Microsoft Power Automate (Flow) Crash Course

Power Automate (formerly known as Microsoft Flow) is the new generation of Microsoft automation tools on Microsoft cloud. With this technology Microsoft is trying to make automation more accessible to the people who actually understand and live with the business process than techies to live and breath technology and quite often not so familiar with the business process.

This course is designed form beginners with no experience with Power Automate and upon completion of this course you will be able to create workflows using Power Automate that can solve real life automation challenges. Although the course is designed for beginners, the content is suitable for people with strong technical background that are willing to start with Microsoft Power Automate.

The course focuses on field experience and using the technology in day-to-day basis rather than just demos. Clear explanation is given for every step of the work assuring you well understand the work you do and can transfer the knowledge to your day-to-day job. Clear explanation of Microsoft Power platform guarantees your understanding of all elements you need to learn and all the licensing requirements are clarified right in the beginning of the course.

The course includes lectures, quiz and a final project that puts all the course knowledge together for a real life example of using Power Automate.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Creating workflows using microsoft power automate flow
Connecting different solutions to sharepoint online
Calling flows from external sources
Creating workflow triggers and actions with flow

Controlling flow using conditions
Querying records using odata in microsoft flow
Sending office forms data to microsoft flow

Creating workflows using microsoft power automate flow
Connecting different solutions to sharepoint online
Calling flows from external sources
Creating workflow triggers and actions with flow
Controlling flow using conditions
Querying records using odata in microsoft flow
Sending office forms data to microsoft flow

Syllabus

Course objectives, Prerequisites, licenses and setup, course road map and outlines

Welcome and introduction to the course

The course target audience and prerequisites.

A review on Microsoft Power platform and understanding the basics of Power Automate.

Let's create a tiny Flow using Power Automate and point out Trigger, Action and Connectors.

Let's build our first Flow in Power Automate together :)

Let's have an overview on what we are going to learn in this course.

In this lecture we learn about different types of triggers we have in Power Automate.

In this lecture you will learn how to use manual flow trigger with added fields. You will also run your first Flow from Power Automate mobile app.

In this video you will see how to create a Flow that is fired on a calendar with intervals.

In this lecture we create a Flow that monitors a SharePoint library and sends an email when a file is added to the library.

In this lecture we use a trigger that is fired when an e-mail gets to a mailbox.

This is a real life example of using what we have learned so far

In this lecture we will learn how to get all items from a SharePoint list using Power Automate Get Items action

In this video you will describe a scenario in which we need OData

In this lecture we learn the basic OData filters and use them in Power Automate Flow.

In this lecture we review some of the limitations of OData in Power Automate. We will also see how to sort the content that we receive from other sources using OData sort feature.

So far we learned how to get all items in a list based on some filter criteria. In this lecture we learn how to get a specific item assuming that we have the item ID.

This is a small quiz to test your knowledge about Power Automate basic actions

This is a quick introduction to why we need variables in Power Automate

In this lecture we learn how to work with different variable actions in Power Automate.

An introduction to arrays in Power Automate followed by append function

In this lecture, we create an object variable and assign a JSON object to it. Then we learn to use "Parse JSON" to read the object properties.

In this lecture we learn how to use Condition action and select different flow paths based on the received value.

This lecture is a demo of Switch control

In this lecture we learn how to use "Apply to each" to navigate through all items in an array.

Now we can have a loop with counter.

The first section of error handling.

In this lecture we learn about "Configure run after" and go through a simple example

In this lecture we learn how to create an approval request and send it to more than one approver simultaneously

In this lecture we learn how to create two approval requests and send them to two approvers at the same time in two parallel branches.

This is the test of your knowledge in Flow control actions

In this lecture we learn about how to add co-owners to the flow and the impacts of it to other access levels.

This is an important chapter. In this lecture we will learn about giving a user to run a Power Automate Flow without giving access to open the Flow for edit.

Time to test your knowledge on Security

In this lecture we create a Power Automate Flow that we call directly from Microsoft Excel and we pass table row as parameter to Flow

In this lecture we create an excel file with a table inside it. Then we user Power Automate to insert, delete and update the rows in the table.

In this lecture, we connect to a table in Microsoft Excel and read the table content from Power Automate Flow

In this lecture we use Power Automate to convert an Excel range to a table and then read the content from the table in the same Flow.

