplace productivity
• Automate tasks across all corporate systems

5 Tips for Getting Started with Microsoft Power Automation

To begin using Power Automate, sign in to Microsoft 365 and launch the programme through the app launcher.

You can get started quickly with templates from the homepage.

• Examine the available connectors
• Make a new flow from scratch
• Locate existing flows from the search box
• Monitor cloud flow activity
• Make use of the Peek Code feature

Start Building More Powerful Workflows with Microsoft Power Automate

Microsoft Power Automate enables users to do things like automating processes in business settings, sending automatic reminders when tasks are due, automate repetitive manual tasks by recording mouse actions, key presses, and other steps.

In other words, Microsoft Power Automate allows you to replace manual and sometimes complicated processes with automated workflows.

If you are still unsure about how to start leveraging the many benefits provided by this amazing tool, head over to Ted Learning Malaysia where we offer tailored learning opportunities for the advancement of your team.