Automate your apps with Microsoft Flow

Microsoft Flow/Power Automate

Microsoft Flow is now also called Power Automate.

It is a cloud-based service that helps create and automate workflows and tasks across multiple applications. You do not require any developer knowledge to use this for your needs.

What does it do?

Microsoft Flow helps to connect two or more apps or services, synchronize files, get a notification, collect or move data. It carries data or information from one service to another. 

It is as the regular phone we use at home or mobile phones. Where we can send, and receive calls or messages from one end to another while doing multiple tasks as well. Just like that, Microsoft Flow sends and receives data or information. It is also used to send over executive commands as well.

Role of Microsoft Azure with Microsoft Flow

Microsoft Flow is developed on top of Azure Logic apps. They share the same work Flow design, and they also share the same connectors. You can start creating the automation as required with Microsoft Flow.

If the complexity of the created Flow increases, you can convert it to an Azure Logic App. It is like building the basics of any automation or workflows. But when things get complicated you convert it to Azure Logic App.

A combined knowledge of Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Flow can help you to create flexible workflows for yourself and your organization.

Get more details about Microsoft Certification Training at Microtek Learning

What can it do?

• Microsoft Flow is related to Dynamics 365, and it creates records in the D-365 system.
• Microsoft Flow has multiple uses, which helps us make it easy to use and automate various workflows between apps. It helps to synchronize, get required notifications and collect data without human intervention.

Listed below are a few of the many tasks carried using Microsoft Flow:

1. It moves and syncs files to online storage. For share point, one drive, or dropbox. Microsoft Flow works with multiple non-Microsoft apps, unlike SharePoint Designer Workflow, which only works for SharePoint files.
2. Flow helps to schedule tasks or recurring events. 
3. Microsoft Flow triggers data by sending emails, text messages, or forwarding emails. Commonly used to trigger various notifications as per the required workflow.
4. It can also save email attachments from your Dynamic-365 system to online storage. 
5. Microsoft Flow is used in PDF formats where a work Flow can be set. Whenever anybody digitally signs the PDF file, you get a notification for that particular file.
6. Flow creates events in online services like Google calendar.

Microsoft Flow helps in the automation of the regular tasks which saves time without any manual work.

Difference between SharePoint Designer Work Flow VS Microsoft Flow

• SharePoint has been used since 2007 for automation and customization by various business organizations.
• Microsoft Flow supports various applications whereas SharePoint Designer only works with SharePoint. 
• Also, SharePoint works on a single site while Microsoft Flow works between sites, collections, tenants, and farms.
• It is much more flexible and extendable than share point.

Where to use it?

Microsoft Flow automates various actions in organizations.

It depends on what is the need that you are trying to meet. Mentioned below are some of the scenarios where we can use Microsoft Flow.

1. It helps to move data from Cognito to Microsoft to D365. It is the tool that allows you to embed Microsoft into an existing website. When a user goes to that form and submits data, that data can go through Microsoft Flow into the D365 system.
2. It helps to synchronize appointments between Google Calendar and D-365
3. Retrieve the latest exchange rates.
4. As it is an online cloud service, it helps to move the D-365 attachments on cloud storage.
5. It can help create a custom folder structure in Share point if needed.
6. Microsoft Flow is used to capture information. For example, if you need to feed information to Twitter from some Instagram Hashtag, it is done by syncing both apps using Microsoft Flow.
7. It triggers the related email or notification as required by the application.
8. Stores email attachments from email to SharePoint document library.
9. Copy files from Onedrive to Google Drive files by syncing both applications.
10. Communicate with Microsoft teams from other applications.

How to Access Microsoft Flow?

Visit Microsoft.com and sign in. If you have an account, that would then send you to the homepage of your login account. Here you would be able to access your Microsoft flows. 

You can create your flows as needed as well as monitor them.

Microsoft Flow can also access Flow through O-365 and D-365.

Components of Microsoft Flow

There are two major components of Microsoft Flow that help you create and use it easily.

Connectors:

• A connector is like a key inside Microsoft Flow that has access to the desired application or system for which you want to create the workflow.
• They are reusable components that connect to an external system like D-365, drop box, Cognito for Microsoft, etc, that allow you to build the desired flow.
• While creating the workflows, you use these connectors for the specific apps, which then helps to send trigger emails, notifications, and reminders for that application.

Templates

As the word explains, it is a pre-created Flow used to automate the process.

One needs to mention which process needs to be automated, and just in a couple of minutes, you have a ready work Flow for your application.

Key features:

To sum it up, let us review some key features of Microsoft Flow:

1. Microsoft Flow communicates with Various Apps and Services

It develops a communication work Flow between, not only Microsoft-based products but also non-Microsoft-based products. Like Google. Twitter, Facebook, Salesforce, Google Drive, Dropbox, Trello, Instagram, etc 

2. Lots of templates to use

Microsoft Flow provides you with various templates. They are ready to use and help create workflows in minutes. Simply select and use the template. The work Flow is ready to use for production. Complete guide and steps for the use as already mentioned in the templates. But templates are also customizable as per the organization requirements

A few template examples are:

• Sending reminder in 10 minutes 
• Saving tweets to Google sheets
• Copy files from Google drive to Onedrive 

3. Create without developer Knowledge

Microsoft Flow can be used without having any developer knowledge.

Creating a work Flow is easy on Microsoft Flow as it is not a developer tool.

Create the Flow as per requirements and share it within the organization or with your team.

Pricing

The best part about Microsoft Flow basic plan is that it included all the O365 features and several premier plans to increase the number of connectors within the flow.

It also provides great speed and runs for the Microsoft Flow to perform well.

To get hands-on experience or practical knowledge about how Microsoft Flow works, join the training at Microtek learning. Follow the link https://www.microteklearning.com/pl-900t00-microsoft-power-platform-fundamentals-training/

They also provide various IT training and certifications for Microsoft and other related applications.

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