Microsoft Power Automate is a cloud-based service the helps you create automated workflows between your favourite applications and services to synchronise files, receive notifications, collect data etc. You can automate tasks or business processes without the need to code.
Power Automate, previously known as Microsoft Flow is now available in Dynamics 365 Business Central as part of the Microsoft Power Platform. It allows you to build and automate a workflow or a series of repetitive tasks from multiple data sources and bring them together. The workflows are based on “if” and “then” conditions. If the conditions in the workflow are met, the actions get executed.
A few tasks that can be easily carried out include: updating data in a database, send approvals, sync data, retrieve data from SQL, send/receive notifications etc.
You will need a Power Automate subscription to start using Flow. If you are using Business Central (SaaS) and have a Power Automate subscription, then you can simply connect Power Automate as part of your Microsoft services.
There are two ways an automated flow can be created in Power Automate:
- Flow templates
- Manual connection.
Flow Templates
This can be accessed via the Business Central client or the Power Automate website and is easy to build. This is recommended for beginners. For instance, to create a purchase order approval workflow, click on “Create a Flow” under “Request Approval” on Purchase Order card.
This will take you to the next page where you can select from existing workflow templates.
Upon selecting the appropriate workflow, you will be redirected to the power automate website to create the workflow.
Once the workflow is created and saved, it can be managed from within Business Central by navigating to “Manage Power Automate Flows” or in our example, run “See my Flows” under “Request Approval” on Purchase Order card.
Manual connection
You can set up workflows manually using the Power Automate website and Business Central connector.
This is recommended for experienced Power Automate users that require skills to automate business processes and knowledge of common data services and API’s.