Power Automate - Use Adaptive Cards in Outlook

Key insights

• Adaptive Cards let users add interactive and actionable content to Outlook emails, making it easy for recipients to respond or approve requests without leaving their inbox. This boosts productivity by streamlining business processes.


• Power Automate Integration connects Adaptive Cards with automated workflows. When someone interacts with a card in an email, Power Automate can process the response, update systems, or send follow-up messages automatically.


• Customizability is a key benefit. Users can design cards with different input types like text fields, choice sets, and buttons to fit scenarios such as surveys, approvals, or notifications.


• Cross-Platform Compatibility ensures Adaptive Cards work consistently in Outlook desktop, web, mobile apps, and Microsoft Teams—providing the same experience across Microsoft 365 tools.


• Common Errors and Limitations: Only one submission per card is allowed per flow run. Buttons other than OpenURL may cause errors unless specific actions are used in Power Automate. Some cards might not render correctly due to formatting issues or client limitations.


• Recent Updates (2024-2025): Improvements have made workflows faster and interactivity richer. However, developers should follow best practices for formatting and sending cards through Power Automate to avoid common problems like unrendered JSON or unstable behavior in Outlook clients.

Introduction to Adaptive Cards in Outlook with Microsoft 365

Adaptive Cards have become a significant tool for Microsoft 365 users looking to enhance their productivity. In a recent YouTube video by Andrew Hess - MySPQuestions, viewers are guided through the process of designing and implementing Adaptive Cards within Outlook emails using Power Automate. This integration allows users to create interactive, actionable messages that recipients can respond to directly from their inbox.

With the rise of remote work and digital collaboration, the need for more dynamic email experiences has grown. By embedding Adaptive Cards into Outlook, organizations can streamline workflows and improve engagement without forcing users to switch between different apps or platforms.

How Adaptive Cards Work with Power Automate

At its core, Adaptive Cards use a flexible JSON schema to define interactive elements such as text, buttons, and input fields. These cards are then sent via Power Automate flows, making it possible to automate actions based on user responses. For example, a manager could embed an approval request in an email, allowing team members to approve or reject tasks without leaving Outlook.

The process involves several key steps: creating the Adaptive Card using the Designer, sending it through a Power Automate flow, collecting user input, and then triggering further automated actions based on the response. This workflow not only saves time but also reduces errors by keeping all interactions within the familiar Outlook environment.

Advantages and Tradeoffs of Using Adaptive Cards

One of the main advantages of Adaptive Cards is the ability to streamline processes. Recipients can interact with messages—such as submitting feedback or completing approvals—without switching contexts, which accelerates decision-making. Furthermore, the cards are highly customizable, enabling organizations to tailor them to specific scenarios, from simple notifications to complex multi-step approvals.

However, there are tradeoffs to consider. While Adaptive Cards offer cross-platform compatibility across Outlook desktop, web, and mobile, some features may not render consistently in every client. Additionally, certain limitations exist: only one card submission per flow run is permitted, and using unsupported actions can lead to errors. Balancing functionality with reliability remains a challenge, especially as organizations look to deploy these tools at scale.

Common Challenges and Limitations

Despite their benefits, Adaptive Cards in Outlook are not without issues. As highlighted in the video, users may encounter errors if they attempt to use unsupported button actions or submit multiple responses within a single flow. Moreover, attempting to embed Adaptive Card JSON directly into an Outlook email body without the correct formatting often results in the card displaying as raw code, rather than as an interactive element.

Inconsistent rendering across different Outlook clients is another challenge. While Microsoft continues to enhance support for Adaptive Cards, some edge cases persist, requiring developers to follow best practices and stay updated on recent developments. Community forums and new documentation provide guidance, yet hands-on testing remains crucial to ensure a seamless user experience.

Recent Updates and Best Practices

Recent improvements in Power Automate have focused on increasing the speed and interactivity of Adaptive Cards in Outlook. New features make it easier to automate business processes such as sales notifications, workflow approvals, and real-time feedback collection. Nevertheless, it is essential to use the recommended wait for a response actions and adhere to proper message formats to avoid common pitfalls.

To maximize the effectiveness of Adaptive Cards, developers should utilize the Adaptive Card Designer and consult up-to-date documentation. Regular testing across different Outlook clients helps identify rendering issues early, ensuring that cards function as intended for all recipients.

Conclusion

Integrating Adaptive Cards with Power Automate in Outlook presents a powerful way to deliver interactive, actionable messages that drive productivity. While the technology offers significant advantages for workflow automation, it also requires careful implementation to navigate existing limitations and ensure consistent performance.

Ongoing improvements and active community discussions continue to shape best practices, helping users get the most out of this evolving feature set. As organizations invest in digital transformation, Adaptive Cards are poised to play a key role in delivering seamless, engaging experiences within Microsoft 365.

Keywords

Adaptive Cards Outlook Power Automate integration automate emails interactive cards Microsoft 365 workflow automation