Reflecting on the year 2000, when I was just 11 years old, I remember the conversations about Y2K and how its potential for digital disaster seemed to be on everyone's mind. At the same time, there was a lot of excitement about the potential power of the internet and digital revolution. Fast forward 24 years and now almost all data is stored digitally in some way, shape, or form. We now have software that harnesses the power of our digital data, connecting various systems through numerous connections and automations.
As we continue to navigate this digital world, the next big revolution is automation. Though AI is also on the horizon, potentially impacting many jobs, automation in regards to GIS workflows is what we will focus on here. It's crucial to have workflows that are not only well-documented, but also efficient. This involves reviewing daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly processes to identify opportunities for automation. Even if a task is performed only once or twice a year, it can be beneficial to automate.
At the core of this automation revolution is the goal of streamlining workflows to save time and money while minimizing human error. By automating repetitive tasks, we can focus on more critical and creative aspects of our work. Today, we will explore various techniques using Microsoft Power Automate and discuss other software options for automation.
Automation Softwares
Power Automate
Power Automate, widely used in GIS and ArcGIS software, requires an Office 365 subscription and a premium license for most advanced functionalities. This license costs around $15 per user, making it accessible for many clients who already have Office 365.
While Power Automate is a robust tool, there are alternatives such as Make (formerly Integromat), SnapLogic, and Zapier. These tools also support ArcGIS but may lack some specific connectors available in Power Automate. For instance, Make requires an annual subscription with tiered pricing, whereas SnapLogic and Zapier offer different pricing and monitoring models. Make has some preconfigured connectors for ArcGIS software like Survey123 and Field Maps, but SnapLogic and Zapier do not. Connectors can be manually created and configured, but they can be difficult for those inexperienced with webhooks and HTTP requests.
Key Features and Connectors
The backbone of Power Automate lies in its connectors. These connectors link various software and data sources, allowing seamless integration and automation of tasks. Some of the essential connectors for ArcGIS include:
Survey123 Connector: Monitors new survey submissions and edits.
ArcGIS Connector: Interacts with feature layers, geocoding, and data enrichment.
Custom WebHooks: Integrates with ArcGIS Enterprise forms, enabling similar workflows much like ArcGIS Online forms.
Additionally, Power Automate provides connectors for email services, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and communication tools like Slack.
Pre-Made Templates
Power Automate offers a variety of pre-made templates to jumpstart your automation projects. Some popular templates include:
Sending an email when a survey response is submitted: This common automation started with Survey123 and remains widely used.
Exporting data from a feature layer to a CSV: Useful for data analysis and reporting.
Real-World Applications and Demos
Check out the video below from my recent webinar to see some demonstrations.
Automation is transforming the way we work, making processes more efficient and reducing the potential for human error. By leveraging tools like Power Automate and exploring other automation software, we can optimize our workflows and focus on more strategic tasks. For Cloudpoint’s help automating your workflows, contact us today!