New Functionality In Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 2025 Wave 1: Automate Environment Management With Power Platform Connector

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business CentralThis post is part of the New Functionality In Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 2025 Wave 1 series in which I am taking a look at the new functionality introduced in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 2025 Wave 1.

The 4th of the new functionality in the Governance and administration section is automate environment management with Power Platform connector.

With the Power Platform connector for the Business Central admin center API, you can automate environment management tasks. This automation reduces your manual effort and minimizes errors, leading to more reliable and efficient operations.

Enabled for: Admins, makers, marketers, or analysts, automatically
Public Preview: –
General Availability: Jun 2025

Feature Details

The Power Platform connector for the Business Central Admin Center API enables you to automate various environment management tasks using Power Platform products, including Microsoft Copilot Studio. Tasks include:

  • Creating environments
  • Copying environments
  • Scheduling environment updates
  • Integrating environments with other systems

My Opinion

People have already worked out how to do create and refresh Business Central environments using Power Automate, but this enhancement looks like the process is going to become a lot easier to set up and use. I’m looking forward to giving this one a test.

Click to show/hide the New Functionality In Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 2025 Wave 1 Series Index

New Functionality In Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central 2025 Wave 1
Integrate Field Service With Service Management
View Item Availability In Field Service Work Orders
Analyze Subscription Billing Data With Power Bi Reports
Post Foreign Currency Adjustments To Unrealized Gain And Loss Accounts
Chat With Copilot To Learn How To Use Installed Add-On Apps
Summarize With Copilot
Use Sales Order Agent To Automate Sales Order-Taking
Suggest Gas Emissions In Sustainability Journals With Copilot
Enhance Purchase Order Line Matching With Copilot
Use PEPPOL A-Nz Format In E-Docs In Australia, New Zealand
Define Allowed Languages Per Environment
Move Tables And Fields With Data Across Extensions As Part Of Refactoring
Troubleshoot Clients, Apps, And Add-Ins With Telemetry
Mock Outbound HttpClient Web Service Calls During Testing
View Build Metadata In Extension Management Page
Embed Power BI Content In Web Client With New Page Type
Delete Incorrect E-Documents And Avoid Duplicates
Activate Sales Channels In Shopify Connector
Use E-Docs With Power Automate And Other Solutions With APIs
Send E-Documents Via A Service And Email Simultaneously
Import And Export More Data Using Shopify Metafields
Use Payments With The E-Document Framework
Troubleshoot Export Issues On Shopify Skipped Records Page
Generate Multiple Incoming E-Documents For Multiple Attachments
Automate Embedded Attachments In PEPPOL
Create E-Documents From Posted Sales Invoices
Process E-Documents In Two Steps
Preview Incoming E-Invoices Prior To Processing
Export Reminders And Finance Charges As PEPPOL Files
Use E-Documents To Fix Unposted Purchase Credit Memos
Add Support For Multisubnetfailover
View App Compatibility With Future Versions In Admin Center
Update Sandbox Environments To Preview Versions
Automate Environment Management With Power Platform Connector
Use Enhanced Analytics For Manufacturing
Access Report And Request Metadata In Word Layouts
Use Enhanced Financial Reporting Capabilities
Use Enhanced Customer Document Layout For Service Management

Automate Creation of a New Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central Sandbox Environment Every Night

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business CentralComing from a background of working with Microsoft Dynamics GP, I am used to being able to automate the copy of production to test using SQL Server Agent. Since moving to working with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central this is not something I’ve been able to automate as Business Central is cloud-based rather than on-premise and we don’t have the same access to the database.

Earlier in December last year, Andrew Wingate published an article on creating a fresh sandbox copy of production every night using Power Automate.

Example Power Automate flow from Peter Wingate

I’ve been doing some work with Power Automate over the last year or so, so this is an interesting approach and one I am going to take a look into when I have time.

Full details are available in Peter’s article.

2024, A Year in Numbers

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business CentralI’m always interested in the breakdown of areas I write about and regard some areas as my main ones; I am a Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central functional consultant, so that is naturally my main area of writing; I have started working with Power Automate, mainly in relation to Business Central, and am regarding it as one of my new main areas and have published an increased umber of articles on it this year; I develop plugins for ClassicPress to support what I do on this site, so do often write a fair bit about doing that, although I seem to have got through 2024 without writing a single one; I was, before starting to work with Business Central, a Microsoft Dynamics GP specialist, but have only five articles on GP this year and likely not many to come as I no longer work with it and its end of life has been announced.

