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By Errin O'Connor, Founder & Chief AI Architect, EPC Group

Microsoft Flow is now Microsoft Power Automate — the workflow automation platform inside the Microsoft Power Platform. It automates business processes across 500+ connectors using cloud flows, desktop flows (RPA), and business process flows. EPC Group provides Power Automate consulting for enterprise workflow automation, robotic process automation, and AI-powered process intelligence.

Key Facts

  • Microsoft Flow was rebranded to Microsoft Power Automate in 2019. The product is the same — the URL and branding changed.
  • Power Automate connects to 500+ services including Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Teams, Dynamics 365, SAP, Salesforce, and custom APIs.
  • Three flow types: cloud flows (API-to-API automation), desktop flows (robotic process automation), and business process flows (guided step-by-step process enforcement).
  • Power Automate Premium: $15/user/month — cloud flows with premium connectors. Process plan: $150/bot/month — adds unattended desktop flows (RPA).
  • Compliance-ready: HIPAA, SOC 2, FedRAMP, GDPR. EPC Group builds flows that comply with your industry's data handling requirements.
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Microsoft Flow / Power Automate

Automate Workflows, Accelerate Business

Transform manual processes into intelligent automated workflows with Microsoft Power Automate. From simple approvals to complex RPA, we deliver enterprise-grade automation solutions that save time and reduce errors.

Cloud & Desktop Flows
Robotic Process Automation
500+ Connectors
AI-Powered Intelligence
Start AutomatingView Success Stories

Automation Impact

70%
Time Savings
Average reduction in manual process time
300%
ROI
Typical return on automation investment
6,500+
Connectors
Pre-built integrations available
25+
Years
Microsoft ecosystem expertise
RPA Experts
Flow Types

Complete Automation Solutions

From cloud-based workflows to desktop RPA, we implement the right automation strategy for your business processes.

Cloud Flows

Automated workflows triggered by events across 500+ cloud connectors including Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, and third-party services.

  • Automated triggers & actions
  • Multi-step workflow logic
  • Conditional branching
  • Parallel processing
  • Error handling & retry
  • Scheduled automations

Desktop Flows (RPA)

Robotic Process Automation to automate repetitive tasks on legacy systems, desktop applications, and manual processes.

  • UI automation recording
  • Legacy system integration
  • Attended & unattended bots
  • Web scraping automation
  • Excel & file processing
  • Mainframe automation

Business Process Flows

Guided business processes that ensure consistency and compliance across your organization with visual stage tracking.

  • Multi-stage processes
  • Data validation rules
  • Approval workflows
  • Conditional branching
  • Mobile-optimized flows
  • Analytics & reporting

AI Builder Integration

Intelligent automation with AI models for document processing, sentiment analysis, prediction, and object detection.

  • Document processing
  • Form recognition
  • Text classification
  • Sentiment analysis
  • Object detection
  • Custom AI models
Use Cases

Automation for Every Business Need

See how Power Automate transforms common business processes across your organization.

Document Approval Workflows

Automated multi-level approval processes for contracts, invoices, purchase orders, and expense reports with full audit trails.

Contract approvalsInvoice processingExpense managementLeave requests

Data Synchronization

Keep data synchronized across multiple systems including CRM, ERP, SharePoint, and databases with real-time or scheduled sync.

CRM-ERP syncMaster data managementCross-system updatesBackup automation

Notifications & Alerts

Intelligent notification systems that alert the right people at the right time via email, Teams, SMS, or mobile push.

Deadline remindersEscalation alertsSystem notificationsStatus updates

Process Automation

End-to-end process automation that eliminates manual tasks, reduces errors, and accelerates business operations.

Onboarding automationReport generationData entry eliminationCompliance tracking
Platform Capabilities

Enterprise-Ready Automation Platform

Power Automate delivers the features enterprises need for secure, scalable automation.

500+ Connectors

Pre-built connectors for Microsoft, Google, Salesforce, SAP, and hundreds more.

Low-Code Development

Drag-and-drop designer enables business users to build powerful automations.

AI-Powered Automation

Integrate AI Builder for intelligent document processing and predictions.

Enterprise Security

DLP policies, environment management, and compliance with HIPAA/SOC 2.

Analytics & Monitoring

Real-time flow analytics, run history, and performance monitoring dashboards.

Solution Lifecycle

ALM support for dev/test/prod environments with solution packaging.

Integrations

Connect to Hundreds of Services

Power Automate connects to 500+ services including Microsoft, Salesforce, SAP, and more. Build workflows that span your entire technology ecosystem.

