Identify use cases for connectors, custom connectors, connection references, and connections for cloud flows

Power Automate, part of the Microsoft Power Platform, empowers developers to automate workflows and streamline business processes. As an RPA (Robotic Process Automation) Developer, it is crucial to understand the various components of Power Automate that enable seamless integration and interaction with other systems and services. In this article, we will explore the use cases for connectors, custom connectors, connection references, and connections for cloud flows, which are essential in building efficient and powerful automations.

1. Connectors

Connectors serve as bridges between Power Automate and external systems or services. They provide pre-built actions and triggers that allow you to interact with the corresponding system directly. Power Automate offers a wide range of connectors, including popular services like Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Outlook, Dynamics 365, Salesforce, and more.

Use cases for connectors include:

• Sending emails and notifications: Utilize the Outlook connector to automate email communications based on predefined conditions or trigger events.

Send an email using the Outlook connector:
[
{
"inputs": {
"body": {
"Content": "Hello! This is an automated email."
},
"subject": "Automation Success",
"to": "example@example.com"
},
"runAfter": {},
"type": "ApiConnection"
}
]

• Creating and updating records: Connectors like the Dynamics 365 connector enable the automation of record creation, retrieval, and updates in a CRM system.

Create a new contact in Dynamics 365 using the connector:
[
{
"inputs": {
"body": {
"lastname": "Smith",
"firstname": "John",
"emailaddress1": "john.smith@example.com"
}
},
"runAfter": {},
"type": "ApiConnection"
}
]

2. Custom Connectors

While the built-in connectors cover a wide array of services, there might be scenarios where you need to connect with custom APIs or on-premises systems. Custom connectors allow you to extend the connectivity of Power Automate through the creation of tailored connectors.

Use cases for custom connectors include:

• Integration with proprietary systems: Build custom connectors to interact with internal applications or systems unique to your organization.
• Interaction with RESTful APIs: Connect to external services or systems that expose RESTful APIs for data retrieval or updates.

3. Connection References

Connection references provide a way to parameterize the connections used in a flow. They allow you to separate the connection configuration from the actual flow logic, enhancing reusability and flexibility.

Use cases for connection references include:

• Centralized connection management: By referencing connections, you can manage and update connection details from a centralized location, simplifying maintenance and reducing duplicated efforts.
• Environment-specific connections: Use connection references to switch between different environments (e.g., development, test, production) without modifying the flow logic.

4. Connections for Cloud Flows

In addition to connectors and custom connectors, cloud flows require connections to authenticate and establish a secure connection with external systems.

Use cases for connections in cloud flows include:

• Authentication and access control: Connections enable secure authentication, ensuring that only authorized users or systems can trigger or interact with specific cloud flows.
• Cross-platform integration: Establish connections to cloud services, on-premises systems (via data gateway), or even IoT devices to create end-to-end automation solutions.

Example of connection configuration in a cloud flow:
{
"type": "Microsoft.Web/connections",
"apiVersion": "2018-07-01-preview",
"name": "[parameters('slack_connectionName')]",
"location": "[variables('location')]",
"properties": {
"api": {
"id": "[concat(subscription().id, '/providers/Microsoft.Web/locations/', variables('location'), '/managedApis/', variables('slack_serviceName'))]"
},
"displayName": "[parameters('slack_connectionDisplayName')]",
"nonSecretParameterValues": {
"bearerToken": "[parameters('slack_bearerToken')]"
}
}
}

In conclusion, connectors, custom connectors, connection references, and connections for cloud flows play vital roles in enabling seamless integration, automation, and interaction with external systems and services in Power Automate. Understanding their use cases empowers RPA Developers to build robust and efficient automations that adapt to their organization’s unique requirements.