See how much you can remember from Excel interactions

Let's have a quick review on Microsoft Office Forms before we get into connecting it to Power Automate.

In this lecture we create a form that can anonymously capture the values from a user and insert it to a secure SharePoint list.

Let's create the schedule for the Flow and finish the course

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides a clear explanation of the Microsoft Power Platform, ensuring learners understand all the elements they need to learn, including licensing requirements, right from the beginning

Focuses on field experience and using the technology in day-to-day scenarios, rather than just demos, which helps learners apply their knowledge to real-world automation challenges

Explores connecting different solutions to SharePoint Online, which is a common requirement for businesses using Microsoft's ecosystem for document management and collaboration

Covers querying records using OData in Microsoft Flow, which is essential for filtering and retrieving specific data from various sources within automated workflows

Teaches how to call Flows from external sources, which allows learners to integrate Power Automate with other applications and systems for broader automation capabilities

Requires learners to have some Excel knowledge, which may be a barrier for some students who are completely new to both Power Automate and Excel

Reviews summary

Practical power automate for beginners

According to learners, this course provides a solid introduction to Microsoft Power Automate, suitable for beginners looking to automate tasks. Many highlight the practical, real-world examples, particularly the sections on integrating with SharePoint and Excel, finding the content directly applicable to their jobs. Students generally find the explanations clear and the step-by-step approach helpful. Some learners note that the pace can feel fast-paced, especially if they lack prior technical exposure, and suggest that certain topics could benefit from more in-depth coverage. Overall, it's seen as a valuable starting point for those needing to use Power Automate for business process automation.

Covers practical integrations like SharePoint and Excel.

"The SharePoint section was particularly valuable for my work."

"Appreciated the examples showing Excel automation."

"Covers the main connectors needed for business tasks."

Explanations are easy to follow and understand.

"The instructor explains things very clearly."

"Liked the way the concepts were broken down."

"Easy to understand the why and how of each step."

Provides a solid foundation for new users.

"Great starting point for someone totally new to Power Automate."

"Perfect intro to the basics and getting started."

"Gave me enough foundational knowledge to build my first flows."

Focuses on real-world use cases for daily work.

"The examples are directly applicable to tasks I do daily."

"Helped me automate some manual processes in my job."

"Really liked the hands-on approach and practical demos."

Moves quickly; some wish for more detail on topics.

"Felt a bit rushed in certain sections."

"Could definitely benefit from deeper dives into some concepts."

"Might be challenging if you have absolutely no technical background."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Microsoft Power Automate (Flow) Crash Course with these activities:

Review Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals

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Solidify your understanding of the Microsoft Power Platform ecosystem to better grasp Power Automate's role and capabilities within it.

Browse courses on Microsoft Power Platform

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Review the core components of the Power Platform.
Understand the licensing models for each component.
Explore the integration capabilities between Power Automate and other Power Platform services.

Practice Building Simple Flows

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Reinforce your understanding of basic flow creation by building several simple flows with different triggers and actions.

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Create a flow triggered by a new email in Outlook.
Build a flow that posts a message to Teams when a file is added to SharePoint.
Design a flow that sends a push notification to your phone on a schedule.

Create a Power Automate Tutorial

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Solidify your knowledge by creating a tutorial (written or video) explaining a specific Power Automate concept or feature.

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Choose a Power Automate topic to explain.
Create a clear and concise tutorial.
Share your tutorial with others and gather feedback.

Three other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all six activities

Automate a Business Process

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Apply your Power Automate skills to automate a real-world business process, such as invoice processing or lead management.

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Identify a repetitive task in your workplace or personal life.
Design a Power Automate flow to automate that task.
Test and refine your flow to ensure it works correctly.
Document your flow for future reference.

Explore Advanced Connectors

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Expand your Power Automate capabilities by exploring and following tutorials on advanced connectors like Azure services or third-party APIs.

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Identify an advanced connector that interests you.
Find tutorials or documentation on using that connector.
Build a flow that utilizes the advanced connector.

Build a Custom Connector

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Extend Power Automate's functionality by building a custom connector for an API that isn't natively supported.

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Identify an API you want to connect to.
Design and build a custom connector for that API.
Test and deploy your custom connector.