Microsoft 365

Microsoft

SharePoint

Microsoft

Dynamics 365

Microsoft

Teams

Microsoft

Azure

Microsoft

Salesforce

CRM

SAP

ERP

Oracle

ERP

ServiceNow

ITSM

Workday

HR

DocuSign

Documents

Adobe Sign

Documents

...and 500+ more connectors available

Discuss Your Integration Needs
Governance

Center of Excellence & Governance

Scale automation safely with proper governance, security controls, and a Center of Excellence framework.

Center of Excellence

Establish a Power Platform CoE with governance frameworks, best practices, and citizen developer enablement.

DLP Policies

Data Loss Prevention policies to control connector usage and protect sensitive business data.

Environment Strategy

Multi-environment architecture with proper isolation for development, testing, and production.

Training & Adoption

Comprehensive training programs for makers and administrators to drive successful adoption.

Enterprise Governance Framework

Our Center of Excellence approach ensures your automation initiatives scale securely while empowering citizen developers across your organization.

  • Environment management strategy
  • Data Loss Prevention policies
  • Connector governance
  • Maker onboarding programs
  • Solution lifecycle management
  • Monitoring and analytics

Trusted by Enterprise Organizations

HIPAA, SOC 2, GDPR, FedRAMP-aligned consulting expertise implementations

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Microsoft Power Automate (formerly Microsoft Flow)?

Microsoft Power Automate is a cloud-based automation platform that enables organizations to create automated workflows between applications and services. Formerly known as Microsoft Flow, it supports cloud flows, desktop flows (RPA), and business process flows to eliminate manual tasks, reduce errors, and accelerate business operations across 500+ connectors.

What is the difference between cloud flows and desktop flows in Power Automate?

Cloud flows run entirely in the cloud and are triggered by events across cloud services like Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, and third-party apps. Desktop flows (RPA) automate tasks on desktop applications and legacy systems by recording UI interactions. Cloud flows are ideal for API-connected automations, while desktop flows handle scenarios where no API exists.

How much does Power Automate licensing cost?

Power Automate offers several licensing tiers: Power Automate Premium at $15/user/month includes cloud flows and standard connectors, while the Process plan at $150/bot/month adds unattended desktop flows (RPA). Many Microsoft 365 plans include basic Power Automate capabilities. Enterprise organizations typically benefit from capacity-based licensing for large-scale automation.

What templates and connectors are available in Power Automate?

Power Automate provides hundreds of pre-built templates for common scenarios like approval workflows, data synchronization, and notifications. Over 500 connectors are available including Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Teams, Salesforce, SAP, ServiceNow, and Oracle. Custom connectors can be built for proprietary systems using REST APIs.

How does Power Automate integrate with Microsoft 365?

Power Automate integrates natively with the entire Microsoft 365 ecosystem. It can automate SharePoint document approvals, Teams notifications, Outlook email processing, Excel data updates, and OneDrive file management. Flows can be triggered from within Teams, SharePoint, and other M365 apps, enabling seamless automation without leaving familiar tools.

Is Power Automate secure for enterprise use in regulated industries?

Yes, Power Automate is enterprise-grade secure with Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies, environment management, Azure Active Directory integration, and compliance certifications including HIPAA, SOC 2, FedRAMP, and GDPR. EPC Group implements governance frameworks and Center of Excellence models to ensure secure, compliant automation at scale.

Ready to Automate Your Business Processes?

Schedule a free automation assessment with our Power Automate experts. We will identify high-impact opportunities and build a roadmap for your automation journey.

Schedule AssessmentCall (888) 381-9725

Free automation assessment. No obligation. Response within 24 hours.

Microsoft Flow (Power Automate) Consulting

Microsoft Flow is now Microsoft Power Automate. This is the workflow automation platform within the Microsoft Power Platform. It automates business processes using over 500 connectors.

Power Automate includes:

  • Cloud flows
  • Desktop flows (RPA)
  • Business process flows

EPC Group offers Power Automate consulting for:

  • Enterprise workflow automation
  • Robotic process automation
  • AI-powered process intelligence

Key facts

  • Microsoft Flow was rebranded to Microsoft Power Automate in 2019. The product is the same — the URL and branding changed.
  • Power Automate connects to 500+ services including Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Teams, Dynamics 365, SAP, Salesforce, and custom APIs.
  • Three flow types: cloud flows (API-to-API automation), desktop flows (robotic process automation), and business process flows (guided step-by-step process enforcement).
  • Power Automate Premium: $15/user/month — cloud flows with premium connectors. Process plan: $150/bot/month — adds unattended desktop flows (RPA).
  • Compliance-ready: HIPAA, SOC 2, FedRAMP, GDPR. EPC Group builds flows that comply with your industry's data handling requirements.

