In today’s digital era, process automation is essential for increasing efficiency, reducing costs, and eliminating manual errors. One of the most popular tools in this area is Power Automate by Microsoft. On the other hand, there are more advanced solutions like Netgrif, which elevate automation to the level of intelligent, dynamic processes. So how do you choose between Power Automate and Netgrif? Let’s break it down.
What is Power Automate?
Power Automate is a cloud-based service that allows users to automate various tasks between apps and services. A typical example would be automatically saving email attachments to cloud storage, approving documents, or sending notifications via Microsoft Teams.
It’s a great tool for Microsoft 365 users who want to create “flows” without coding – sequences of tasks based on simple conditions. Thanks to its ready-made connectors, integrating with Outlook, SharePoint, Excel, or OneDrive is just a few clicks away.
Advantages of Power Automate
- Simplicity – an intuitive interface, suitable even for non-technical users.
- Quick implementation – pre-built templates for common tasks.
- Microsoft ecosystem integration – perfect for companies already using Microsoft 365.
Limitations of Power Automate
Despite its usefulness, Power Automate has some limitations. When it comes to more complex business processes – with parallel tasks, escalations, multi-step approvals, or deep integration with a custom data model – Power Automate often falls short. It’s designed for simple flows, not as a full-featured process engine.
The Alternative: Netgrif
Netgrif is an open-source platform designed to build and run complex process-driven applications. It uses BPMN 2.0 (Business Process Model and Notation), a powerful data model, and task assignment based on roles. Unlike Power Automate, processes in Netgrif evolve dynamically based on states, rules, and data.
Netgrif allows you to build applications where processes adapt to inputs, user roles, and business logic. It’s ideal for organizations that need more than just basic automation – for example in public administration, healthcare, logistics, or insurance.
Power Automate vs. Netgrif – When to Use What?
| Scenario | Recommended Tool |
|---|---|
| Automatically saving email attachments | Power Automate |
| Vacation approval via Outlook + Teams | Power Automate |
| Multi-step approval based on order type | Netgrif |
| Contract change process with legal rules | Netgrif |
| Application with role-based tasks and escalation | Netgrif |
Závěr
Power Automate is a great tool for everyday automations, especially within the Microsoft 365 environment. It allows you to quickly and easily automate repetitive tasks, saving both time and costs. However, if you’re looking for a robust solution for complex business processes with visual modeling, dynamic task assignment, and powerful data handling – Netgrif is the clear choice.
If you’re just starting with simple automation, Power Automate is a great first step. But if you’re planning a real digital transformation of your workflows, it’s worth exploring what Netgrif has to offer.