In this post, we have explained Microsoft Power Automate and How to get started with Microsoft Power Automate.
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Microsoft Power Automate
Microsoft Power Automate (previously known as Microsoft Flow) is an online workflow service that automates actions across the most common apps and services. Power Automate is one of the widely used RPA tools.
Why Power Automate?
Power Automate helps us automate workflows between your favorite applications and services, sync files, get notifications, collect data, and much more.
Power Automate is a part of the Power Platform and offers several benefits.
Business Benefits
These are a few benefits of using the Power Platform:
- Improves employee efficiency
- Positive customer satisfaction
- Reduced indirect and variable operating costs
- Potential increase in ROI
Getting Started with Power Automate
In order to get started with Power Automate, head over to flow.microsoft.com which will direct you to Power Automate or you may directly visit powerautomate.microsoft.com
You will be presented with the screen as shown below. You can create your flows, use pre-programmed workflow templates and start your automation journey with Power Automate.
Microsoft Power Automate Desktop
Power Automate Desktop is an enterprise-level tool (RPA tool) for creating automated desktop-centric workflows. Microsoft calls this an attended Robotic Process Automation solution.
Power Automate Desktop (PAD) comes with the Web Recorder for web-based applications and Desktop Recorder for desktop-based applications.
Getting Started with Power Automate Desktop
We need to install the software on our machine. Follow these steps to install Power Automate Desktop (PAD).
Installation Steps
- Download the installer – Power Automate Installer
- Once the download is complete, run the setup file
- Make your selections and complete the setup
- Now you will need to install and enable the extension for Power Automate Desktop
- You’re done and ready to use Power Automate Desktop (PAD)
You may refer to the official video for creating your first flow:
Difference Between Microsoft Power Automate and Power Automate Desktop
The key differences between Power Automate and Power Automate Desktop are listed below:
| Power Automate (PA) | Power Automate Desktop (PAD) |
| Web-based automation tool | Desktop-based automation tool |
| Pre-programmed Workflow Templates are available | No Workflow Templates |
| No Web or Desktop Recorders | Web and Desktop Recorders are available |
| No pre-built Actions | Pre-built Actions are available |
| Automatic Flow Triggers | Automatic Flow Triggers are not available |
Power Automate vs Power Automate Desktop
Power Automate Certifications
Since Power Automate is one of the offerings from Power Platform. There is no individual certification available for Power Automate at this moment.
Here we are listing all the certifications available for Power Platform along with the exam codes.
- Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Fundamentals (PL-900)
- Microsoft Certified: Power Automate RPA Developer (PL-500)
- Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Developer Associate(PL-400)
- Microsoft Certified: Power Platform App Maker Associate (PL-100)
- Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Functional Consultant Associate (PL-200)
- Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Solution Architect Expert (PL-600)
Power Automate Courses
You can check out a few of these courses on Power Automate & Power Automate Desktop.
1. Microsoft Power Automate Desktop Course | Zero to Expert (1)
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2. Microsoft Power Automate Desktop Course | Zero to Expert (2)
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3. Power Automate Desktop for Beginners
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4. Power Automate – Complete Guide to Microsoft Power Automate
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Free Resources to Learn
We have listed a few of the Youtube channels that would help you to learn the Power Automate or Power Platform totally “Free of Cost”.
Further Reading
If you wish to explore these tools further, you may check out the Microsoft Learn platform.
👉 Get started with Power Automate
Happy Automation!
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