Key Takeaways
Automation — Quick Summary
- 1Discount Approval
- 2Expense Approval
- 3Contract Approval
- 4Clear Thresholds
- 5Delegation Rules
- 6Timeout Handling
Deep Dive
Approval Workflow Fundamentals
Approval workflows route requests through a chain of approvers based on business rules. They ensure proper oversight while reducing manual routing and follow-up.
Common Approval Scenarios
Discount Approval
| Deal Value | Discount % | Approver |
|---|---|---|
| Under $10K | Up to 10% | Sales Manager |
| $10K-$50K | Up to 15% | Sales Director |
| Over $50K | Any discount | VP Sales |
Expense Approval
- Under $500: Manager approval
- $500-$2,000: Manager + Finance
- Over $2,000: Manager + Finance + VP
Contract Approval
- Standard terms: Legal review only
- Custom terms: Legal + Business + Finance
- High-value contracts: Executive approval added
Design Best Practices
Clear Thresholds
Define numeric thresholds that trigger different approval paths. Ambiguous rules cause confusion and delays.
Delegation Rules
Handle approver unavailability:
- Auto-delegate to backup approver after 24 hours
- Allow manual delegation by approver
- Notify manager if no delegate exists
Timeout Handling
- Send reminder after 24 hours
- Escalate to approver's manager after 48 hours
- Auto-approve or auto-reject after 72 hours (based on policy)
Audit Trail
Log all approval actions:
- Who approved/rejected
- When
- Comments provided
- Final decision
How AavishkarIT Helps
We design and build approval workflows for CRM platforms. Our services include business rule mapping, workflow design, testing, and documentation.
Downloadable Resources
Free templates and guides