Identify the differences among cloud flows, and desktop flows, and business process flows

Cloud flows, also known as cloud-based flows, are a type of automation flow that runs in the cloud. They are created and managed through the Power Automate web portal. Cloud flows enable you to automate repetitive tasks and processes across various online services and applications.

Key Features:

• Triggers: Cloud flows can be triggered by various events, such as receiving an email, creating a new item in SharePoint, or a specific time-based schedule.
• Connectors: Power Automate provides a wide range of connectors to interact with different applications and services, including Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Dropbox, Salesforce, and many more.
• Actions: Cloud flows allow you to define a sequence of actions that can be executed based on the trigger event. You can perform actions like sending an email, creating a document, updating a database, or posting on social media.
• Integration: Cloud flows provide seamless integration with other Microsoft Power Platform solutions like Power Apps to create end-to-end business processes.

Example Cloud Flow:

When a new item is created in SharePoint,
Get item details,
If item status is "Approved",
Send email to user with approval details,
Else,
Send email to user with rejection details.

Desktop Flows

Desktop flows, also known as UI flows, are a type of automation flow that replicates repetitive tasks performed on a Windows desktop application. They are designed to interact with desktop applications by simulating mouse clicks, keyboard inputs, and screen scraping. Desktop flows are ideal for automating legacy systems or applications that do not have APIs or integrations available.

Key Features:

• Recorder: Desktop flows provide a recorder option to capture user actions on a desktop application. The recorder creates a list of steps that can be subsequently edited or enhanced.
• Screen Scraping: Desktop flows can extract information from screen elements like text, images, buttons, and menus using screen scraping techniques.
• Looping and Conditions: Similar to cloud flows, desktop flows support looping and conditional statements to perform complex tasks.
• Integration: Desktop flows can be combined with cloud flows to create hybrid automation scenarios that involve both desktop and cloud-based applications.

Example Desktop Flow:

Open legacy application,
Enter username and password,
Click "Login" button,
Wait for application to load,
Click on specific screen element to trigger an action,
Capture data from the application screen,
Repeat the steps for multiple records,
Close the application.

Business Process Flows

Business process flows (BPFs) are a type of automation flow that helps to streamline and guide users through a defined business process. BPFs are typically used in Microsoft Dynamics 365 applications to ensure consistency and efficiency in complex processes.

Key Features:

• Stages and Steps: BPFs are organized into multiple stages, with each stage containing a set of steps that need to be completed. Each step can have associated instructions, fields to capture data, and related actions.
• Progress Tracking: Users can track their progress within the BPF and easily identify the current stage and pending steps.
• Automation and Validation: BPFs can automate certain tasks and validate user inputs to ensure data accuracy and process adherence.
• Integration: BPFs can be integrated with other flows, such as cloud flows or desktop flows, to automate additional tasks and actions within the defined process.

Example Business Process Flow:

Stage 1: Lead Generation,
Step 1: Capture lead contact information,
Step 2: Qualify the lead based on predefined criteria,
Step 3: If qualified, create an opportunity and assign a sales representative,
Step 4: If not qualified, mark as lost and update the lead status.

Stage 2: Opportunity Management,
Step 1: Update opportunity details,
Step 2: Follow up with the customer,
Step 3: Close the opportunity and update the outcome.

In conclusion, cloud flows, desktop flows, and business process flows are different types of automation flows within Microsoft Power Automate. Cloud flows are cloud-based automation flows that can integrate with various applications and services, desktop flows use UI automation techniques to interact with desktop applications, and business process flows guide users through a defined process. Understanding the differences among these flow types will help you choose the most appropriate flow for your automation requirements.