Automate Approval Process with SharePoint & Power Automate from Coursera

Imagine working in a car rental company that has a manual system for keeping track of the cars that are currently rented out. Can you imagine all that paperwork and having to chase your manager across the office to approve each car rental request? Thankfully, with technology we can put many manual processes under control and automate almost everything. This intermediate-level guided project, “Automate Approval Process with SharePoint & Power Automate” is for any business professional who is looking to automate any kind of a business approval process and has some prior knowledge of Excel formulas. In this Intermediate-level guided project, you will create a SharePoint site and lists, and use Power Automate to automate approval process for car rental requests by employees. You will also make a calendar which will show when the cars are rented out, and you will learn to create flows that send reminders to the managers. What’s great about SharePoint and Power Automate is that anyone can learn to use them regardless of their educational background! Since this project uses Power Automate (part of the Microsoft Power Platform), you will need access to a Microsoft account and a Microsoft 365 Developer Program subscription. In the video at the beginning of the project you will be given instructions on how to sign up for both, as well as how to set up SharePoint. The SharePoint set up might take up to 2 hours to complete, so please take that into account. If you are ready to make your and your colleagues' lives easier by starting to automate manual, time-consuming processes that are hard to track, then this project is for you! Let's get started!

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Provides practical, hands-on experience in automating approval processes using real-world business scenarios

Leverages Microsoft Power Platform, a powerful suite of tools used by professionals in various industries

Suitable for business professionals with knowledge of Excel formulas

Assumes familiarity with SharePoint and Power Automate, which may require additional learning resources

Requires access to Microsoft 365 Developer Program subscription, which may incur additional costs

Set-up process for SharePoint may take significant time to complete

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 Automate Approval Process with SharePoint & Power Automate with these activities:

Set Up Development Environment

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Configure your development tools to match the environment used in the course.

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Visit the Microsoft 365 Developer Program website.
Sign up for a Microsoft account.
Set up SharePoint
Set up Power Automate

Find a Mentor in the SharePoint and Power Automate Community

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Accelerate your learning by connecting with a mentor in the SharePoint and Power Automate community.

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Attend SharePoint and Power Automate events and meetups.
Join online SharePoint and Power Automate communities and forums.
Reach out to potential mentors and express your interest in learning.

Attend SharePoint and Power Automate Meetups

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Expand your network and learn from industry experts by attending SharePoint and Power Automate meetups.

Browse courses on SharePoint

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Find SharePoint and Power Automate meetups in your area.
Attend meetups and connect with other professionals.
Learn about new trends and advancements in SharePoint and Power Automate.

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Join a SharePoint and Power Automate Study Group

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Enhance your learning by collaborating with peers in a SharePoint and Power Automate study group.

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Find or create a study group with other students taking the course.
Meet regularly to discuss course materials and work on projects together.
Share knowledge and support each other through the learning process.

Practice Creating SharePoint Sites

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Practice creating SharePoint sites to enhance your understanding of SharePoint's functionality, which will be crucial for automating the approval process in this course.

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Create a new SharePoint site
Add a new list to the site
Create a new document library

Follow SharePoint and Power Automate Tutorials

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Deepen your understanding of SharePoint and Power Automate by following guided tutorials.

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Find tutorials on Microsoft's website or other online resources.
Follow the tutorials step-by-step.
Apply what you learn to your own projects.

Create SharePoint Lists

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Create and manage SharePoint lists to store structured data related to car rentals, such as car details, customer details, and rental details.

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Add a Cars list to your SharePoint site
Add a Customers list to your SharePoint site
Add a Car Rental Requests list to your SharePoint site

Create a Car Rental Calendar

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Create a calendar to visualize car rental bookings, helping to manage availability and prevent double-booking.

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Create a new calendar in SharePoint
Connect the calendar to the Car Rental Requests list
Add a custom column to the calendar to display the rental status

Practice Using Power Automate

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Practice using Power Automate to automate various tasks, such as sending emails or creating reminders, to enhance your proficiency in using the tool for the approval process automation.

