Developing Lobby, our visitor management Microsoft solution, got us thinking about how to make setup as effortless as possible for businesses and educational institutions. This drive led us to create a smart, automated process for configuring the necessary visitor database using Microsoft Lists.

To bypass the extensive manual setup of Microsoft Lists, which involves creating a list, providing a description, creating columns, and formatting them, we developed a Microsoft Power Automate solution to do the job for us. This tool automatically creates the required Microsoft List with the correct description, columns, and column format we required users of Lobby to have—saving time and ensuring accuracy. Typically, before setting up the List for Lobby took 20+ minutes. With our method, it now takes just 5 seconds!

How It Works

Our solution operates on a manual trigger within Microsoft Power Automate, perfect for this one-time setup process. Here’s a quick overview:

Trigger the Process: Initiate the solution manually to avoid duplicating lists.Send HTTP Request: This SharePoint feature allows you to communicate with the desired SharePoint site. Simply specify the site where you want the list stored.Initialize Variables: Automatically gather address details to streamline the process.Create the List: Generate the list with the appropriate title and description, again using a SEND HTTP Request.Parse JSON: Extract necessary details from the HTTP response.Create Columns: Use multiple HTTP requests to add each column with unique names and correct field types.

Once ran, you’ll have a fully formatted, accurately labeled Microsoft List ready to use.

Why This is Useful for You

Our solution eliminates the need for lengthy Microsoft List setups, offering numerous benefits for both businesses and educational institutions. Here are a few examples of how it could be adapted and used:

Employee Onboarding: Quickly create personalised onboarding lists for new hires, ensuring consistency and saving time.Project Management: Standardise task lists across multiple teams, ensuring everyone follows the same structure.Event Planning: Easily set up and manage guest lists, agendas, and resources for events.Course Tracking: Create uniform course tracking lists for multiple classes, ensuring accurate record-keeping.

Our method reduces the time needed from 20+ minutes setting up a Microsoft List to just 5 seconds! Whether you need uniform lists for individual users or a consistent structure for various projects, our solution enhances efficiency and accuracy.

Get in Touch

Inspired by our solution? Reach out to the No More Bad Mondays team to see how we can support your business, school, college, or university with it. We can customise your Lists to fit your specific needs, including formatting of choices within your columns.

Comment below, message me, or sign up to our mailing list HERE.

​Developing Lobby, our visitor management Microsoft solution, got us thinking about how to make setup as effortless as possible for businesses and educational institutions. This drive led us to create a smart, automated process for configuring the necessary visitor database using Microsoft Lists.To bypass the extensive manual setup of Microsoft Lists, which involves creating a list, providing a description, creating columns, and formatting them, we developed a Microsoft Power Automate solution to do the job for us. This tool automatically creates the required Microsoft List with the correct description, columns, and column format we required users of Lobby to have—saving time and ensuring accuracy. Typically, before setting up the List for Lobby took 20+ minutes. With our method, it now takes just 5 seconds! How It WorksOur solution operates on a manual trigger within Microsoft Power Automate, perfect for this one-time setup process. Here’s a quick overview: Trigger the Process: Initiate the solution manually to avoid duplicating lists.Send HTTP Request: This SharePoint feature allows you to communicate with the desired SharePoint site. Simply specify the site where you want the list stored.Initialize Variables: Automatically gather address details to streamline the process.Create the List: Generate the list with the appropriate title and description, again using a SEND HTTP Request.Parse JSON: Extract necessary details from the HTTP response.Create Columns: Use multiple HTTP requests to add each column with unique names and correct field types. Once ran, you’ll have a fully formatted, accurately labeled Microsoft List ready to use.  Why This is Useful for YouOur solution eliminates the need for lengthy Microsoft List setups, offering numerous benefits for both businesses and educational institutions. Here are a few examples of how it could be adapted and used: Employee Onboarding: Quickly create personalised onboarding lists for new hires, ensuring consistency and saving time.Project Management: Standardise task lists across multiple teams, ensuring everyone follows the same structure.Event Planning: Easily set up and manage guest lists, agendas, and resources for events.Course Tracking: Create uniform course tracking lists for multiple classes, ensuring accurate record-keeping. Our method reduces the time needed from 20+ minutes setting up a Microsoft List to just 5 seconds! Whether you need uniform lists for individual users or a consistent structure for various projects, our solution enhances efficiency and accuracy. Get in TouchInspired by our solution? Reach out to the No More Bad Mondays team to see how we can support your business, school, college, or university with it. We can customise your Lists to fit your specific needs, including formatting of choices within your columns.Comment below, message me, or sign up to our mailing list HERE.  Read More

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