Part of the Microsoft Power Platform, Power Automate (formerly known as Microsoft Flow) is a must-have tool for any business. Power Automate can help you increase business productivity by automating routine processes and tasks, freeing your employees to focus on things that truly matter.
How does it work? Power Automate allows employees to easily automate processes with connected sources such as Microsoft Office 365.
This handy tool relies on standard and custom connectors to automate repetitive tasks or time-consuming business processes with limited coding.
A connector links two applications, essentially ‘moving’ data from one application to another. It allows employees to collaborate or connect with other services or apps. Using connectors, they can link their accounts and leverage a set of predefined events and triggers to create workflows.
Microsoft Dataverse is among the most common connectors used by Power Automate to build automated flows. This article will explain how Power Automate and Dataverse work together to build real-world automation.
What Is Power Automate?
As mentioned at the start of the article, Microsoft Power Automate is part of the Microsoft Power Platform. The Power Platform is a group of low-code tools for building workflows, applications, AI bots, and data analytics within the Microsoft ecosystem.
Power Automate is the workflow engine. It helps users quickly automate routine processes and tasks. Users can create automated workflows – called ‘flows’ – that start with a ‘trigger,’ a prebuilt action that then prompts a response.
At its core, Power Automate is all about building automated workflows and simplifying tasks. You can create your automated workflow using available data sources or choose a template and tweak it to make it your own.
What’s even better? You can keep track of your workflows using the Power Automate mobile app.
What Is Dataverse?
Microsoft Dataverse, previously known as Common Data Service, is a cloud-based database or data warehouse that pulls in and stores data from multiple sources.
This online repository is used to store information about business processes, which is collected by linked applications.
Microsoft Dataverse eliminates double data entry by having a central storage point for all Microsoft applications to consult data. This has numerous advantages for business users. For instance, users can easily set up workflows using Power Automate from this central data collection point.
What Is the Difference Between Dataverse and Database?
Microsoft Dataverse is the new name for the Common Data Service. It’s a cloud-based relational storage space that integrates data from multiple sources into a single store. Unlike your typical database, Microsoft Dataverse gives you access to three different storage areas.
There’s one space each for databases, logs, and files. The amount of cloud storage space you get will depend on the PowerApps subscription that you pay for. But as you’ll learn throughout the article, Microsoft Dataverse does much more than just store your data.
For instance, Dataverse includes various ways to deliver data and insight to key decision-makers. For example, users can create lightweight charts and paginated reports using Microsoft Dataverse, which can be used to gain insights and drive business action.
Can Power Automate Connect to Dataverse?
In addition to storing and managing the data for business applications, Dataverse can integrate natively with various Microsoft Power Platforms, including Power Automate.
You need a data connector to automate processes with connected sources, such as Microsoft Office 365.
Microsoft Dataverse is the most commonly used connector when using Power Automate to build flows.
What Is a Dataverse Connector?
Data connectors link or communicate with the data source in Power Automate. Dataverse connectors provide users with various triggers that indicate the beginning of flows and actions you can use to create and update data in the Dataverse.
In Power Automate, a trigger defines when the flows begin. The Microsoft Dataverse connector allows you to use the following triggers to help you determine when a workflow starts:
- When you create, update, or delete a flow
- When you perform an action
- When you run a flow step from a business process flow
Actions are the steps you take to manage the data within the flows. The Microsoft Dataverse connector lets you use the following actions to help you control data in your workflows:
- Create a new row
- Update an existing row
- Delete rows
- Lists rows
- Search rows
- Relate and unrelate rows
- Upload files
- Execute change set requests
Remember that you can still use Dataverse actions even if your flows do not employ triggers from the Microsoft Dataverse connector.
What Is Dataverse Used For?
The integration between Power Automate – and other tools within the Power Platform -and Dataverse is seamless. Businesses can rely on Microsoft Dataverse to expand Microsoft Office functionalities, among other things, thanks to the fluid integration.
Here are two key ways you can use Dataverse within Power Automate:
- A cloud flow allows users to trigger automation processes automatically, instantaneously, or via a schedule. Dataverse helps you create a cloud flow for importing or exporting and taking action when the information changes.
- You can use Dataverse to create a cloud flow that stores the approval state in a table instead of making an approval loop through email. You can then develop a custom application users can rely on for approving or rejecting items.
Power Automate Dataverse is a vital service with features that can help organizations automate their business processes. Power Automate Dataverse makes it incredibly easy to design built-in activities and automate various routine processes.
Power Automate and Dataverse Integration
Power Automate is a workflow tool that helps you connect to data sources and automate processes. One thing that Power Automate can’t do, though, is store your data. The only exception is if you are doing some computation within your flow. In this case, you can use variables to store the data.
Dataverse will securely store and manage information used by business applications, but there are other things Dataverse is helpful for. Although Dataverse is mainly seen as an online data hub, it acts as an API (Application Programming Interface).
An API is a software intermediary that facilitates communication between two applications. With Microsoft Dataverse, you can store and manage data for business applications and integrate natively with other Microsoft Power Platform services, such as Power Automate.
Power Automate and Dataverse integration provides a unified view of the organizational data, which you can use to create workflows that leverage the Dataverse. Organizations can rely on Power Automate and Dataverse integration to expand the functionalities of various Microsoft services and applications.
Benefits of Dataverse integration with Power Automate
Dataverse integration with Power Automate provides a broad range of benefits for businesses.
For starters, Dataverse integration with Power Automate makes it possible to create automated processes through the no-code or low-code platform.
Dataverse integration with Power Automate makes it possible to transform your manual business tasks into digital, automated processes with little to no technical skills. You don’t have to be an IT guru to use this service to automate routine business tasks; basic business users can do it without breaking a sweat.
Secondly, Dataverse allows data to be pulled from multiple sources, which has numerous advantages for Power Automate users. For instance, having a central storage point for all applications to consult data provides a unified view of the business data.
A Power Automate Dataverse integration provides a unified view of business data which can significantly improve operational efficiency.
Seamlessly Connect Your Favorite Apps!
Microsoft Power Automate allows you to automate tons of highly repetitive routine tasks. Now fully baked into the Microsoft Power Platform, Power Automate lets you seamlessly connect your favorite apps so that you can be more productive.
One of the best Power Automate features is its capability to collaborate or connect with other services or applications. You can easily integrate Power Automate with other applications or services using connectors, such as the Microsoft Dataverse connector.
Dataverse has robust API functionality, allowing direct interaction with applications such as Power Automate. Dataverse integration with Power Automate provides a unified view of the organizational data, meaning that you can automate business processes for the entire company.
Need Help With Power Automate and Dataverse integration?
Do you need help with your Power Automate and Dataverse integration? We can help! IncWorx is an experienced Power Automate consulting firm. Our experienced team of professional consultants is ready to help you harness the Power of Power Automate Dataverse to reach your full potential.
We leverage various Microsoft products to build solutions that accelerate better outcomes for your business, clients, and users. IncWorx can help you automate and streamline your business processes and enhance productivity.
Do you need help integrating Microsoft Dataverse data into workflows built using Microsoft Power Automate? Set up a call with an expert to learn more about Power Automate and how your business can get started.
