One of the major decisions and announcement Microsoft has made during their Microsoft 365 modernization initiative is, “SharePoint 2013 end of life.”
Earlier the retirement announcement was made for SharePoint 2010 back in year 2020. It’s alarming call for all the organization, be it large company or small medium business using SharePoint workflow. They need to plan their migration to the modern solutions like Power Automate.
As the enterprise collaboration landscape continues to evolve, workflow solutions from Microsoft SharePoint represent a bedrock element of business process automation.
It is little wonder, then, that many organizations have seized on this element -- especially when news emerged about retiring SharePoint Workflow (2013) and, indeed, the eventual retirement of SharePoint Designer 2013.
SharePoint Workflow Evolution
Upon reflecting on the question of "when was SharePoint created," it becomes evident that the platform has evolved significantly since its inception.
The transition from traditional SharePoint Designer workflow solutions to contemporary automation tools exemplifies Microsoft's dedication to innovation.
As the end of life for SharePoint Designer 2013 approaches in July 2026, organizations are required to prepare for a noteworthy transition.
Some Critical dates for retirement of workflow in SharePoint
Date |
Actions to be taken |
April 2, 2024 |
SharePoint 2013 workflow capabilities will be disabled for new tenants |
April 2, 2026 |
SharePoint 2013 work flows for all existing tenants retirement |
End of support-July 2026 |
SharePoint Designer 2013 |
Impact on Existing SharePoint Workflow Automation
Organizations that are relying so heavily on workflows in SharePoint should know what the ramifications are. No doubt, workflow automation in SharePoint has been a mainstay of most business procedures-from simple document approvals to complex multi-step workflows. The retirement will affect many aspects:
- SharePoint list workflow configurations
- Custom SharePoint Designer workflows
- Inbuilt workflow in SharePoint scheduler systems
- SharePoint Online Workflows in Existing Implementations
What is Replacing SharePoint Designer?
As organizations are seeking an alternative to SharePoint Designer, several new, updated options appear:
1. Power Automate: The Microsoft-Recommended Solution
Microsoft's Highly Recommended Solution Power Automate shall henceforth be the go-to solution to replace the legacy SharePoint workflow automation. New offerings shall include:
- More connections to Microsoft 365 services
- Over 700 third-party integrations
- Advanced workflow automation capabilities
- Mobile-first approach
2. No-Code Solutions like Titan Workspace
For organizations seeking alternatives to Power Automate, several options exist:
- Titan Workspace for no-code workflow automation
Best Practices for Migration
Understanding "what is a workflow in SharePoint" will be crucial to effective migration planning. The following prescribes an in-depth process for migrating from legacy Microsoft SharePoint workflow systems:
1. Assessment and Planning
- Inventory of existing SharePoint workflow solutions.
- Evaluate workflow complexity and usage pattern
- Identify core business processes
- Document integration requirements
2. Migration Strategy Development
- Choose the appropriate path based on your needs
- Jump straight to Power Automate.
- Rebuild workflows using modern tools
- Hybrid approach combining multiple solutions
3. Implementation and Testing
- Pilot in key workflows
- Test functioning in new context.
- Train users on new platforms
- Monitor performance and user adoption
Titan Workspace vs Other Third-Party Solutions
SharePoint Designer workflows are quite difficult to migrate to SharePoint Online, since there are several reasons for that
1. Unsupported Actions: The following actions are available in SharePoint Designer workflows but don't occur in SharePoint Online. These include: "Log to History List" and "Set Workflow Status", which do not have direct analogues in Power Automate, though they should be more suitable for controlling workflows in SharePoint Online.
2. Building Complex Workflows: This would entail that workflows with multiple stages or custom code won’t be easy task anymore and would make a case to require some form of manual intervention in rebuilding parts of the workflow in Power Automate.
3. Data Loss: Proper conceptualization of the migration plan will help avoid the loss of metadata, content types, and columns. All this data is needed to be kept sound with proper planning and implementation.
4. Integration Issues: Once migrated, the pre-migrated systems or applications will not function correctly. Typically, this requires more reconfiguration or replacement work with such integrations.
5. Learning Curve: For familiar users of the SharePoint designer, coming to Power Automate means it has placed them on the learning curve. That is how one understands what Power Automate can or cannot do.
Learn More: https://titanworkspace.com
Switch from Designer Workflows to Power Automate with Titan Workspace
Do you want an inexpensive means of re-creating your Designer Workflows in M365? So, this solution is Titan Workspace. We seamlessly integrate SharePoint and Power Automate to modernize your workflows efficiently.
Features of Titan Workspace lists:
• Save Money and Time: We save time and money through the process.
• Integration with Experts: Leverage the capabilities of SharePoint and Power Automate.
• Free Pilot Offer: Trial of our service on a free pilot project.
• First Workflow on Us: Rebuild your first workflow on the house!
Conclusion
Retirement of SharePoint 2013 workflow and SharePoint Designer 2013 marks the end of an exciting milestone in the status quo of enterprise workflow management. On the other hand, this would also mean moving forward towards modernized and advanced business processes. Being receptive to this change in a strategic and executable way will make organizations more prepared for success in the new digital workplace.
Moving forward, the focus should be using the latest SharePoint workflow solutions capable of delivering more flexibility, better integration capabilities, and friendlier user experiences. The only essential formula for success lies in understanding the different needs of your organization and choosing the proper set of instruments and methodologies to meet those requirements.
Reference Link- SharePoint 2013 workflow retirement - Microsoft Support
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