Skip to content

Codeless Blog

Applications Platform

Learn How To Create Approval Workflow: ApproverPro Step-by-Step Guide

Create Approval Workflow

In order to create approval workflow it’s worth investing in a workflow approval system. A dedicated workflow approval engine, such as ApproverPro, can not only manage the approval process, but also automate many manual administration tasks within the workflow approval process.

ApproverPro is extremely easy to set up and can be integrated with any other business system or application, such as accounting, ERP, CRM or warehouse management solution, in which an approval process involves a simple authorisation document or a multistage workflow process, for example, purchase orders, invoices, expenses or credit notes. Additionally, the online approval tool can handle single-level or multi-level approval workflow, follow data validation rules (e.g. incomplete purchase order if no vendor exists or missing pricing), as well as provide an audit trail of all approval flows, approved or declined.

Follow this step-by-step guide to learn how to create and configure an approval process, as well as understand how ApproverPro works.

  • Learn about ApproverPro
  • Create approval workflow
  • Configure an approval process
  • Try ApproverPro for free
  • Download the associated Create an Approval Workflow Step-by-Step Guide for ApproverPro

Learn more

Learn About ApproverPro – Approval Workflow Engine

ApproverPro provides organisations of all sizes with a cost effective, automated approval workflow solution that can be deployed quickly and easily, and is compatible with your other business systems, applications and devices, providing you with the ability to automate approval workflow processes within your business.

ApproverPro provides you with the following features:

  • Create single or multi-level approval workflows including: POs, sales orders, invoice approvals, holiday and expenses, discount or price changes, credit notes, credit limits, timesheet reviews, account creation and reallocation approvals, service quotes, commission sign off and review processes
  • Assign user roles and permissions
  • Set up approval rules
  • Define and customise workflow processes, statuses and actions
  • Report generation and distribution
  • Automated backups

ApproverPro provides you with multiple, flexible levels of authentication and security, allowing you to determine how users access information and how they are recognised.

All web pages benefit from Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS). Additionally, other security features include; Single Sign-On, LDAP, Password expiration policies and IP whitelists, allowing the administrator to control application access efficiently.

Request a Demo

How to Create an Approval Workflow in ApproverPro – Step by Step

The following step-by-step guide walks you through how to use ApproverPro to create approval workflow and configure an approval process in ApproverPro.

To get started, you will need to try ApproverPro and download the associated step-by-step guide for quick reference.

Try ApproverPro Create Approval Workflow

1. Administration – Create New Approval

Select the Admin section on the left-hand side of the dashboard and then click on “Approval Processes” in the drop-down menu. To create a new approval process, click on the “+Approval Process” button to the right of the dashboard.

Administration Create Approval Workflow - ApproverPro Step 1

2. Name Approval Process

Input your approval process name. In this example we have named the approval process “Purchase Order over £1500” and made this the active process. At this stage we are not linking any approval rules.

Name Approval Step - ApproverPro Step 2

3. View Approval Step

Once saved, the system automatically creates the first step of the approval and assigns it to the creator/user. You can edit and view the description, approval steps, all pending approvals, completed approvals and system information.

View Approval - ApproverPro Step 3

4. Edit Approval Step

Select edit to amend an approval step. In this example we have changed the “Approval Step Name” to “Procurement” and included an additional approver. You are allowed one or more approvers depending on your approval process.

Edit Approval - ApproverPro Step 4

Try ApproverPro Create Approval Workflow

5. Create Additional Step(s)

Create another step by clicking the ‘+’ symbol. In this example we have called the next step “Line Manager” and have selected the relevant approver(s). Escalations on approvals can also be configured within this section if required.

Create Additional Approval Step - ApproverPro Step 5

6. Adding Additional Step(s)

To add another approval step follow the previous process. We have now added “Finance” and “Director” to the approval process. The completed steps can now be seen within the approval steps overview.

Adding more than one approval step - ApproverPro Step 6

7. Set Approval Escalation Types

Multiple escalation types can be set depending on the escalation required. In this example we have set it to automatically send to the next Approver in the list if it hasn’t been approved after 10 minutes.

Set Approval Escalation Types - ApproverPro Step 7

8. Escalation Auto Reject / Approve ‘X’ days

You can create an escalation to reject after X days if there has been no response from approvers and change approvers if no action has been taken over a defined period. Once saved it will appear within the overview.

Approval Escalation Auto Reject or Approve - ApproverPro Step 8

Try ApproverPro Create Approval Workflow

9. Configure Approval Rule

If you need to configure an approval rule select the “Admin” section and “Approval Rules”. To create an approval rule, click “+ Approval Rule”. Select an approval process if certain criteria meet a record which has been sent for approval.

Configure Approval Rule - ApproverPro Step 9

10. Query Objects

Log in as an administrator to continue with the process to query the objects in ApproverPro. Set your approval rule. In this instance we have set it to “purchase orders over 1500”. For this example, select source object as Purchase_Order.

Query Objects - ApproverPro Step 10

11. Select Available Fields

The system will then expose the fields available. In this example we have selected “Currency_Field” is “greater or equal to” “1500”. Within this section additional rules can be included, for example, “Integer_Field”, “equal” to “1”.

