Describe use cases for cloud and desktop flows

Cloud and Desktop Flows for Power Automate

Cloud and desktop flows, now referred to as Power Automate flows, offer a range of use cases suited for different needs. These flows can be leveraged based on specific requirements, allowing for versatile automation possibilities. Let’s explore the common use cases for both cloud and desktop flows:

Cloud Flows:

1. Integration with Cloud-Based Services:

Cloud flows excel at integrating with various cloud-based services such as SharePoint, OneDrive, Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, Twitter, and more. You can automate tasks like document creation or updates, collaboration notifications, data synchronization, social media posting, and more.

2. Web-Based Data Extraction:

Cloud flows can be used for web scraping applications and data mining by extracting relevant information from websites. This capability enables aggregating data from multiple sources and automating the retrieval of specific data for further processing and analysis.

3. Real-Time Events and Notifications:

Cloud flows enable you to design workflows that respond to real-time events or triggers, such as email arrivals, social media mentions, or data changes in a system. You can automate actions such as sending notifications, creating tasks, generating reports, or triggering additional processes based on these events.

4. Cloud-Based Data Processing:

Cloud flows offer advanced data transformation and processing capabilities. You can extract, process, and analyze large datasets, perform calculations, generate insights, and store results in cloud-based storage systems like Azure Blob Storage or Azure SQL Database. This allows for powerful data manipulations and analytics.

Desktop Flows:

1. Desktop Application Automation:

Desktop flows specialize in automating tasks within desktop applications installed on your local machine. You can automate data entry, report generation, file management, application navigation, and repetitive actions using popular software like Microsoft Excel, Outlook, or other legacy applications.

2. Legacy Systems Integration:

Desktop flows provide the capability to integrate with legacy systems that lack built-in APIs or cloud-based services. By emulating user actions and capturing screen interactions, you can automate workflows involving data extraction, system interaction, or other actions required for the integration.

3. Local File Processing:

Desktop flows are ideal for automating tasks related to local file processing. You can automate the extraction of data from local files, transform the data, perform specific actions, or store the results locally or in cloud storage. This enables efficient handling of files and data on your local machine.

4. UI Testing and Validation:

Desktop flows support user interface (UI) testing and validation of desktop applications. By simulating user actions and verifying expected results, you can ensure the quality and functionality of applications. This allows for automated testing, validation, and verification of the UI and its behavior.

It’s important to note that Power Automate provides a spectrum of flow options that enable synergy between the cloud and desktop. The use cases mentioned above are not mutually exclusive and can often be combined, allowing for more comprehensive and sophisticated automation scenarios.

Overall, cloud and desktop flows offer flexibility and autonomy in automating various tasks and workflows. By assessing your organization’s requirements and objectives, you can determine whether cloud or desktop flows — or a combination of both — best align with your automation goals.