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Create a new flow in Power Automate
Add triggers and actions to the flow
Test and publish the flow

Complete Practice Problems

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Sharpen your SharePoint and Power Automate skills by solving practice problems.

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Find practice problems online or in textbooks.
Solve the problems on your own or with a study group.
Check your answers against the provided solutions.

Configure Email Notifications

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Configure Power Automate to send email reminders to approvers and requesters.

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Add an action to send an email to the manager when a new request is created.
Add an action to send an email to the requester when the approval status changes.

Create an Automated Task Management System

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Put your SharePoint and Power Automate skills into practice by creating an automated task management system.

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Design the architecture of your system.
Create a SharePoint site and lists to store tasks.
Use Power Automate to automate task creation, assignment, and tracking.

Automate Approval Process with Power Automate

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Automate the approval process for car rental requests using Power Automate.

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Create a workflow to start when a new car rental request is submitted.
Configure the workflow to send an email to the manager for approval.
Create a workflow to update the status of the request based on the manager's approval.

Create a Documentation Guide

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Create a comprehensive documentation guide that explains the steps involved in automating the approval process using SharePoint and Power Automate, which will serve as a valuable reference for you and your colleagues.

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Gather the necessary information and resources
Organize the information into a logical structure
Write clear and concise instructions
Proofread and edit the guide

Automate a Real-World Process

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Put your SharePoint and Power Automate skills to the test by automating a real-world process.

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Identify a process that could benefit from automation.
Design and develop an automated solution using SharePoint and Power Automate.
Test and deploy your solution.

Simulate Approval Process Scenarios

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Simulate different approval process scenarios to test the effectiveness of your automated system, ensuring that it can handle various situations and improve the accuracy and efficiency of the approval process.

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Create a test case for each scenario
Execute the test cases
Analyze the results and make necessary adjustments

Develop a Training Program

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Develop a comprehensive training program that teaches colleagues how to use the automated approval process, ensuring that they can leverage the system effectively and contribute to the overall efficiency of the organization.

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Define the learning objectives
Create training materials
Deliver the training sessions
Evaluate the effectiveness of the training

Career center

Learners who complete Automate Approval Process with SharePoint & Power Automate will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Business Process Analyst

A Business Process Analyst is responsible for mapping, analyzing, and improving business processes to achieve operational efficiency. The "Automate Approval Process with SharePoint & Power Automate" course provides valuable skills for Business Process Analysts, as it teaches how to use technology to automate processes, identify inefficiencies, and streamline operations. The course also covers business process analysis and improvement techniques, which are essential for Business Process Analysts who work to optimize and improve business processes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Process Analyst

Process Engineer

A Process Engineer is responsible for designing, analyzing, and improving processes within a manufacturing or business environment. The "Automate Approval Process with SharePoint & Power Automate" course provides valuable skills for Process Engineers, as it teaches how to use technology to automate processes, improve efficiency, and reduce waste. The course also covers project management and problem-solving skills, which are essential for Process Engineers who work to optimize and improve processes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Process Engineer

Project Manager

A Project Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects within a specific scope, budget, and timeline. The "Automate Approval Process with SharePoint & Power Automate" course provides valuable skills for Project Managers, as it teaches how to use technology to manage projects, track progress, and communicate with stakeholders. The course also covers risk management and leadership skills, which are essential for Project Managers who oversee teams and ensure the successful delivery of projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Operations Manager

An Operations Manager is responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating the daily operations of an organization. The "Automate Approval Process with SharePoint & Power Automate" course provides valuable skills for Operations Managers, as it teaches how to use technology to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and reduce costs. The course also covers project management and leadership skills, which are essential for Operations Managers who oversee teams and ensure the smooth functioning of their organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Systems Analyst

A Systems Analyst is responsible for analyzing and designing systems to meet the needs of an organization. The "Automate Approval Process with SharePoint & Power Automate" course provides valuable skills for Systems Analysts, as it teaches how to use technology to automate processes, improve system design, and enhance efficiency. The course also covers systems analysis and design principles, which are essential for Systems Analysts who work to develop and implement effective IT systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Management Consultant

