Business Central Workflows with Power Automate integration

Business Central Workflows with Power Automate integration

Workflows in Business Central can be managed in two ways:

  • Native mode
  • Via Power Automate

In both modes it is possible to create them, edit them, manage them completely; new features have been added to Power Automate to manage the Business Processes, so I find it very useful to use both products (BC & PA).

In addition to Power Automate, you can use the Workflow functionality within Business Central. Note that although they are two separate workflow systems, any workflow template that you create with Power Automate is added to the list of workflows within Business Central.

You must have a valid account with Business Central and with Power Automate.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/across-how-use-financials-data-source-flow

Example of how workflows can be managed in the two ways

Example on “Purchase Order Workflow

Standard Business Central Workflow

With the standard mode

  • Create a workflow from a template, modify it \ configure it, activate it

How to do it from Power Automate?

  • Remember: you must have a valid account for Power Automate

Purchase Order Approval Workflow in Power Automate

  • Create a new Workflow in Power Automate: “Purchase Order Workflow

You can select a series of ready-made Workflows (other than those created in Business Central) with the functions that interest us, you can recall them, modify them, duplicate them, and make them available to the Community (sharing & publishing).

Check BC connections, Office 365 connections etc., you can launch a Connection test for each connection element

Example of Power Automate Workflow “Purchase Order Request Approval”

You can copy\duplicate a Workflow

After workflow creation, you can manage it directly from Business Central

  • In this case you can see the workflow created in Power Automate

…and now you can see your new Power Automate workflow in BC Workflows List

  • Microsoft Flow” is the source for this workflow

You can open it directly from Workflow list

In addition, you can open and manage all existing Power Automate workflows form “See My Flows” button.

OTHER POWER AUTOMATE FEATURE: “BUSINESS PROCESS”

It is possible in Power Automate to create real Business Processes, they can also be managed through APIs, in this way using Common Data Services, it is possible to map \ extend the Business processes.

Business Process (from Blank)

Business Process Wizard

Business Process Flow structure

  • Technology: Stages & Steps

Business process with stages

Business process flow window showing main elements

Business process flows to standardize processes

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-automate/business-process-flows-overview

Tutorial: Create a business process flow to standardize processes

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-automate/create-business-process-flow

One thought on “Business Central Workflows with Power Automate integration

  • 30 October 2020 at 5:47 PM
    Permalink

    Great post.

    Dos this work for the On-Prem version as well?

    Reply

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