Power Automate flow types

Cloud flows

Cloud flows connect cloud services via APIs. They run in the Microsoft cloud — no server or infrastructure required.

  • Automated flows — trigger on events (new SharePoint file, new Dynamics 365 record, new email, Teams message).
  • Scheduled flows — run on a defined schedule (daily, hourly, weekly) to process data or send reports.
  • Instant flows — triggered manually by a user via a button in Teams, SharePoint, or a Power Apps screen.

Desktop flows (RPA)

Desktop flows automate tasks on Windows applications — including legacy systems that have no API. Power Automate Desktop records UI interactions and replays them as an automation.

  • Attended RPA: a human triggers the desktop flow and watches it run on their machine.
  • Unattended RPA: flows run on a dedicated machine without human interaction (requires Process plan at $150/bot/month).
  • Use desktop flows for: SAP GUI automation, legacy ERP data entry, browser-based form filling, and any process in a Windows application with no API.

Business process flows

Business process flows guide users through a defined sequence of steps in Dynamics 365 or Power Apps. They enforce process consistency — users cannot skip required steps.

Our Power Automate services

  • Process discovery and automation roadmap — identify which manual processes are best suited for automation based on ROI and technical feasibility.
  • Cloud flow development — build automated, scheduled, and instant flows across Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Teams, Dynamics 365, and external systems.
  • RPA implementation — build attended and unattended desktop flows for legacy system automation and high-volume data entry processes.
  • Governance and DLP — configure Power Platform DLP policies that control which connectors flows can use. Prevent flows from sending data to unsanctioned services.
  • Process Mining — use Power Automate Process Mining to analyze task-level execution data and identify automation opportunities from actual user behavior.
  • Copilot Studio integration — connect Power Automate flows to Copilot Studio agents so AI chatbots can execute business processes (submit a ticket, look up an order, request approval).

Power Automate licensing

  • Power Automate Free — included with Microsoft 365. Standard connectors only. No premium connectors, no RPA.
  • Power Automate Premium ($15/user/month) — adds premium connectors (SAP, Salesforce, ServiceNow), attended RPA, custom APIs, and AI Builder credits.
  • Process plan ($150/bot/month) — adds unattended desktop flow (RPA) capacity for fully automated, machine-run processes.
  • Power Automate with Copilot — AI-assisted flow creation: describe a process in natural language and Copilot drafts the flow structure.

Frequently asked questions

Is Microsoft Flow the same as Power Automate?

Yes, Microsoft Flow was rebranded to Microsoft Power Automate in 2019. The product itself is still the same; only the branding has changed.

If you need consulting for Microsoft Flow, look for Power Automate consulting instead.

EPC Group offers both services under the Power Automate / Power Platform practice:

  • Microsoft Flow consulting
  • Power Automate consulting

What can Power Automate automate?

Power Automate can automate any process that involves moving data between systems, triggering actions on events, enforcing approvals, or repeating manual UI tasks.

Common automations include:

  • New employee onboarding across HR, IT, and M365.
  • Invoice processing from email to ERP.
  • SharePoint document approval workflows.
  • SAP data entry via desktop flow RPA.
  • Dynamics 365 lead routing and notification.

Is Power Automate the same as RPA?

Power Automate offers RPA features via desktop flows. There are two types of desktop flows:

  • Attended desktop flows: These need a human to start and oversee the process.
  • Unattended desktop flows: These operate automatically on a dedicated machine. The Process plan costs $150 per bot per month.

For full enterprise RPA programs with hundreds of bots, EPC Group evaluates Power Automate alongside UiPath and Automation Anywhere to recommend the right platform.

How much does Power Automate cost?

Basic cloud flows are included with Microsoft 365 licenses using standard connectors. Power Automate Premium ($15/user/month) adds premium connectors and attended RPA.

The Process plan costs $150 per bot each month. It includes unattended RPA for fully automated processes.

AI Builder credits are available for:

  • Document processing
  • Prediction models

These credits can be purchased separately or may be included in some Power Platform bundles.

Is Power Automate secure enough for HIPAA-regulated workflows?

Yes, with proper setup. Power Automate is included in the Microsoft Power Platform HIPAA Business Associate Agreement. EPC Group sets up DLP policies to:

  • Prevent flows from sending PHI to non-compliant connectors.
  • Restrict flow sharing to approved users.
  • Implement audit logging for all flow runs with regulated data.

Start automating your workflows

EPC Group provides Power Automate consulting for enterprises automating manual processes, legacy system integration, and AI-powered workflows. Call (888) 381-9725 or schedule a discovery call.

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