Microsoft has introduced a groundbreaking feature that deserves your immediate attention: the Power Automate Cloud Flow Designer with Copilot. Users can leverage open AI's capabilities for an innovative approach to flow design. Whether you're a seasoned user of Power Automate or just exploring its potential, this new release is designed to simplify the automation process, enabling users to extract maximum value from Power Automate.
Cloud Flows Designer with Copilot was demonstrated at the recent Power Platform Conference where JourneyTEAM expert Mark Weilandt quotes, “Microsoft is always telling us what is coming and at this conference, AI was the big topic. The great thing with AI is that it is already being delivered in the platform with more functionalities being released every month.”
Let’s dive into how Cloud Flow Designer with Copilot works, the latest release details and important considerations to know before working with the tool.
How to Use Cloud Flow Designer
First, describe the flows you need to create in everyday language. Then watch as Power Automate builds them based on your description. The technology ushers in a true no-code experience. This makes automation more accessible and enables a broader population to leverage the capabilities of Power Automate.
The Difference Between a Text Generation AI Builder
Copilot is tailored to help you create and edit Power Automate flows simply by describing them in everyday language, offering guidance along the way. A text generation AI Builder enables you to utilize the GPT model directly in your Power Automate flows and Power Apps for various text-related tasks such as summarization, drafting responses, and text classification.
The Functionalities of Cloud Flows Designer with Copilot
There is more to this feature than just understanding natural language. Power Automate has gone a step further. The tool offers support for an array of new connectors and actions, including, Dataverse, approvals, and Power Apps. This expansion in functionality means you can automate a wider range of tasks with ease. And, if your organization is in the European Union, this feature is now available to ensure you can enjoy this cutting-edge technology while complying with regional data regulations.
One of the most compelling functionalities of the latest release we’re excited about is automatic flow parameter filling. Once you've described your flow using natural language, Power Automate takes care of the nitty-gritty details by including individual actions and their parameters. This not only saves you time, but also supports automation to be accurately configured.
That’s not all, the added feature of “explainability” helps you understand how your description translates into different flow actions. It even provides suggestions for improvements, making the whole automation process more intuitive and user-friendly. A team of developers can now be more collaborative than ever in understanding and supporting the creation of flows.
How to Write a Good Prompt in Power Automate
While AI optimizes our time by automated flows without using code, it is the knowledge and expertise from the prompter that delivers an effective AI-driven cloud flow. Writing effective prompts involves more than just being clear about what you want, or how you want it displayed. With Copilot, you have the flexibility to experiment with various prompt variations, helping you figure out what works best for your needs. If your initial results don't quite hit the mark, you can adjust your prompt and give it another go for improved outcomes.
Here are some tips from Microsoft or writing prompts that lead to optimal outcomes:
For the most accurate and efficient results, structure your prompts in a "When X happens, do Y" format.
Be as precise as you can in your description. Instead of using a vague prompt like "I want to process an email," consider being more specific, like "When an email arrives, I want to post the subject of the email to 'Contoso' Teams General channel."
Whenever possible, mention the relevant connector, whether it's Outlook, Teams, Forms, or another tool. Challenge yourself to have a conversation with Copilot as you would an intern or assistant, this technology operates on machine learning and good data in, provides good data out.
Considerations To Know Before Working with the Tool
When working with the Cloud Flows Designer, there are a few key things to keep in mind. First, check with your admin to make sure they have personally enabled Copilot in your tenant. If you ever need to turn the function off, you can do so by reaching out to Microsoft Support.
It’s also important to note the limitations. It won't work with flows that have specific capabilities, like those involving a SAP connector, older non-Open API flows, comments, or unsupported hybrid triggers. Additionally, it's not compatible with Power Apps V1 triggers, Power Pages components, or solution flows using connections instead of connection references. Lastly, remember that you can't use it with a personal Microsoft account. You'll need to use a work or school account for this feature. Also, remember that the Cloud Flow Copilot currently only supports English language models.
Ready to get started with Copilot in Cloud Flows?
You may have seen that “Copilot” is integrating into many Microsoft technologies with a variety of functionalities. Now, with Power Automate, Copilot has transformed the useability of creating efficient and collaborative flows.
To read about the parse JSON action in Power Automate, click here.
Learn more about Power Applications and Copilot benefits by contacting JourneyTEAM today!