Democratizing RPA with Power Automate Desktop: Boost your productivity by implementing best practices for automating repetitive desktop processes

If you’re a tech-savvy PC user, who’s looking to automate repetitive tasks, you need this book!
“Democratizing RPA with Power Automate Desktop” by Peter Krause is one of the first books on the market to delve into the realm of Power Automate Desktop, making it a welcome addition to the field. It surprised me to see that almost all books on the subject were written in Japanese – this one seems to be the first in English.The book provides a thorough review of the available functions within the software, ensuring that readers gain a solid understanding of its capabilities. The book is fresh, covering even the latest features of PowerAutomate Desktop, and reflecting the author’s commitment to keeping the content current.The book is particularly valuable for technology-focused individuals who are automating their daily work either for themselves or for a small group. It offers practical guidance and insights, empowering readers to streamline their tasks effectively. The detailed exploration of various functions equips readers with the knowledge they need to automate their workflows efficiently.”Democratizing RPA with Power Automate Desktop” caters to two distinct target audiences with different automation needs. On one hand, there is a wide audience of tech-savvy PC users seeking to automate their Windows desktops for personal or small group productivity. On the other hand, there is a narrower group of enterprise professionals involved in Robotic Process Automation (RPA) at scale. It is important to note that the my perspective and expectations have been shaped by their regular interactions with the latter group.While the book covers a wide range of essential topics, it falls short in certain areas. Notably, it lacks in-depth discussions on selectors, which are often the critical aspect of automating web applications reliably.Additionally, the book does not extensively cover best practices for creating automations that can be maintained in the long run. Topics such as when to use subflows, comments, or reusable child flows are not thoroughly addressed. Incorporating these best practices would have enhanced the book’s value, allowing readers to develop robust and sustainable automations.There are a few aspects of the book that left me disappointed. The author takes an unconventional approach by starting with desktop automation instead of cloud-based automation, which I recommend as a first step. The book demonstrates without appropriate comments some questionable practices, such as automating Dynamics 365 through the web UI (in presence of a fully capable out-of-the-box connector), or utilizing desktop Microsoft Access as a database (in presence of many modern and cloud-based alternatives).Furthermore, I feel that the author went only half-way with the promise of democratizing automation. It seems to be a deliberate choice that the content focuses on the most complex aspect of automation (RPA), where a market niche for such a book exists. However, the choice of technology is on its own potentially excluding an even wider user audience. I would recommend new readers to start with learning Power Automate (not Desktop) first, and then exploring Power Automate Desktop as an extension of their skills.”Democratizing RPA with Power Automate Desktop” serves as a valuable resource for individuals already familiar with other vendor’s RPA but looking to venture into Power Automate Desktop. It also caters to those well-versed in Power Automate’s cloud-based features who wish to expand their automation skills to the desktop environment. The inclusion of cloud automation in Chapter 12 (last one), while informative, feels more like a compilation of step-by-step recipes rather than the author’s original insights. Overall, the book provides a solid foundation for new users of Power Automate Desktop.

I use Power Automate Desktop everyday… this book is a must read!
“Democratizing RPA with Power Automate Desktop” is an invaluable resource that unlocks the true potential of Power Automate Desktop. With a focus on liberating individuals from mundane and repetitive IT tasks, this book equips readers with the knowledge and skills needed to automate processes, thereby enabling them to allocate more time to significant endeavors.One of the book’s standout features is its comprehensive coverage of user interface automation. In 12 well-written chapters, just under 300 pages, it demonstrates how Power Automate Desktop seamlessly integrates with locally installed programs, processes, and web browsers, enabling readers to automate a wide range of tasks effectively. The explanations are clear and concise, ensuring that even those new to automation can follow along effortlessly.Written in a concise and engaging manner, “Democratizing RPA with Power Automate Desktop” caters to both beginners and experienced automation enthusiasts. Peter’s expertise shines through, making complex concepts accessible and actionable. The book strikes a perfect balance between theory and practicality, providing readers with the tools and insights necessary to unleash the full potential of Power Automate Desktop.As an 18x Microsoft Certified Professional, a certified solution architect, I highly recommend this book to anyone, at all experience levels, using Power Automate Desktop. This is a “top shelf” book I will refer to for many years to come.