Top 5 Processes You Should Automate with Power Automate
Key Takeaways
- Power Automate is already included in many Microsoft 365 licenses – getting started is often cheaper than expected.
- The five processes with the highest ROI: incoming invoices, onboarding, leave requests, lead capture, and approval workflows.
- All workflows can be implemented natively with SharePoint, Outlook, Teams, and Forms – no external tools needed.
- The question isn't whether to automate, but which process to tackle first.
Many companies already use Microsoft 365 intensively – but don't fully leverage the automation potential. With Power Automate, repetitive tasks can be automated in a structured, traceable, and scalable way.
Below you'll find five processes that have proven particularly effective in practice.
1. Automatically Process Incoming Invoices
Problem: Invoices arrive via email, are manually saved, reviewed, and forwarded. This takes time and is error-prone.
Automation with Power Automate
- Incoming email with attachment is detected
- PDF is automatically saved to SharePoint
- AI Builder extracts invoice data
- Approval process is initiated
- Accounting receives final confirmation
Benefits
- Clear approval structure
- No lost documents
- Transparent status tracking
For SMBs, this is one of the processes with the highest ROI. Learn more on our invoice automation product page.
2. Standardize Employee Onboarding
Problem: New employees need accounts, permissions, hardware, training. Coordination often happens via email or Excel.
Automation with Power Automate
- HR adds new employee to a list
- Automatic task creation for IT, HR, and department
- Reminders for open tasks
- Automatic permission assignment via Entra / M365
Benefits
- No forgotten steps
- Consistent process
- Faster productivity for new employees
Essential for growing companies. See how we implement this with our onboarding workflows.
3. Digitize Leave and Absence Requests
Problem: Requests via email or paper lead to lack of transparency and duplicate administrative work.
Automation with Power Automate
- Request via Microsoft Forms or Power Apps
- Automatic forwarding to supervisor
- Entry in central SharePoint list
- Optional: Sync with Outlook calendar
Benefits
- Transparent approvals
- Central overview
- Traceable history
A classic quick win.
4. Lead Capture and CRM Integration
Problem: Contact forms from the website are manually transferred to the CRM.
Automation with Power Automate
- New form is submitted
- Lead is automatically saved to Dynamics, HubSpot, or SharePoint
- Sales rep is notified
- Follow-up email is sent automatically
Benefits
- No lead gets lost
- Faster response times
- Measurable conversion processes
A critical lever especially for service providers and consultancies. A ready-made solution for this is our lead capture product.
5. Approval Processes for Documents and Investments
Problem: Approvals run via email with unclear versioning.
Automation with Power Automate
- Document is uploaded
- Automatic approval workflow starts
- Status is documented
- Final version is stored with revision control
Benefits
- Clear responsibilities
- Audit security
- Time savings in decision processes
Particularly relevant for manufacturing companies or public institutions. Learn more on our approval workflows product page.
Conclusion
Power Automate is not a "nice to have" but a structural efficiency tool. The question isn't whether to automate, but which processes to tackle first.
The five processes above offer:
- High time savings
- Fast implementation
- Measurable benefits
If you want to assess the automation potential in your company, we at Lyron analyze your existing processes and identify concrete quick wins. Find out more about our Power Automate consulting on our service page.
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