The articles I published in 2024 break down into my main four areas like this:

Continue reading “2024, A Year in Numbers”

New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2: Process Mining Process Simulations

Power AutomateThis 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 2nd of the new functionality in the Process mining section is process mining process simulations.

Process simulations enable you to simulate the impact of proposed changes in your business processes. Modeled changes include resource management and updates in a process flow. A process simulation compares performance and financial key performance indicators (KPIs) between original and simulated processes.

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

Feature Details

Process simulations enable you to model various scenarios, run the simulation based on an existing process, and compare the simulation results with the original process (for example, duration of cases, and cost of cases).

You can model the following proposals:

  • Resource management: Add and remove users, and change the performance and cost per resource.
  • Manage durations and wait times for activities in business processes.
  • Manage process flow: Define follow-up activities and their distribution.
  • Manage working hours and timetables.

Simulation results offer a summary of global KPIs per process and detailed insights to analyze the impact of each activity.

Continue reading “New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2: Process Mining Process Simulations”

New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2: Secure Credential Retrieval In Power Automate For Desktop

Power AutomateThis 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.

Click to show/hide the New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2 Series Index

New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2
Use Generative AI To Achieve A Process In AI Flows
Create Power Automate Flows In Excel
Run A Cloud Flow For More Than 30 Days Per Invocation
Be More Productive With Power Automate And Excel Desktop
Use Workflows On Calendar Events In Teams and Outlook
Monitor Performance For Cloud and Desktop Flow Activities In Automation Center
Connect To Other Environments From The Microsoft Dataverse Connector
Create A Flow On a File In Teams
Create And Edit Expressions With Copilot
Use Undo And Redo While You Build Cloud Flows In The Designer
Receive Intelligent License Recommendations For Admins
Recommendations To Reassign Orphaned Cloud Flows
Use Your Own Key To Encrypt Data At-Rest For Environments
Create Generative Actions In Cloud Flows
Cloud Flows Are Automatically Defined In Dataverse Solutions
Updated Browse Connectors Pane In Cloud Flows
Use Copilot To Analyze Automation Activity
Generate Flow Description Using AI
Automate With Ease Using The AI Recorder
Transform Scripting Using AI-Driven Natural Language
Maximize Your Productivity With Generative Answers
Use Natural Language To Create A Flow In Teams
Regenerate a Variation of a Flow in Copilot
Get Increased Accuracy In Responses From Copilot
Copilot Provides More Accurate Answers To Questions
Use Cyberark Credentials In Desktop Flow Connections
Monitor, Manage Your Automations And Related Assets
Use Copilot To Analyze Cloud Flow Runs
Use Copilot To Analyze Desktop Flow Runs
Use Copilot To Analyze Work Queue Data
Use Copilot To Ask Power Automate Product Questions
Self-Heal UI And Browser Automation Actions at Execution With AI
Power Fx Integration With Power Automate For Desktop
Use Machine To Credential Mapping In Desktop Flow Connections
Connect Your Own Virtual Network With Hosted Machine Group
View Progressive Logging For Desktop Flows
Integrate Cloud Connectors Into Desktop Flows Via The Assets Library
Enable Dark Mode In Power Automate For Desktop
Describe Flow Actions With Copilot
Use Your Voice To Interact With Copilot
Use Certificate-Based Authentication in Desktop Flow Connections
Secure Credential Retrieval In Power Automate For Desktop
Scale Faster With Process Mining Thin Client App
Process Mining Process Simulations

New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2: Use Certificate-Based Authentication in Desktop Flow Connections

Power AutomateThis 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).

Click to show/hide the New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2 Series Index

