Identify Different Types of flows
Power Automate as a service has been used to automate repetitive tasks to bring efficiencies to any organization. Moreover, we can create different types of flows including – cloud flows, desktop flows, or business process flows.
Cloud Flows
It is suggested to create cloud flow when you want your automation to be triggered either automatically, instantly, or via a schedule. Further, below is a given table displaying different types of flows, their use cases and automation target.
| Flow type | Use case | Automation target |
|---|---|---|
| Automated flows | We focus on creating automation that is triggered by an event like the arrival of an email from a particular person, or either specifying your organization in social media. | Connectors for cloud or on-premises services connect your accounts and enable them to talk to each other. |
| Instant flows | We start automation with a click of a button. Also, you can automate for repetitive tasks from your Desktop or Mobile devices. This type of flow is suggested when you need to instantly send a quick reminder to the team with a push of a button, | Wide range of tasks such as requesting an approval, an action in Teams or SharePoint. |
| Scheduled flows | In order to schedule automation like data upload to SharePoint or a database on a routine basis. | Tasks that need to be automated on a schedule. |
Desktop Flows
Some of the important features of desktop flow includes –
- Firstly, desktop flows are used to automate tasks on the Web or the desktop.
- Secondly, using Power Automate Desktop we can automate tasks on the desktop as well as the Web.
- In the same vein, you can use the two legacy methods of creating desktop flows: Windows recorder (V1) and Selenium ID.
Business Process Flows
Some of the important features of business process flow includes –
- Firstly, business process flows provide a guide for people to get work done.
- Secondly, they provide a streamlined user experience that leads people through the processes their organization has defined for interactions that need to be advanced to a conclusion of some kind.
- Lastly, user experience can be tailored so that people with different security roles can have an experience that best suits the work they do.
Reference: Overview of the different types of flows