Microsoft Power Automate: Get Started with Workflow Automation

Microsoft Power Automate is a cloud-based service that enables users to create automated workflows between applications and services. These workflows—called "flows"—can help streamline repetitive tasks, improve productivity, and reduce manual errors.

Audience

This article is intended for Ithaca College faculty, staff, and students who want to automate tasks and improve productivity using Microsoft Power Automate.

Platform

Microsoft Power Automate

Instructions

Access Power Automate

  1. Go to https://flow.microsoft.com
  2. Sign in with your Ithaca College Microsoft 365 credentials
  3. Click My Flows to view or create workflows

Create a New Flow

  1. Click Create
  2. _Choose a flow type:**
    • Automated Cloud Flow – triggered by an event
    • Instant Cloud Flow – manually triggered
    • Scheduled Cloud Flow – runs at a set time
  3. Select a trigger (e.g., When a new email arrives)
  4. Add actions (e.g., Save attachment to OneDrive)
  5. Click Save
  6. Test your flow to ensure it works as expected

Explore Templates

  • Click Templates in the left-hand menu
  • Browse or search for pre-built flows such as:
    • Save email attachments to OneDrive
    • Post to Teams when a SharePoint item is added
    • Get daily weather updates via email

 

Additional Information

Best Practices

  • Start with templates to learn flow structure
  • Use descriptive names for your flows
  • Test flows with sample data before full deployment
  • Monitor flow runs for errors and performance

Troubleshooting

  • If a flow fails, click Run History to view error details
  • Ensure all connectors are authenticated
  • Check trigger conditions and action configurations

Additional Resources

  • https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/powerautomate/
  • https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-automate/
  • https://ithaca.teamdynamix.com/TDClient/Requests/ServiceCatalog
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