New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2
Use Generative AI To Achieve A Process In AI Flows
Create Power Automate Flows In Excel
Run A Cloud Flow For More Than 30 Days Per Invocation
Be More Productive With Power Automate And Excel Desktop
Use Workflows On Calendar Events In Teams and Outlook
Monitor Performance For Cloud and Desktop Flow Activities In Automation Center
Connect To Other Environments From The Microsoft Dataverse Connector
Create A Flow On a File In Teams
Create And Edit Expressions With Copilot
Use Undo And Redo While You Build Cloud Flows In The Designer
Receive Intelligent License Recommendations For Admins
Recommendations To Reassign Orphaned Cloud Flows
Use Your Own Key To Encrypt Data At-Rest For Environments
Create Generative Actions In Cloud Flows
Cloud Flows Are Automatically Defined In Dataverse Solutions
Updated Browse Connectors Pane In Cloud Flows
Use Copilot To Analyze Automation Activity
Generate Flow Description Using AI
Automate With Ease Using The AI Recorder
Transform Scripting Using AI-Driven Natural Language
Maximize Your Productivity With Generative Answers
Use Natural Language To Create A Flow In Teams
Regenerate a Variation of a Flow in Copilot
Get Increased Accuracy In Responses From Copilot
Copilot Provides More Accurate Answers To Questions
Use Cyberark Credentials In Desktop Flow Connections
Monitor, Manage Your Automations And Related Assets
Use Copilot To Analyze Cloud Flow Runs
Use Copilot To Analyze Desktop Flow Runs
Use Copilot To Analyze Work Queue Data
Use Copilot To Ask Power Automate Product Questions
Self-Heal UI And Browser Automation Actions at Execution With AI
Power Fx Integration With Power Automate For Desktop
Use Machine To Credential Mapping In Desktop Flow Connections
Connect Your Own Virtual Network With Hosted Machine Group
View Progressive Logging For Desktop Flows
Integrate Cloud Connectors Into Desktop Flows Via The Assets Library
Enable Dark Mode In Power Automate For Desktop
Describe Flow Actions With Copilot
Use Your Voice To Interact With Copilot
Use Certificate-Based Authentication in Desktop Flow Connections
Secure Credential Retrieval In Power Automate For Desktop
Scale Faster With Process Mining Thin Client App
Process Mining Process Simulations

New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2: Use Your Voice To Interact With Copilot

Power AutomateThis 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.

Click to show/hide the New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2 Series Index

New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2
Use Generative AI To Achieve A Process In AI Flows
Create Power Automate Flows In Excel
Run A Cloud Flow For More Than 30 Days Per Invocation
Be More Productive With Power Automate And Excel Desktop
Use Workflows On Calendar Events In Teams and Outlook
Monitor Performance For Cloud and Desktop Flow Activities In Automation Center
Connect To Other Environments From The Microsoft Dataverse Connector
Create A Flow On a File In Teams
Create And Edit Expressions With Copilot
Use Undo And Redo While You Build Cloud Flows In The Designer
Receive Intelligent License Recommendations For Admins
Recommendations To Reassign Orphaned Cloud Flows
Use Your Own Key To Encrypt Data At-Rest For Environments
Create Generative Actions In Cloud Flows
Cloud Flows Are Automatically Defined In Dataverse Solutions
Updated Browse Connectors Pane In Cloud Flows
Use Copilot To Analyze Automation Activity
Generate Flow Description Using AI
Automate With Ease Using The AI Recorder
Transform Scripting Using AI-Driven Natural Language
Maximize Your Productivity With Generative Answers
Use Natural Language To Create A Flow In Teams
Regenerate a Variation of a Flow in Copilot
Get Increased Accuracy In Responses From Copilot
Copilot Provides More Accurate Answers To Questions
Use Cyberark Credentials In Desktop Flow Connections
Monitor, Manage Your Automations And Related Assets
Use Copilot To Analyze Cloud Flow Runs
Use Copilot To Analyze Desktop Flow Runs
Use Copilot To Analyze Work Queue Data
Use Copilot To Ask Power Automate Product Questions
Self-Heal UI And Browser Automation Actions at Execution With AI
Power Fx Integration With Power Automate For Desktop
Use Machine To Credential Mapping In Desktop Flow Connections
Connect Your Own Virtual Network With Hosted Machine Group
View Progressive Logging For Desktop Flows
Integrate Cloud Connectors Into Desktop Flows Via The Assets Library
Enable Dark Mode In Power Automate For Desktop
Describe Flow Actions With Copilot
Use Your Voice To Interact With Copilot
Use Certificate-Based Authentication in Desktop Flow Connections
Secure Credential Retrieval In Power Automate For Desktop
Scale Faster With Process Mining Thin Client App
Process Mining Process Simulations

New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2: Describe Flow Actions With Copilot

Power AutomateThis 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.

