Types of Power Automate buttons
The three types of Power Automate instant flows are:
- A flow with no user input
- A flow with user input or trigger tokens
- A physical button
App-based virtual button with a flow with no user input
An example of running an instant flow with no user input would be if you use the Power Automate to send a notification email to your manager that you'll be late for work. This instant flow is available on the Power Automate app for your smart devices. For this flow not to require user input, you need to have necessary data connections, such as Office 365 users, to find your manager's contact information and also have the email action pre-populated with the subject line and email body.
Instant flow with user input or trigger tokens
Power Automate with user input or trigger tokens is a quick way to send notifications. Consider the scenario where you have a flow that provides you with the opportunity to notify and alert the maintenance department about damage to equipment, for example. The flow has a drop-down data type to select the location, such as a building or department, and a text data type to write a note. Upon submission, a notification is sent to the key people.
Use a physical button
Several partner companies, such as Flic and Bttn, provide physical buttons that integrate with smart phones and can trigger your flows. The Power Automate mobile app must be installed on your smartphone to use these physical buttons. These flows don't require any user input.