Category: Microsoft

This post is part of the New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2 series in which I am taking a look at the new functionality introduced in Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2.

The 17th of the new functionality in the section is secure credential retrieval in Power Automate for Desktop.

This feature enhances security and ease of use by allowing makers to securely retrieve and manage credentials directly within their desktop flows. It eliminates the need to pass credentials manually, reducing the risk of exposure and streamlining workflow processes.

Enabled for: Admins, makers, marketers, or analysts, automatically
Public Preview: Nov 2024
General Availability: –

Feature Details

A new action named “Get Credential” in Power Automate for the desktop will allow makers to securely retrieve and utilize credentials directly within their desktop flows. During the preview phase, this action will support credentials created via CyberArk, accessible within the specified section of the Power Automate portal. This feature ensures that credentials are handled securely, aligning with best practices for data protection.

This post is part of the New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2 series in which I am taking a look at the new functionality introduced in Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2.

The 16th of the new functionality in the Desktop flows section is use certificate-based authentication in desktop flow connections.

This feature enhances security by allowing the use of certificates stored in Azure Key Vault for connecting to Windows sessions on desktop flow machines. Certificate-based authentication credentials can meet Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) requirements.

Enabled for: Admins, makers, marketers, or analysts, automatically
Public Preview:  Oct 27, 2024
General Availability: Feb 2025

Feature Details

1. Create a credential:
   • Credentials in Power Automate now support certificate-based authentication (CBA).
   • The experience mirrors that of using passwords stored in Azure Key Vault.
   • No certificate value is stored within the credential itself.
2. Use credentials with CBA:
   • CBA is supported for Windows session credentials (desktop flow connection).

This post is part of the New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2 series in which I am taking a look at the new functionality introduced in Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2.

The 15th of the new functionality in the Desktop flows section is use your voice to interact with Copilot.

The voice command functionality for Power Automate’s Copilot enhances productivity by enabling hands-free interaction for creating desktop flows. Users can dictate automation steps in natural language, streamlining the setup of complex workflows. This intuitive interface helps businesses automate repetitive tasks more efficiently, improving operational efficiency.

Enabled for: Admins, makers, marketers, or analysts, automatically
Public Preview: Nov 2024
General Availability: –

Feature Details

The voice command functionality for Power Automate’s Copilot allows users to create and manage desktop flows using natural language spoken through a microphone. Users can enable voice commands by pressing the microphone icon in the bottom right of the Copilot side cart and start dictating automation steps hands-free. To finish, users press the stop icon, and their prompt is automatically submitted to Copilot. This feature reduces manual input, saving time and effort, and enhances Copilot’s versatility and user-friendliness, contributing to improved productivity and streamlined operations.

My Opinion

Like AI tools, my experiences with voice recognition have never been very good. I have somewhat of a regional UK accent and voice recognition tools are never good at understanding me, even after substantial training. Combining two things which don’t work very well, doesn’t seem a recipe for success.

This post is part of the New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2 series in which I am taking a look at the new functionality introduced in Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2.

The 14th of the new functionality in the Desktop flows section is describe flow actions with Copilot.

Enhancing Copilot to describe automation steps in Power Automate for desktops significantly reduces the time required for understanding complex automation processes during maintenance and troubleshooting. Organizations relying on intricate flows can quickly comprehend specific parts of a flow, facilitating rapid error detection and resolution. This capability ensures SLA adherence, minimizes downtime, boosts operational efficiency, and reduces the risk of extended disruptions, thus enabling users to manage and enhance their automation systems with greater confidence and agility.

Enabled for: Admins, makers, marketers, or analysts, automatically
Public Preview: Nov 2024
General Availability: –

Feature Details

The new Copilot side panel feature in Power Automate for desktop enhances user experience by providing detailed explanations of automation flows and subflows. Users can easily navigate to the Copilot side panel, select the appropriate skill from the skill picker, and ask questions like “What does the subflow do?” or “What do actions from 3-12 do?”. This feature delivers clear insights into automation processes, streamlining troubleshooting and maintenance of complex automation. This empowers teams to quickly identify and resolve issues, ensuring consistent operational efficiency and SLA compliance.

