Azure Logic Apps is a cloud service that helps you schedule, automate, and orchestrate tasks, business processes, and workflows to integrate apps, data, systems, and services across enterprises or organizations.
It simplifies how you design and build scalable solutions for app integration, data integration, system integration, enterprise application integration (EAI), and business-to-business (B2B) communication, whether in the cloud, on-premises, or both.
Azure Logic Apps Workflow scenario
Azure Logic Apps Workflow can be described using a simple scenario. For example, when a part needs to be replaced on a delivery truck, a request is triggered for the part. However, when the price of the part is sourced, manager approval is required because it exceeds a certain dollar value. This step in the process delays approval because the receiving employee must manually note that approval is denied, and then forward the request to the right person for approval before the process continues. Also, there is no guarantee that the act of forwarding the request will be completed in a timely manner or need to be rerouted by others.
Workflow benefits
With a workflow, the part request can be monitored and routed directly to one manager with signing authority for instant approval or rerouted to others if the first manager is unavailable. With traditional software, the state of the user’s input needs to be remembered and monitored over a long period of time, a process known as persistence. The workflow approach uses a centralized workflow engine to monitor and manage the long-term memory requirements. The workflow history is usually recorded as a single job, and users can look at the history to troubleshoot any issues.
In the same scenario, users may run into different possibilities that interrupt a quick resolution. For example, what if the manager who normally signs off on that purchase is on a leave of absence? There are other managers who have signing authority; however, not all required information is documented or available. The delivery truck remains in the garage and business activities are interrupted. A workflow, by comparison, can be configured to activate a timer for the approval process, contact a list of alternate managers to the one who went on leave, or even to circle back to the person who initiated the purchase process, letting them know that it was stuck at that point.
Summary
Workflows should be designed to connect to and consume information from many business systems and sources both inside and outside of the organization.
Microsoft developed the Windows Workflow Foundation (WWF) as a standard workflow engine used by Visual Studio developers to create a sequential or state machine design. Many Microsoft Server products feature built-in workflows, including SharePoint and several members of the Dynamics product line. PowerShell also features a workflow approach that can automate tasks in Azure. Logic Apps is a consistent, flexible, and easy-to-use approach to building workflows in Azure. Similar functionality is available in Office 365 using PowerApps and Flow.
Learn more about TwoConnect’s Microsoft Azure Logic Apps services here and how they can help your business. TwoConnect provides data integration solutions at a fraction of the cost you might expect. Our Microsoft certified Azure Logic Apps consultants and developers are available onsite or remotely to help you with implementation.
