Dynamics Community Forum Thread Details

Create a Live Journey (Real-Time Journey) from Customer Insights - Journeys using Power Automate?

Hello community, I hope you're doing well. I’d like to ask for your guidance regarding a question I have.

I’m currently developing a Power Automate flow that needs to create a Live Journey (Real-Time Journey). These types of journeys belong to the Real-Time Journeys module of the Customer Insights - Journeys solution. However, after reviewing the official documentation, I haven’t found any specific information about how to create them through Power Automate.

During my search, I found this Microsoft article: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/customer-insights/journeys/developer/customer-journey-workflow-definition
The article explains which Dataverse table to use, as well as the JSON required to create the components or actions of the Journey — for example, the segment or email template to be sent. However, it focuses on journeys from the Outbound Marketing module, so it doesn't apply to my case.

Does anyone know if there is specific documentation for creating Live Journeys through Power Automate?
For example: which Dataverse table should be used and what is the corresponding JSON structure to define the steps of these journeys?

I truly appreciate any support you can provide.

Categories:

Dynamics 365 Customer Insights - Journeys

Hello CU22030137-0,

You've accurately identified the challenge: Microsoft's documentation primarily focuses on creating Outbound Marketing customer journeys through Power Automate, and the structure of Real-Time Marketing (Live) journeys is significantly different.

The Fundamental Difference:

Outbound Marketing Journeys:
- These are built on the msdyncrm_customerjourney entity and use a workflow definition JSON structure that's relatively well-documented.
Real-Time Marketing Journeys (Live Journeys):
- These are built on a newer, more complex architecture. They rely on the msdynmkt_customerjourney entity, but the underlying data structure and JSON definitions are not as openly documented for direct manipulation via Power Automate.
- Real time marketing journeys are using a much more modern and complex structure.

Why Real-Time Journeys Are More Complex:

Real-Time Triggers:
- They support real-time triggers based on customer interactions, which adds a layer of complexity to the journey definition.
Personalization and Dynamic Content:
- They heavily leverage personalization and dynamic content, which requires more intricate JSON structures.
Segmentation and Audience Orchestration:
- Real-Time Marketing uses a different segmentation and audience orchestration engine, which is reflected in the journey's data model.

The Current Situation (and Limitations):

Lack of Official Documentation:
- As you've discovered, there is no comprehensive, publicly available documentation that explicitly outlines how to create Real-Time Journeys through Power Automate.
Internal Data Structures:
- The JSON structures used to define Real-Time Journeys are largely internal and subject to change by Microsoft.
Unsupported Approach:
- Directly manipulating the msdynmkt_customerjourney entity's JSON structures through Power Automate is generally considered an unsupported approach.

Workarounds and Potential Strategies (With Caveats):

Use the Real-Time Marketing UI (Recommended):
- The most reliable and supported way to create Real-Time Journeys is through the Real-Time Marketing UI.
- If you need to automate certain aspects of journey creation or management, explore the available UI automation tools or browser extensions.
- This is the most reliable way to create the journeys.
Explore the msdynmkt_customerjourney Entity (Advanced and Unsupported):
- If you're willing to take risks and experiment, you could try to reverse-engineer the JSON structures by:
  - Creating Real-Time Journeys through the UI.
  - Inspecting the msdynmkt_customerjourney entity's data using tools like the XrmToolBox.
  - Analyzing the JSON structures in the msdynmkt_journeydefinition field.
- Caveats:
  - This is an unsupported approach.
  - The JSON structures are complex and might change without notice.
  - You could introduce errors or instability into your system.
- This is not recommended.
Power Automate Triggers (Limited Automation):
- While you can't directly create Real-Time Journeys, you can use Power Automate triggers to react to events within those journeys.
- For example, you can trigger a flow when a contact enters or exits a journey segment.
- This allows for some automation, but not journey creation.
Microsoft Support and Feedback:
- Contact Microsoft Support to inquire about the possibility of creating Real-Time Journeys through Power Automate.
- Provide feedback to Microsoft through the Dynamics 365 community forums or support channels, requesting official documentation and support for this feature.

Key Takeaways:

Directly creating Real-Time Journeys through Power Automate is not officially supported or documented.
The Real-Time Journey data structure is complex and subject to change.
The Real-Time Marketing UI is the recommended approach.
Use Power Automate to trigger from actions that happen within the real time journeys.

I understand that this is not the ideal answer, but it's important to be aware of the current limitations.

If my answer was helpful, please click Like, and if it solved your problem, please mark it as verified to help other community members find more.
If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me.

My response was crafted with AI assistance and tailored to provide detailed and actionable guidance for your Microsoft Dynamics 365 query.

Regards,
Daivat Vartak

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