Career center

Learners who complete Microsoft Power Automate (Flow) Crash Course will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Business Process Automation Specialist

A Business Process Automation Specialist designs, implements, and maintains automated workflows to improve efficiency and reduce manual effort within an organization. This course is very relevant as it will help a specialist build a strong foundation in Microsoft Power Automate, a key tool for automating business processes. The course covers essential topics such as creating workflows, connecting to SharePoint, and using triggers and actions. By understanding how to leverage Power Automate, the Business Process Automation Specialist can streamline operations, reduce errors, and save time. The hands-on experience with real-world examples, provided by this course, helps create practical skills for this career role, and learning about licenses and Microsoft Power Platforms enables a specialist to hit the ground running.

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Robotic Process Automation Developer

A Robotic Process Automation Developer builds and deploys software robots to automate repetitive and rule-based tasks. This course helps build the skills to use Microsoft Power Automate, a tool that is often used by a Robotic Process Automation Developer to create workflows and automate processes. The course's focus on triggers, actions, conditions, and loops is directly applicable to developing automated solutions. The ability to integrate with SharePoint and other Microsoft services taught in the course, is also beneficial, as is the work with error handling, all of which are important elements when building robust and reliable robotic process automation. A foundation in using Microsoft Power Platform helps a Robotic Process Automation Developer understand how the application connects with other critical business tools.

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Workflow Automation Analyst

A Workflow Automation Analyst analyzes existing workflows and identifies opportunities for automation, using tools like Microsoft Power Automate to implement solutions. The course's focus on creating end-to-end workflows using triggers, actions, conditions, and loops provides a practical understanding of how to automate complex processes. The course is helpful to a Workflow Automation Analyst because it enables them to design efficient automated workflows that are more accurate and less wasteful. The hands-on learning about SharePoint, Office Forms, and Excel integrations is useful as the Workflow Automation Analyst can build comprehensive solutions that meet specific business needs. The course is focused on practical application, and this provides valuable experience for those looking to move into workflow automation roles.

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Business Systems Analyst

A Business Systems Analyst evaluates business processes and recommends technology solutions to improve efficiency and effectiveness. This course will prepare a Business Systems Analyst to understand how to leverage Microsoft Power Automate within the business environment, as automation is an important aspect of modern system analysis. A Business Systems Analyst will find the training on creating workflows, connecting to data sources like SharePoint, and using triggers and actions exceptionally valuable. By learning to automate processes, the Business Systems Analyst can develop solutions that support better data management, improve communication, and reduce manual tasks. With an understanding of the Microsoft Power Platform, the Business Systems Analyst can communicate effectively with developers and recommend automation strategies.

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Solutions Architect

A Solutions Architect designs and oversees the implementation of technology solutions that meet business requirements, and is responsible for understanding how to leverage tools such as Microsoft Power Automate. This course may be useful as it provides a practical understanding of how to develop automated solutions, which is key for a solutions architect. The course covers essential elements such as workflow creation, integrating with different Microsoft services, and using triggers and actions, which are all relevant when designing comprehensive solutions. This course is also a good starting point for those who want to know how Power Automate fits into a technology ecosystem. A Solutions Architect benefits from the knowledge of the Microsoft power platform, which is gained from taking this course.

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Process Improvement Specialist

A Process Improvement Specialist identifies and implements improvements to organizational processes, often using automation to achieve greater efficiency. This course may be useful as it will help a Process Improvement Specialist learn to build automated workflows using Microsoft Power Automate, and thereby improve processes. The training covers key concepts such as triggers, actions, conditions, and loops, which are directly applicable to streamlining business operations. The ability to connect to services like SharePoint and use data to automate tasks, taught in this course, will allow a Process Improvement Specialist to deliver better outcomes and reduce waste. Furthermore, the course's emphasis on practical skills may lead to better application of process improvement principles.

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Data Analyst

A Data Analyst collects, processes, and analyzes data to provide insights that support business decisions. While this course does not directly focus on data analysis, learning how to use Microsoft Power Automate may be useful to a Data Analyst because it enables the automation of data collection and reporting. The course teaches how to extract data from different sources, such as SharePoint and Excel, and how to manipulate that data within automated workflows. This can reduce the time spent on manual data processing. Knowing how to use the Microsoft Power platform may also assist a Data Analyst in integrating data across multiple platforms to generate consolidated reports. This course provides opportunities to build practical solutions, which may be useful for those interested in data roles.