Create Approval Workflow - Select Available Fields - ApproverPro Step 11

It is possible to set up multiple processes defined by the criteria your business requires, such as different PO nominations. For example, creating a process for POs under £100, POs under £1,000 and POs over £1,000. Each process can then have a number of different people assigned to authorise the PO.

12. Add Group Conditions

Within this section you can add group conditions if required. In this example we have added a group condition for “Text Field”, “Contains”, “T-Shirt”.

Create Approval Workflow - Add Group Conditions - ApproverPro Step 12

13. Import Purchase Order(s)

Once all your approval processes and rules have been set up, POs can be imported into ApproverPro, which will then set the approval process in motion. In this instance we are sending a PO manually from our Purchase Order app.

Import Purchase Order - ApproverPro Step 13

Try ApproverPro Create Approval Workflow

14. Automated Approval Email

Once the PO has been imported, ApproverPro will select the appropriate process to instigate. An email will then be sent to the first person in the process step containing an overview of the PO and a link to the application for approval.

Create Approval Workflow Email Automation - ApproverPro Step 14

15. Approving POs

When the user clicks the link and logs into ApproverPro they will be taken to the workflow page where they can select the PO to approve. If, for any reason, there is a backlog of POs waiting for approval, these will also be displayed.

Create Approval Workflow Dashboard - ApproverPro Step 15

16. Approve or Reject

To approve the PO simply click on the ‘Approve’ button at the top of the screen or ‘Reject’ if not. Comments can also be added to the approval workflow. Clicking on the ‘Source Record’ tab provides a detailed overview of the purchase order.

Approve or Reject Workflow - ApproverPro Step 16

17. Mult-level Approval

If the purchase order requires further authorisation, it will be sent to the next person in the process step, and so on until the final authorisation is received. In this example the PO is being escalated to the next approver in the workflow.

Multi-level Approval - ApproverPro Step 17

An escalation email can be automatically distributed to the relevant authoriser in the approval process. Example approval escalation email below.

Approval Escalation Email Example - ApproverPro - Escalation Email Notification

18. Approval Milestones

ApproverPro also provides users with a complete overview of all POs approved, in process or declined, making it easy to manage an organisation’s purchase orders all from one system.

Approval Milestones - ApproverPro Step 18

Throughout the entire process, any ApproverPro user can clearly see the status of the authorisation via a visual workflow diagram, as well as detailed information sections.

ApproverPro Graphical Approval Progress Overview

Try ApproverPro Create Approval Workflow

Workflow Automation

Workflow automation, such as automating PO authorisations, enables companies to easily and quickly establish more streamlined workflow processes, whilst removing a lot of manual administration tasks that can be prone to error. As a result, this speeds up authorisation response times and will help improve the efficiency of the entire purchasing cycle.

ApproverPro can be integrated with any accounting, ERP, CRM, bespoke or industry specific system in order to import purchase orders. Using BPA Platform will enable POs, or other documentation for approval, to be automatically pushed into ApproverPro for approval. BPA Platform can connect ApproverPro to practically any data source via ODBC, OLEDB, Web Services or an extensive range of supported 3rd party APIs through connectors. Just a few of the software vendors we work with include: Sage, Microsoft, SAP, Epicor, Salesforce and many others.

Common workflow automation and system integration scenarios achievable through ApproverPro integration include:

  • Import and extract purchase orders, sales orders and invoices; holiday requests and expenses
  • Importing and extracting discount or price changes; credit notes and credit limit reviews
  • Importing and extracting timesheets, account creations and service quotes
  • Workflow automation and system integration with accounting, ERP, procurement and warehouse management systems, e.g., SAP Business One, Microsoft Dynamics, Sage etc.

For more information on workflow automation using BPA Platform with ApproverPro, download the brochure below.

Download Brochure

Benefits of Workflow Automation

Workflow automation enables businesses of all sizes to streamline their approval processes, remove manual administration tasks and achieve a 100% accurate audit trail. In addition, automated workflow helps you speed up approval processes, increase productivity and reduce operational costs to improve company performance. Common benefits include:

  • Improve the entire authorisation approval process
  • Eradicate repetitive data entry activities and associated errors
  • Improve company and employee productivity
  • Benefit from a 100% accurate audit trail
  • Improve decision making

To learn more about how you can streamline your approval wokflow processes by using ApproverPro and workflow automation with BPA Platform, request a demonstration or call us on +44 (0)330 99 88 700.

Request a Demo

Step-by-step Guide: ApproverPro

Step-by-step Guide: ApproverPro

Use this step-by-step guide to learn how to create and configure an approval process, as well as understand how ApproverPro works.

Related Articles

Business Process Automation CTA

Got a question?

Send us your questions and we will provide you with the information and resources that you need.

Ready to Talk?

You don’t learn everything in life by reading a manual, sometimes it helps to get in touch

Phone: +44 (0) 330 99 88 700

Want more information?

Fill in your details below and one of our account managers will contact you shortly.

    First Name

    Last Name

    Business Email

    Phone

    Tell us your requirements

    2100