Session Abstract

WHAT Power Automate has been the automation workhorse of the Power Platform for years. But what happens when your process needs to understand intent, classify information, invoke an agent, or make decisions that aren't strictly deterministic? In this session, we'll explore Microsoft Copilot Studio Workflows - the new AI-native workflow engine - and compare it with traditional Power Automate cloud flows. We'll look at where each shines, where each falls short, and how to choose the right tool for the job instead of following the latest hype. WHY Not every business process can be solved with deterministic automation. Some require reasoning, interpretation, or AI-driven decision-making, making Copilot Studio Workflows a compelling alternative. At the same time, not every workflow needs an LLM deciding what to do next - Power Automate often remains the faster, simpler, and more cost-effective choice. We'll compare the real-world trade-offs, including native AI capabilities, licensing, performance, implementation complexity, and maintainability. Sometimes Copilot Studio Workflows can replace several Power Automate actions or external AI services; other times, they simply introduce unnecessary cost and complexity. The trick is knowing the difference. HOW After a quick introduction to the fundamentals, we'll spend most of the session doing what developers actually came for: demos. Lots of demos. We'll share practical solutions with both technologies, compare them side by side, and discuss the architectural decisions behind each implementation. Expect fewer slides, more live interaction, and probably at least one demo that behaves perfectly... because I've sacrificed enough rubber ducks beforehand. TAKEAWAYS After attending this session, you'll be able to: ✅ Understand the strengths and limitations of Copilot Studio Workflows and Power Automate cloud flows. ✅ Recognize when agentic workflows outperform deterministic automation - and when they don't. ✅ Evaluate architectural trade-offs, including AI capabilities, performance, licensing, and maintainability. ✅ Build Copilot Studio Workflows with confidence using practical patterns demonstrated during the live demos. ✅ Make informed decisions based on the problem you're solving, not just the newest button Microsoft added last week.

Note to event organizers

This is an intermediate level session, intended for decision makers and developers, with a high level overview of both tools, as well as a more in-depth comparison.

Agnius Bartninkas

8+ years of successfully leading a process improvement and automation agency, specializing in operational excellence and automation, using the Microsoft Power Platform. Over 200 projects delivered to more than 100 clients worldwide either personally or via a directly managed team of developers. Over 10 million EUR in accumulated savings reported by clients due to these projects. Personally trained numerous automation developers to work with the Power Platform and related software. Microsoft Business Applications MVP.

Back to speaker profile