A Management Consultant is responsible for providing advice and guidance to organizations on how to improve their operations, processes, and strategies. The "Automate Approval Process with SharePoint & Power Automate" course provides valuable skills for Management Consultants, as it teaches how to use technology to automate processes, improve efficiency, and enhance decision-making. The course also covers project management and consulting skills, which are essential for Management Consultants who work with clients to implement new processes and systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst is responsible for analyzing business processes and systems, identifying areas for improvement, and developing solutions to streamline operations. The "Automate Approval Process with SharePoint & Power Automate" course provides valuable skills for Business Analysts, as it teaches how to use technology to automate manual processes, improve efficiency, and enhance decision-making. The course also covers project management and communication skills, which are essential for Business Analysts who work with stakeholders to implement new processes and systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Information Technology Manager

An Information Technology Manager is responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating the IT infrastructure and services of an organization. The "Automate Approval Process with SharePoint & Power Automate" course provides valuable skills for Information Technology Managers, as it teaches how to use technology to automate IT processes, improve efficiency, and reduce costs. The course also covers project management and leadership skills, which are essential for Information Technology Managers who oversee teams and ensure the smooth functioning of their organization's IT systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Technology Manager

Database Administrator

A Database Administrator is responsible for managing and maintaining databases, ensuring data integrity and availability. The "Automate Approval Process with SharePoint & Power Automate" course provides valuable skills for Database Administrators, as it teaches how to use technology to automate database tasks, improve performance, and ensure data security. The course also covers database design and management principles, which are essential for Database Administrators who work to ensure the smooth functioning of their organization's databases.

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IT Auditor

An IT Auditor is responsible for ensuring that an organization's IT systems and processes are compliant with regulations and standards. The "Automate Approval Process with SharePoint & Power Automate" course provides valuable skills for IT Auditors, as it teaches how to use technology to automate audit processes, improve efficiency, and reduce risks. The course also covers IT auditing principles and techniques, which are essential for IT Auditors who work to ensure the integrity and security of an organization's IT systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Auditor

Data Analyst

A Data Analyst is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to provide insights and support decision-making. The "Automate Approval Process with SharePoint & Power Automate" course provides valuable skills for Data Analysts, as it teaches how to use technology to automate data collection, processing, and analysis. The course also covers data visualization and communication skills, which are essential for Data Analysts who present their findings to stakeholders and make recommendations for improvement.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Quality Assurance Analyst

A Quality Assurance Analyst is responsible for testing and verifying the quality of software applications and systems. The "Automate Approval Process with SharePoint & Power Automate" course provides valuable skills for Quality Assurance Analysts, as it teaches how to use automation to streamline testing processes, improve efficiency, and reduce errors. The course also covers software testing principles and techniques, which are essential for Quality Assurance Analysts who work to ensure the quality and reliability of software applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Analyst

Web Developer

A Web Developer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining websites and web applications. The "Automate Approval Process with SharePoint & Power Automate" course provides valuable skills for Web Developers, as it teaches how to use technology to automate tasks, improve website performance, and enhance user experience. The course also covers web design and development principles, which are essential for Web Developers who work to create and maintain effective websites.

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Software Engineer

A Software Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software applications. The "Automate Approval Process with SharePoint & Power Automate" course provides valuable skills for Software Engineers, as it teaches how to use technology to automate processes and create efficient software solutions. The course also covers software design and development principles, which are essential for Software Engineers who work to build and maintain high-quality software applications.

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Data Scientist

A Data Scientist is responsible for extracting insights from data using advanced analytical techniques. The "Automate Approval Process with SharePoint & Power Automate" course may be useful for Data Scientists, as it provides a foundation in data management and analysis. The course also covers data visualization and communication skills, which are essential for Data Scientists who present their findings to stakeholders and make recommendations for improvement.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Automate Approval Process with SharePoint & Power Automate

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