How Microsoft Graph helps achieve user task automation

I tend to remember the projects that didn't work out quite the way I wished.

One of those projects included the developing of an application that provided work items listing for customer service representatives (CSRs). The idea was to have the tasks that a CSR did for each process available as a list on the front page of the application. Next to each item was a colored traffic signal that would indicate the priority of the task.  A CSR would select a task, and the application would display a list of items to be completed by the CSR. Because this company was in the home health care industry, these included new patient forms, medication lists, and other items relating to the health of this new patient. If possible the CSR would complete the tasks, but many tasks required a patient's signature or approval. They would continue to appear on the front of the application until the CSR was able to finish the requirement. The CSR manager would also see a list of direct reports on their screen, as well as the traffic signal for the CSRs as an aggregation, and their ability to accomplish all of the tasks assigned to them.

I guess I forgot to mention, this project was 22 years ago. Yep, it really has stuck with me for a long time.

When I think back on that project more than two decades ago, I wish I had access to a system like Microsoft Graph.

The API for Microsoft Graph makes most of these tasks easier to accomplish. When you combine it with a logic tier, such as Azure Logic Apps or Flow it becomes even simpler.  You could, as an example, use a document form for the customer questionnaire, put an approval or two into the logic flow, use the power of Azure  Service Bus to message the patient on their mobile phone,  and  wrap this entire process up in a few hours instead of weeks.

Graph gives the application access to information in Azure Active Directory (AD) which in turn gives our application information about employees, managers, and direct reports. AD comes with all the information for an organization chart.  In the previous example, this would allow the application to send a message to a person who can talk to the patient or even message the patient directly.