Integrating External Services using Cloud Flows

Do you leverage data from multiple applications or services? If you haven’t already found a way to integrate the data between them, you should check out Microsoft Cloud Flows, which are part of Power Automate and part of the overall Power Platform.

What are Cloud Flows?

Cloud Flows allow power users to build workflows that integrate a diverse set of apps and services, including Dynamics 365, SharePoint, SQL Server, SalesForce, Act!, Twitter, MailChimp and many more! Each workflow can have one trigger, such as a timer or an incoming email or tweet, and one or many actions, such as creating a Lead in your application of choice and sending a text message to a user. Most of it requires little to no code, but a Developer can help extend the functionality.

Types of Cloud Flows

As of this writing, there are 3 types of cloud flows that you can create:

• Automated cloud flow – This runs based on an action that triggered it, such as an incoming email or a field update in the source data
• Instant cloud flow – This is designed to be executed on-demand by your end users. For example, a custom button can be added to your application and when clicked on, the instant cloud flow will execute.
• Scheduled cloud flow – This can be configured to run on a specified date and time and repeat based on your chosen interval in weeks, days, hours, minutes and seconds

Connecting to an application or service

Within the Power Platform, there are many pre-built connectors. These include (but not limited to) Dataverse (Dynamics 365), SharePoint, Azure AD, Power BI, OneDrive, Google Drive, Salesforce, SQL Server, Dropbox, Adobe Sign, DocuSign, Amazon S3, Amazon SQS, Google Calendar, Google Sheets and so much more. I haven’t counted them, but according to Microsoft they have over 325 pre-built connectors that you can easily use.

Additionally, a developer can build your own custom connector as long as the application/service has an API.  The API can be either REST based or SOAP based and it can be public or private.  If the API is only visible on your network, you can install an on-premise data gateway.

As long as you have the right credentials and know what endpoint you need to communicate with, custom connectors are easy to set up. Once set up, the custom connector can be shared with power users within your organization who can then build various cloud flows using it.

Contact Beringer Today!

We love to implement Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform solutions here at Beringer.  We’ve been working with Microsoft Dynamics since its inception, and we’re always finding innovative ways to implement the latest tools and help automate business processes.

Beringer Technology Group, a leading Microsoft Gold Certified Partner specializing in Microsoft Dynamics 365 and CRM for Distribution also provides expert Managed IT Services, Backup and Disaster Recovery, Cloud Based Computing, Email Security Implementation and Training, Unified Communication Solutions, and Cybersecurity Risk Assessment.