Click to show/hide the New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2 Series Index

New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2
Use Generative AI To Achieve A Process In AI Flows
Create Power Automate Flows In Excel
Run A Cloud Flow For More Than 30 Days Per Invocation
Be More Productive With Power Automate And Excel Desktop
Use Workflows On Calendar Events In Teams and Outlook
Monitor Performance For Cloud and Desktop Flow Activities In Automation Center
Connect To Other Environments From The Microsoft Dataverse Connector
Create A Flow On a File In Teams
Create And Edit Expressions With Copilot
Use Undo And Redo While You Build Cloud Flows In The Designer
Receive Intelligent License Recommendations For Admins
Recommendations To Reassign Orphaned Cloud Flows
Use Your Own Key To Encrypt Data At-Rest For Environments
Create Generative Actions In Cloud Flows
Cloud Flows Are Automatically Defined In Dataverse Solutions
Updated Browse Connectors Pane In Cloud Flows
Use Copilot To Analyze Automation Activity
Generate Flow Description Using AI
Automate With Ease Using The AI Recorder
Transform Scripting Using AI-Driven Natural Language
Maximize Your Productivity With Generative Answers
Use Natural Language To Create A Flow In Teams
Regenerate a Variation of a Flow in Copilot
Get Increased Accuracy In Responses From Copilot
Copilot Provides More Accurate Answers To Questions
Use Cyberark Credentials In Desktop Flow Connections
Monitor, Manage Your Automations And Related Assets
Use Copilot To Analyze Cloud Flow Runs
Use Copilot To Analyze Desktop Flow Runs
Use Copilot To Analyze Work Queue Data
Use Copilot To Ask Power Automate Product Questions
Self-Heal UI And Browser Automation Actions at Execution With AI
Power Fx Integration With Power Automate For Desktop
Use Machine To Credential Mapping In Desktop Flow Connections
Connect Your Own Virtual Network With Hosted Machine Group
View Progressive Logging For Desktop Flows
Integrate Cloud Connectors Into Desktop Flows Via The Assets Library
Enable Dark Mode In Power Automate For Desktop
Describe Flow Actions With Copilot
Use Your Voice To Interact With Copilot
Use Certificate-Based Authentication in Desktop Flow Connections
Secure Credential Retrieval In Power Automate For Desktop
Scale Faster With Process Mining Thin Client App
Process Mining Process Simulations

New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2: Enable Dark Mode In Power Automate For Desktop

Power AutomateThis 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).

Click to show/hide the New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2 Series Index

New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2
Use Generative AI To Achieve A Process In AI Flows
Create Power Automate Flows In Excel
Run A Cloud Flow For More Than 30 Days Per Invocation
Be More Productive With Power Automate And Excel Desktop
Use Workflows On Calendar Events In Teams and Outlook
Monitor Performance For Cloud and Desktop Flow Activities In Automation Center
Connect To Other Environments From The Microsoft Dataverse Connector
Create A Flow On a File In Teams
Create And Edit Expressions With Copilot
Use Undo And Redo While You Build Cloud Flows In The Designer
Receive Intelligent License Recommendations For Admins
Recommendations To Reassign Orphaned Cloud Flows
Use Your Own Key To Encrypt Data At-Rest For Environments
Create Generative Actions In Cloud Flows
Cloud Flows Are Automatically Defined In Dataverse Solutions
Updated Browse Connectors Pane In Cloud Flows
Use Copilot To Analyze Automation Activity
Generate Flow Description Using AI
Automate With Ease Using The AI Recorder
Transform Scripting Using AI-Driven Natural Language
Maximize Your Productivity With Generative Answers
Use Natural Language To Create A Flow In Teams
Regenerate a Variation of a Flow in Copilot
Get Increased Accuracy In Responses From Copilot
Copilot Provides More Accurate Answers To Questions
Use Cyberark Credentials In Desktop Flow Connections
Monitor, Manage Your Automations And Related Assets
Use Copilot To Analyze Cloud Flow Runs
Use Copilot To Analyze Desktop Flow Runs
Use Copilot To Analyze Work Queue Data
Use Copilot To Ask Power Automate Product Questions
Self-Heal UI And Browser Automation Actions at Execution With AI
Power Fx Integration With Power Automate For Desktop
Use Machine To Credential Mapping In Desktop Flow Connections
Connect Your Own Virtual Network With Hosted Machine Group
View Progressive Logging For Desktop Flows
Integrate Cloud Connectors Into Desktop Flows Via The Assets Library
Enable Dark Mode In Power Automate For Desktop
Describe Flow Actions With Copilot
Use Your Voice To Interact With Copilot
Use Certificate-Based Authentication in Desktop Flow Connections
Secure Credential Retrieval In Power Automate For Desktop
Scale Faster With Process Mining Thin Client App
Process Mining Process Simulations

New Functionality In Microsoft Power Automate 2024 Wave 2: Integrate Cloud Connectors Into Desktop Flows Via The Assets Library

Power AutomateThis 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”