Automate the mundane | Move from busy to effective

Has your organization embraced Power Automate yet? Have you? I meet a lot of customers that haven’t explored this part of their M365 licensing yet, and I’m hoping to change that. Why not try the Power Automate licensing you already own??

I'm reading Slow Productivity by Cal Newport right now; it's got me thinking a lot about the cult of busy and the insanity of 'productivity theater' both in the office and the inbox. It's also got me thinking about the importance of deep work; having the time to really think about the important stuff.

In today's fast-paced business environment, efficiency and accuracy are paramount. This isn't going away despite how much time I'd like to set aside to think. Organizations are constantly seeking ways to streamline operations, reduce errors, and maximize productivity. Enter Microsoft Power Automate, a powerful tool within the Office 365/M365 suite that is transforming the way businesses operate and can help you get time back to focus on what matters.

Why Power Automate??

Power Automate enables organizations to automate repetitive tasks and workflows, allowing employees to focus on more strategic activities. This not only boosts productivity but also significantly reduces the risk of human error. Here’s why you should consider integrating Power Automate:?

1. Enhanced Efficiency: According to Forrester, organizations using Power Automate have reported a 15% reduction in operational costs and a 20% increase in employee productivity. By automating mundane tasks, employees can dedicate more time to high-value work, driving innovation and growth.?
2. Improved Data Accuracy: A study by Harvard Business Review found that the average data accuracy rate for automated processes is 97%. This is a significant improvement over manual data entry, which is prone to errors. With Power Automate, you can ensure that your data is accurate and reliable, leading to better decision-making.?
3. Seamless Integration: Power Automate integrates seamlessly with over 400 applications, including popular tools like SharePoint, Dynamics 365, and Salesforce. This means you can automate workflows across different platforms, creating a cohesive and efficient system.?
4. Scalability and Flexibility: Whether you are a small business or a large enterprise, Power Automate is designed to scale with your needs. Its low-code platform allows users of all technical levels to create and manage workflows, making it accessible to everyone in your organization.?

Real World Examples?

1. Employee Onboarding: use Power Automate with Lists to improve the onboarding experience for everyone. Assign tasks to HR, Operations, IT and the hiring manager based on employee type. Automatically create the user account and password and add to groups. Send a welcome email to the new hire’s personal email with log in information and important next steps.?
2. Policy and Contract Management: assign review cadence, owner, and due dates, send reminders to review and renew and escalate as necessary.?
3. Time & Expense Reporting: this one can be as simple or complex as required but is especially useful for professional services where you need to define projects and/or clients for which to bill time against. You control how much and what type of data is collected and can conditionally route employees down specific paths based on bill type.?

Quick Wins with Power Automate?

One of the most compelling aspects of Power Automate is the ability to achieve quick wins that deliver immediate value. Here are some examples:?

1. Approval Flows: Automate approval processes for documents, invoices, and requests. This ensures timely responses and reduces bottlenecks.?
2. Automated Notifications: Set up automated alerts for important events, such as project deadlines, contract renewals, or inventory restocks. This keeps everyone informed and proactive.?
3. Data Collection and Reporting: Automatically gather data from various sources and generate reports. This saves time and ensures that your reports are always up-to-date and accurate.?
4. Customer Support: Create automated workflows to handle common customer inquiries, route tickets to the appropriate teams, and provide instant responses. This improves customer satisfaction and reduces response times.?

Power Automate Capabilities Included with a Microsoft 365 License?

Many organizations may not realize that several Power Automate capabilities are included with their Microsoft 365 (M365) license. Here’s what you get:?

1. Creation and Execution of Flows: Users can create and execute automated, scheduled, and button flows. This allows for a wide range of automation possibilities without additional costs.?
2. Standard Connectors Access: M365 licenses include access to standard connectors, enabling integration with popular services like SharePoint, Outlook, Teams, Planner, and OneDrive. This facilitates seamless data flow between commonly used applications.?
3. Basic RPA Capabilities: While premium features require additional licensing, M365 users can still leverage basic robotic process automation (RPA) capabilities to automate simple desktop tasks.?

In Closing?

Incorporating Power Automate into your workflow is not just a smart move; it’s a strategic necessity in today’s competitive landscape. By automating repetitive tasks, improving data accuracy, and integrating seamlessly with other tools, Power Automate empowers you and your team to work smarter, not harder.?

Ready to transform your organization? Start your journey with Power Automate today and unlock the full potential of automation. ???

?Reach out to chat.

: Forrester, “Microsoft named a Leader in the 2021 Forrester Digital Process Automation (DPA) Wave” : Forrester, “Microsoft named a Leader in the 2021 Forrester Wave for Robotic Process Automation” : Forbes, “Data Collection And Workflow Automation: The Irrefutable Future for Insurers”?