What Replaced Microsoft Flow in SharePoint: Power Automate

Last Updated on October 17, 2024

It’s actually more of an evolution than a replacement.

In this short guide, let’s discuss what “replaced” Microsoft Flow, the key features, and the benefits of this new tool.

Let’s get started.

Table of Contents:

What was Microsoft Flow?

Microsoft Flow was a cloud-based service designed to automate tasks across different applications.

It was called “Flow” as users can create workflows that connect various services, including third-party apps.

Here are some of its key features:

Users could set up processes without needing advanced coding skills.

While it started as a way to connect Microsoft apps, it expanded to work with many external platforms.

However, Microsoft eventually transitioned it into a more robust solution called Power Automate which has greater flexibility and features.

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Power Automate is the service that “took over” from Microsoft Flow.

It builds on Flow’s foundation but adds improved automation capabilities and deeper integration with Microsoft’s ecosystem.

The AI (Copilot) is amazing, as you can create a “flow” simply by telling the AI what you want to create:

Well, it would have a hard time creating automation though that’s too complicated, but still, it’s a great way to start. 🙂

Power Automate has a richer set of features for creating automation, from simple to multi-step processes involving various apps.

As I explained, Power Automate builds on the basics of Microsoft Flow but adds new tools to improve productivity.

Here are some of its key features:

Power Automate brings new intelligent features, such as recognizing text in images or sorting data automatically.

With a focus on integration, it easily connects Microsoft apps and third-party services to help users in their operations.

Power Automate can be used in many ways to improve efficiency and make tasks easier across different platforms.

Here are some practical use cases:

Automatically send documents for approval and notify users when actions are needed
Sync and update content across multiple SharePoint sites
Schedule regular reports and have them sent automatically to relevant teams
Assign tasks based on triggers, such as form submissions or project updates
Connect with external apps like Salesforce, Slack, and Dropbox.

Power Automate is particularly useful for handling repetitive tasks and freeing up time for more strategic work.

For example, businesses can set up workflows to monitor data changes and send alerts when certain criteria are met.

You can also use it to automatically assign tasks when a new project starts so team members are on the same page.

Do you have more questions about Power Automate? Let me know in the comments below.

For any business-related queries or concerns, contact me through the contact form. I always reply. 🙂