My Opinion

It will be interesting to see how good Copilot actually is at this.

This post is part of the New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2 series in which I am taking a look at the new functionality introduced in Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2.

The 13th of the new functionality in the Desktop flows section is enable dark mode in Power Automate for desktop.

You can now build desktop flows in your preferred color mode. Choose between the default mode and dark mode to reduce eye strain and improve focus.

Enabled for: Admins, makers, marketers, or analysts, automatically
Public Preview: Dec 2024
General Availability: –

Feature Details

In the Power Automate for desktop console, you can switch between the default color mode and dark mode. This setting allows the console and flow designer to use a dark theme based on your preference.

My Opinion

I do like dark mode and find a lot of sites without it now very jarring (there is a dark mode available on this site, via the drop down to the top right).

This post is part of the New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2 series in which I am taking a look at the new functionality introduced in Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2.

The 12th of the new functionality in the Desktop flows section is integrate cloud connectors into desktop flows via the Assets library.

Direct integration of Power Platform connectors into desktop actions will streamline the flow creation process, reduce logical loops, and enhance efficiency.

Enabled for: Admins, makers, marketers, or analysts, automatically
Public Preview:  Oct 22, 2024
General Availability: Nov 2024

Feature Details

The following connectors are now directly available in Power Automate for desktop flows, in addition to those previously available: Continue reading “New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2: Integrate Cloud Connectors Into Desktop Flows Via The Assets Library”

This post is part of the New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2 series in which I am taking a look at the new functionality introduced in Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2.

The 11th of the new functionality in the Desktop flows section is view progressive logging for desktop flows.

This feature enhances troubleshooting efficiency when desktop automation is stuck or slow. Near real-time logging allows for tracking the progress of desktop automation at a granular level, without having to wait for the process to complete.

Enabled for: Admins, makers, marketers, or analysts, automatically
Public Preview: Dec 2024
General Availability: –

Feature Details

Logs will be sent to the cloud progressively, without waiting for the entire automation process to complete. This capability will enable quicker troubleshooting by determining why automation is taking longer than expected or identifying if it is stuck at a particular step.

This post is part of the New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2 series in which I am taking a look at the new functionality introduced in Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2.

The 10th of the new functionality in the Copilot for Power Automate section is copilot provides more accurate answers to questions.

Copilot can provide better and more accurate answers to questions.

Enabled for: Admins, makers, marketers, or analysts, automatically
Public Preview: –
General Availability: Dec 2024

Feature Details

Before this feature, sometimes when you asked Copilot a question, it provided a hallucinated answer. For example, when you asked how to write an expression, Copilot might have provided an answer with a function that doesn’t exist. With this feature, Copilot answers your questions with improved accuracy, leveraging better documentation grounding methods.

Continue reading “New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2: Copilot Provides More Accurate Answers To Questions”

This post is part of the New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2 series in which I am taking a look at the new functionality introduced in Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2.

The 9th of the new functionality in the Copilot for Power Automate section is get increased accuracy in responses from Copilot.

You can ask Copilot questions related to Power Automate documentation, and your flows, or ask Copilot to edit your flow. Copilot can now understand your intent more accurately. This improves your productivity and finding answers quickly while building your flows.

Enabled for: Admins, makers, marketers, or analysts, automatically
Public Preview: –
General Availability: Dec 2024

Feature Details

Prior to this feature, sometimes when you chat with Copilot in the designer, Copilot misinterprets your intent. For example, when you ask a question, Copilot shouldn’t update your flow. With this feature, you get improved accuracy for Copilot to understand your question and intent.

The following list includes more benefits:

• You get a ChatGPT-parity chat experience in cloud flow Copilot. You can have a real conversation with more proactive follow-ups. Copilot can explain things to you in much more detail, with step-by-step guidance.
• You get a ChatGPT-parity quality on Q&A answers provided by Copilot.
• Copilot has a deep understanding of flow details. For example, it understands your parameters’ values when you ask it questions.
• Copilot can suggest flow optimization and best practices to you.
• Copilot supports adding scope and parallel branches to your flow.

Continue reading “New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2: Get Increased Accuracy In Responses From Copilot”