Microsoft Power Automate
Author: Ronald Fung
Creation Date: July 20, 2023
Next Modified Date: July 20, 2024
A. Introduction
Microsoft Power Automate is a cloud-based service that enables individuals and organizations to automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks. With Power Automate, users can create automated workflows that integrate with various apps and services, such as Microsoft Office 365, Dynamics 365, SharePoint, and more. These workflows can be triggered by specific events, such as receiving an email or adding a new item to a list, and can perform actions such as sending emails, creating tasks, updating databases, and more.
Power Automate provides a user-friendly interface that allows users to create workflows using a visual drag-and-drop designer. It also includes a wide range of pre-built templates that users can modify to fit their specific needs. Power Automate also offers advanced features such as AI Builder, which enables users to build custom machine learning models without requiring any coding skills.
Overall, Microsoft Power Automate can help users improve productivity, reduce manual errors, and streamline business processes.
B. How is it used at Seagen
Seagen could use Microsoft Power Automate to automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks related to their biopharma research processes. Here are some examples:
Data Entry Automation: Seagen could use Power Automate to automate the process of entering data into their research database. For example, when a researcher enters data into a form, Power Automate could automatically add that data to the database, reducing the need for manual data entry.
Document Management: Seagen could use Power Automate to automate the process of managing research documents. For example, when a new document is uploaded to a SharePoint site, Power Automate could automatically add metadata and file it in the appropriate folder, saving time and reducing errors.
Notification and Approval Workflows: Seagen could use Power Automate to set up notification and approval workflows for their research projects. For example, when a project is submitted for approval, Power Automate could automatically notify the appropriate stakeholders and track the approval status.
Integration with Other Apps and Services: Seagen could use Power Automate to integrate their Azure services with other apps and services. For example, they could set up a workflow to automatically trigger an Azure Function when a specific event occurs in Dynamics 365.
C. Features
Here are some key features of Microsoft Power Automate:
Workflow Automation: Power Automate allows users to create automated workflows that integrate with various apps and services, such as Microsoft Office 365, Dynamics 365, SharePoint, and more. These workflows can be triggered by specific events and can perform actions such as sending emails, creating tasks, updating databases, and more.
Visual Designer: Power Automate provides a user-friendly interface that allows users to create workflows using a visual drag-and-drop designer. Users can easily add and configure actions, conditions, and triggers without requiring any coding skills.
Templates: Power Automate includes a wide range of pre-built templates that users can modify to fit their specific needs. These templates cover various scenarios such as approvals, notifications, and data collection.
Integration with AI Builder: Power Automate offers advanced features such as AI Builder, which enables users to build custom machine learning models without requiring any coding skills. Users can use these models to automate processes such as text and form recognition, sentiment analysis, and more.
Custom Connectors: Power Automate allows users to create custom connectors to connect to various apps and services. This enables users to integrate with apps and services that are not currently supported by Power Automate.
Analytics: Power Automate provides analytics and insights into the performance of workflows. Users can monitor the number of runs, success rates, and errors to identify areas for improvement.
D. Where implemented
E. How it is tested
Testing is done by using the “Test Workflow” feature. This feature has predefined steps and uses the basic workflow generated and created by the user. The outcome is a step by step breakdown of the process flow and the results of each step. It is here that the user debugs the process automation.
F. 2023 Roadmap
General Availability to Seagen M365 Users
G. 2024 Roadmap
General Availability to Seagen M365 Users
CoPilot for Power Users and Pilot groups
Rollout of CoPilot for key users that meet criteria set out by the AICOI
H. Known Issues
Like any software, Microsoft Power Automate may encounter some issues from time to time. Here are some known issues with Power Automate:
Connectivity Issues: Power Automate may experience connectivity issues with certain apps and services, resulting in failed workflows or delayed triggers.
Performance Issues: Power Automate may experience performance issues when running large or complex workflows, resulting in slow execution times or timeouts.
Authentication Issues: Power Automate may experience authentication issues when connecting to certain apps and services, resulting in failed connections and errors.
Limits and Quotas: Power Automate has limits and quotas on the number of runs, actions, and connections, which may impact the ability to execute workflows or scale them to meet business needs.
Versioning Issues: Power Automate may encounter versioning issues when updating workflows, resulting in compatibility issues with certain connectors or actions.
Security and Compliance Issues: Power Automate may encounter security and compliance issues when handling sensitive data or connecting to certain apps and services that have specific security requirements.
Microsoft regularly releases updates and patches to address these issues. Users can also contact Microsoft support for assistance in troubleshooting and resolving these issues.
[x] Reviewed by Enterprise Architecture
[x] Reviewed by Application Development
[x] Reviewed by Data Architecture