Item: Microsoft Power Automate
Rating: 7
Author: Matthew Smith

Overall Satisfaction with Microsoft Flow

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Microsoft Flow is used mainly by me, but it affects the entire company. It is used to automate some redundant functions and save us some time. I have encouraged others to use it but it is still very new to the company. I see a lot of potential with this program and have plans for rolling out new automations in the future.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Microsoft Flow does a great job at automation.
Microsoft Flow can save a lot of time, protects you from having to monotonous things.
Microsoft Flow has a lot of ways it can integrate into other Microsoft programs.

Cons

Microsoft Flow could be made a little simpler for unexperienced folks - general users. I feel what I want it to do in my head is very simple, but the flow steps are not as intuitive even though I understand the logic once it's laid out, although the templates are helpful.
I wish there were more templates, and there are older flow features that are no longer supported. I often find myself searching forums for a solution that comes to find out is no longer supported, and my flow ends up requiring more steps or is impossible.
I understand flow has seminars and workshops, lots of tutorials, but it seems like I'm always trying to achieve some unique task. It would be nice to have a support agent that can help program your flows if they are not available already as a template.

Return on Investment

ROI has been poor only because I have not fully implemented the structure.
I believe Microsoft Flow has excellent potential if I had more time to invest in it.
If Microsoft Flow were fully functional with all the administrative requirements I have - It would save me a quarter to half a day sometimes.

Alternatives Considered

Microsoft Teams, Zapier, Facebook for Business, Hootsuite, Boomerang Commerce CommerceIQ and Mailchimp

Microsoft Flow is more powerful, and it integrates some of these programs into its automation. However, Microsoft Flow does have limitations with integrating into a web browser or website format. Microsoft Flow is targeted towards business users, not so much the social media side of things. It does serve some function for online businesses.

Support Rating

So Microsoft Flow support for its general troubleshooting or correcting issues is excellent. But to my knowledge, Microsoft Flow itself does not have service providers, even though they offer templates on their online app. I have found myself many times trying to complete individual actions that have no known template or even forum example. Every business is unique, and Microsoft does an excellent job of providing versatile yet straightforward systems. Microsoft Flow is definitely on the more advanced side of things. Having support or being able to purchase superior service (on building personalized flows) would be great.

Key Insights

Do you think Microsoft Power Automate delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Microsoft Power Automate's feature set?

Did Microsoft Power Automate live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Microsoft Power Automate go as expected?

Would you buy Microsoft Power Automate again?

Yes

Other Software Used

Microsoft Flow, Microsoft Teams, MS SharePoint, Bluebeam Revu, Adobe Flash, Adobe Acrobat DC, AutoCAD, Facebook for Business, Hootsuite, Zapier

Likelihood to Recommend

Microsoft Flow is suited to automate processes that will not change. An example would be when I create a new item on a Sharepoint list, and a new team channel is created with the same title and a default set of tabs, as well as a set of folders/structure with files for the channel folder. Doing one action generates several default repetitive actions.

Comments

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Microsoft Flow Has Huge Potential