Collectively, most organizations encounter the same challenge—to do more with available resources. Technology plays a significant role in effecting solutions regardless of questions arising in terms of costs or complexity of operations. Based on the efficiency and effectiveness of tech, firms can thereby take advantage of the potential benefits.
The emergence of SaaS (Software as a Service) presents an opportunity to use tech without the need to deploy servers or either install and configure sophisticated software systems. As a result, firms have bolstered operational ability to select and integrate tools that enhance their processes.
One revolutionary example of such an innovation is Microsoft Flow. Through cloud-based software utilities, the tool allows employees to develop and automate workflows. What’s more, it makes it possible to move tasks within the framework of multiple applications and services without having to engage developers. Creating a flow implies that the user specifies the particular action that should take place in the event a specific instance ensues.
After establishing a flow, it’s possible to manage it on PC, in addition to mobile-based app devices. Further, flow links effectively with a myriad of Microsoft services and apps such as Power BI, PowerApps, Dynamics 365, and Office 365.
Microsoft Flow Functions
Flow acts to trigger notifications. Once set up, Microsoft Flow can automate entire business processes featuring distinct steps and stages, right from simple push notifications to intricate content management
Alternatively, flow can be utilized to synchronize files and thus eradicate the need for users to duplicate documents. Moreover, upon appending a new file to either Dropbox or OneDrive for business, as a matter of course, an automated workflow can promptly post a duplicate of the data to SharePoint.
Microsoft Flow may also function as a tool for collecting data. For example, should a user need to get feedback from potential clients relating to a specific brand, it’s possible to create a trigger that actively captures new tweets associated with the brand. Such information can then be made available in an SQL database for sentiment analysis.
Subsequently, Microsoft Flow Bots work in the confines of a Teams workspace. Members of a team can trigger flows using the flow bot within the team’s interactive dialogue.
Key Elements of Microsoft Flow
Not only will Microsoft Flow integrate with Microsoft products, but it also accommodates a wide variety of apps and services (Salesforce, SQL Server, Twitter, Box, Slack, DocuSign, Skype, Google Drive and more “connectors”).
In brief, you can also make use of an extensive library listing prebuilt flow templates. In particular, the models give you the ability to perform several of the following functions:
- Annexing Gmail attachments to OneDrive
- Send emails to prospects in the event of a Power BI data alert trigger
- Duplicate SharePoint catalogs into a CSV
- Append tweets that comprise specific hashtags into a SharePoint list
- Receive push notifications upon receiving an email
Microsoft Flow Unlocks the Power of Office 365
Significant chunks of departmental work in many firms involves constant shuffling from one service to another, regularly forming connections between data. With this in mind, Microsoft flow avails a system with which you can connect several services with ease.
In the design process, the system plays the role of an invincible personal assistant, helping you perform tasks. Microsoft Flow utility enables a sales team to focus their time on core functions that add value to the firm. For this purpose, Microsoft Flow leverages the rewards of Salesforce and Office 365.
Filling the Gaps
Despite Microsoft Flow assimilating an array of services, the integrations are not robust, therefore necessitating a significant amount of work in case of customized apps. Not every business glitch has an off-the-shelf solution—more so if a project aims at integrating across multiple data sources, besides requiring transmission across numerous devices.
Developing tailor-made solutions may turn out to be a costly and time-intensive undertaking for the needs of a team or department. All the same, firms have to solve business challenges as well as optimize technological functionalities.
Accordingly, should none of the listed templates align to the process that requires automation, users can make their flows. The Microsoft Flow Admin Center provides an administrator with the ability to supervise users, granting both permission and setting roles. Thus, safeguarding compliance with data loss deterrent policies for employee-created flows.
Handling Scheduled Runs
If you require to change an initial trigger, it’s possible to delete the original trigger and replace it with the appropriate one. However, this is only possible where no other component is using fields from that trigger. Otherwise, you’d have to clear all other fields before eliminating the trigger.
Microsoft flow builder is relatively friendlier than SharePoint designer workflows, especially when it comes to email composition and looping through an array of results. Also, Flow is precise to SharePoint Online, allowing users to build cross-application action-reaction models. Since it’s connector based, the integration works efficiently with APIs. In comparison to SharePoint, users can conveniently adopt, deploy, and scale using Flow.
Microsoft Flow manages data within as JSON, redeploying, and updating programmatically. Not only is Flow a process automation service, but it’s also an integration utility as well. Thus, it requires a standard language/format to deal with all data types derived from a multitude of sources such as SharePoint list, SQL Table, Excel, among others.
Microsoft Flow Pricing
Every flow triggered is considered a run, while checks for updated data don’t constitute a run. The free version Microsoft Flow with O365 has 15-minute checks for new kick-offs, so there will be a slight delay. On the other hand, paid plans get you more frequent tests, more connectors, more runs, plus extras. Flows per month are on a per-user basis, with the total spread across your account. If you exceed your cap, $1 will buy you about 1000 extra runs.
Future of Flow
- More connectors, more robust functionality
- Export Visio diagrams to Flow
- Increased security and oversight
Ultimately, Flow avails solutions to the implementation and scaling of business processes. Thus, enabling your company to select and adopt tools that improve operations. If you would like more information about Microsoft Flow or help to implement process automation within your environment, reach out to one of our experts.