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Digital Transformation Consultant

A Digital Transformation Consultant advises organizations on how to adopt digital technologies and processes to improve their performance. This course may be useful as it covers Microsoft Power Automate, a technology often used in digital transformation projects. This course introduces essential skills in workflow automation and integration with Microsoft services. The ability to use the Microsoft Power Platform helps a Digital Transformation Consultant recommend more effective strategies to clients. By learning how this course can help build real-world scenarios, the Digital Transformation Consultant can effectively incorporate Microsoft tools as part of a holistic digital transformation strategy.

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IT Support Specialist

An IT Support Specialist provides technical assistance and support to end-users, and may perform tasks such as troubleshooting issues and automating routine tasks using tools like Microsoft Power Automate. This course will be helpful for an IT Support Specialist wanting to learn how they can automate certain internal processes and solve common requests more efficiently. The course provides clear explanations of how to use triggers, actions, and conditions to build automated solutions that save time and effort. By implementing automated solutions using this course, an IT Support Specialist can reduce the number of manual tasks performed, and help the organization run more effectively. Learning to manage data sources and connections will also improve job performance.

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SharePoint Administrator

A SharePoint Administrator manages and maintains an organization's SharePoint environment, often creating automated workflows to improve document management and collaboration using applications like Microsoft Power Automate. This course may be useful as it provides learning on how to integrate with SharePoint to create efficient workflows and automated processes. By understanding how to use triggers, actions, and conditions in Power Automate, the SharePoint Administrator can help the organization manage data more efficiently, and therefore make better use of the SharePoint system. The learning on OData may also be useful when managing lists in SharePoint. The course offers hands-on learning and practical examples, which a SharePoint Administrator will find helpful.

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Project Manager

A Project Manager plans, executes, and oversees projects to ensure they are completed on time and within budget. This course may be useful because many modern projects involve automation. While the course doesn't focus directly on project management, it introduces practical skills in Microsoft Power Automate, which helps a Project Manager understand how to build automation into their workflows. By knowing how to use triggers, actions, and conditions, a Project Manager can appreciate the kinds of automation that are possible within projects. Learning to connect to services like SharePoint and Microsoft Forms may also help the Project Manager better coordinate and track projects. The course offers an introduction to the Microsoft Power Platform, which may be useful background for a Project Manager.

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Operations Manager

An Operations Manager oversees the daily activities of an organization, focusing on efficiency and productivity. This course may be useful as it introduces a tool, Microsoft Power Automate, that helps improve and automate business processes. An Operations Manager might use this knowledge of workflow automation to streamline operations, improve reporting, and reduce errors. The course offers practical experience in using triggers, actions, and conditions to build effective solutions, and this may help the Operations Manager implement improvements in a timely manner. The course also covers how to integrate tools like Excel and Microsoft Forms which are frequently used in operations teams.

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Technical Writer

A Technical Writer creates guides, manuals, and other documentation to explain technical concepts and processes, and might document automation processes created with tools like Microsoft Power Automate. This course may be useful to a technical writer who does this work because it introduces the fundamental concepts of Microsoft Power Automate and covers key terminology used in automation environments. By understanding the purpose and function of triggers, actions, conditions, and loops, a Technical Writer can create better documentation. The practical applications of the course help build a background from which the Technical Writer can better serve their audience.

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Training Specialist

A Training Specialist develops and delivers training programs for employees, often needing to create training content for software such as Microsoft Power Automate. This course may be useful because it will help a Training Specialist understand how to create and use automated workflows using Microsoft Power Automate. The course content may be used to create relevant and informed training materials. The Training Specialist could also use this knowledge to create training programs themselves, as the practical elements of the course help demonstrate how Microsoft Power Automate is used. The course also provides an introduction to the Microsoft Power Platform, which may form useful background to training content.

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Customer Service Representative

A Customer Service Representative provides support and assistance to customers, and might benefit from automation skills to resolve customer issues more efficiently. This course may be useful as it introduces the idea of automation through Microsoft Power Automate, a tool that can help a Customer Service Representative in their work. Although the course is not directly focused on customer service, knowing how to use triggers, actions, conditions, and loops to automate routine tasks may help improve efficiency and reduce the time taken to resolve certain customer issues. The course also provides an understanding of how the Microsoft Power Platform can be integrated with other business tools.

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