Flows In Power Automate
Power Automate offers several types of flows that you can create based on your automation needs. Here are some of the main flow types available in Power Automate:
- Automated flows: These flows are triggered by an event or specific conditions and execute actions automatically. They can be triggered by various events, such as receiving an email, a new file being added to a folder, a new item being created in a SharePoint list, or a scheduled time.
- Button flows: These flows are designed to be manually triggered by clicking a button. They are typically used for on-demand actions, allowing users to initiate a flow when needed. For example, you can create a button flow to send an email notification or update a record in a CRM system.
- Scheduled flows: Scheduled flows run at specified intervals or on specific dates and times. You can set up recurring schedules, such as running a flow every day, every week, or every month. Scheduled flows are useful for performing routine tasks or generating regular reports.
- Business process flows: Business process flows are designed to automate multi-step processes with defined stages and actions. They are commonly used for guiding users through a series of steps, ensuring consistency and compliance. Business process flows often integrate with other systems and can include approvals, notifications, and data updates.
- Instant flows: Instant flows allow you to trigger a flow from external systems or custom applications using APIs or HTTP requests. They provide a way to integrate Power Automate with external services or trigger flows programmatically.
- Desktop flows (UI flows): Desktop flows allow you to automate repetitive tasks on your desktop or web applications. They can simulate mouse clicks, keyboard inputs, and data interactions, making it possible to automate tasks within software applications.
- Approval flows: Approval flows help streamline and automate approval processes. They can route requests for approval to designated approvers and capture their responses. Approval flows are commonly used for expense approvals, document reviews, or leave requests.
- Data-driven flows: Data-driven flows are triggered by changes or updates in data sources such as a database or SharePoint. They are useful for reacting to data changes and automating actions based on specific conditions.
These are some of the main flow types available in Power Automate. Each type of flow serves a specific purpose, allowing you to create automation solutions tailored to your business requirements.
