Types of Flows in Power Automate: Cloud, Desktop, and Business Process

Discover the different types of flows in Power Automate—cloud flows, desktop flows, and business process flows—to enhance your organization’s efficiency through automation.

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Overview of the Different Types of Flows

Power Automate is a powerful service designed to automate repetitive tasks, bringing efficiency to any organization. By leveraging this service, you can create various types of flows, namely cloud flows, desktop flows, and business process flows. Each flow type caters to different automation needs and use cases.

Cloud Flows

Cloud flows are designed to be triggered either automatically, instantly, or via a schedule, making them highly versatile.

Automated Flows

Use Case: Create an automation that is triggered by an event, such as receiving an email from a specific person or being mentioned on social media.

Automation Target: Connectors for cloud or on-premises services link your accounts, enabling seamless communication between them.

Instant Flows

Use Case: Start an automation with the click of a button. For example, instantly send a reminder to your team with a push of a button from your mobile device.

Automation Target: A wide range of tasks, such as requesting an approval or performing actions in Teams or SharePoint.

Scheduled Flows

Use Case: Schedule an automation, such as a daily data upload to SharePoint or a database.

Automation Target: Tasks that need to be automated on a regular schedule.

Desktop Flows

Desktop flows are used to automate tasks on the web or desktop environments. They are perfect for scenarios where web or desktop applications are integral to the automation process.

Business Process Flows

Business process flows guide individuals through a defined process to complete specific tasks. They provide a streamlined user experience, leading users through processes to reach a conclusion. This experience can be customized based on different security roles, ensuring that individuals have an experience that best suits their responsibilities.

By understanding and leveraging these different types of flows, you can significantly enhance your organization’s efficiency and streamline various processes.

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