Microsoft PowerApps and Flow
Microsoft PowerApps and Flow are used in combination to deliver a robust solution that meet the needs of the business. PowerApps is used to create the interfaces and flow will take care of the business logic. You won’t need to write code, although an understanding of the flow statements is useful to have. Simply use the point-and-click flow designer to start building your business logic.
It is best to think of flow in PowerApps as an automated workflow containing a series of actions that get executed when called from PowerApps. Flow in itself is a cloud-based service that enables users to create automated workflows.
You can pass parameters to the flow from PowerApps. These parameters could then be used as inputs to for example, SQL stored procedures which are called in flow.
A PowerApps Flow SharePoint combination can also be created. For example, you could save a record in PowerApps and when it gets added to the SharePoint list a flow automatically gets fired which emails the admin that a new record has arrived. The flow can be created from SharePoint on the list itself.
The three types of Microsoft flow
Automated: This type of flow gets triggered automatically when an event occurs, like a new record arriving in a SharePoint list.
Button: This type of flow gets triggered manually when you click a button in PowerApps.
Scheduled: This type of flow gets will run at a scheduled time and could be a recurring flow.
An example of a flow is to send an email to a manager to approve a vacation request. The manager would fill out an on-screen form or perhaps simply click an ‘Approve’ button. When it is approved another flow would be fired to notify the employee that their leave request was approved. You could even set it up to reject the request. Good use of Microsoft flow triggers are needed here.
Why should you use Microsoft PowerApps and Flow?
Increase Productivity
By making use of its automatic workflows, it is possible to streamline laborious tasks, while concentrating on the ones that are important to you.
Save Time
Automatic workflows such as an annual vacation request can be triggered without you having to walk across the room to talk to the manager about it. This is just one example, but you can see the possibilities here. Essentially routine tasks that become automated give you more time to get on with your daily work.
Make Tasks More Efficient and Effective
You could for example create Microsoft Powerapps flow triggers to email you whenever you or your team gets a mention in Yammer. This saves you having to check Yammer every morning and frees up your time to do other things.
To use both Microsoft PowerApps and Flow, add a new screen in PowerApps and then add a button. Click on the button and then click on the ‘Action’ menu. Now click on the ‘Flows’ option. A box will pop up listing any existing flows. There is an option at the bottom to create a new flow.
You will then see a series of templates that can be used as the basis for your flow. If you prefer to skip this step and create something from scratch then at the menu on the left-hand side, click on the option that says ‘Create’. You will now have to give the flow a name and select how you want to trigger the flow. Click the ‘Create’ button and you will be taken into the flow designer. From here you can start to create your flow.
Flow Pricing
Whenever you use Microsoft PowerApps and Flow, it is worth planning out in advance what you want it to do. Also consider how many times a month the flow is likely to get fired and how many users will need to use this functionality. There is a pricing structure in place for how many flows can be run per user and things can get quite costly for your organisation if you do not do some careful planning.
Also read about Microsoft PowerApps Android
