ApproveThis manages your TimeKeeper Integration approvals.

When Time Tracking Meets Approval Power

Let's be real - most time tracking tools are glorified digital babysitters. And most approval systems? Email threads from hell. But when you connect ApproveThis and TimeKeeper through Zapier, you're not just automating tasks. You're fixing the three things that make managers want to rage-quit their jobs:

• Chasing down signatures for routine approvals
• Manually syncing data between disconnected systems
• Explaining to accounting why timesheets don't match project budgets... again

This integration isn't about flashy features - it's about eliminating the 23% productivity drain that happens when teams constantly context-switch between apps. We're talking real-world fixes for HR, operations, and finance teams in companies that actually need to ship product this quarter.

Why This Combo Works (When Others Don't)

TimeKeeper knows when work happens. ApproveThis controls whether work happens. Together through Zapier, they create closed-loop systems that prevent these common fails:

The Budget Black Hole

Marketing agency approves a client project in ApproveThis → Forgets to sync approved hours with TimeKeeper → Team burns 40 unplanned hours → Client refuses to pay → CFO starts chain-smoking.

The Approval Amnesia

Construction PM approves overtime in TimeKeeper → Approval never logs in ApproveThis → Payroll processes unauthorized hours → Union files grievance → Lawyers get rich.

The Delegation Disaster

Retail manager goes on leave → Forgets to delegate time-off approvals → Employees self-approve PTO → Store runs skeleton crew during holiday rush → Yelp reviews turn apocalyptic.

ApproveThis solves this with approval thresholds that auto-approve routine requests but escalate exceptions. TimeKeeper provides the real-time labor data to make those thresholds actually meaningful. No more "set it and forget it" rules that crumble when reality happens.

Four Ways This Integration Actually Gets Used

1. Attendance Validation That Doesn't Suck

When field service techs clock in via TimeKeeper:

Old way: Supervisor gets 62 daily ping notifications. Approves from phone while driving. Misses that the HVAC tech clocked in at a site 200 miles away from today's job.

New way: ApproveThis automatically:

• Flags locations outside geofenced work zones
• Routes approvals to correct regional manager
• Updates payroll system only after validation

Real impact: HVAC company reduced payroll errors by 37% in first quarter. Field managers regained 11 hours/week previously spent verifying timesheets.

2. Project Kickoffs That Don't Stall

When client approves a marketing campaign in ApproveThis:

Old way: Account coordinator manually creates TimeKeeper job code. Forgets to set budget hours. Team overspends by 22% before anyone notices.

New way: Zapier auto-creates TimeKeeper job with:

• Pre-set hours based on proposal thresholds
• Automatic alerts at 75%/90%/100% budget usage
• Escalation rules tied to ApproveThis' conditional logic

Real impact: Digital agency reduced project overruns from 45% to 12% within six months. PMs stopped getting migraine alerts from Harvest.

3. Leave Management That Doesn't Breed Resentment

When employee submits PTO request in TimeKeeper:

Old way: Manager approves → Doesn't notify team → Coverage gaps cause missed deadlines → Team bitches on Glassdoor.

New way: ApproveThis:

• Requires coverage plan approval from two peers
• Auto-schedules handoff tasks in TimeKeeper
• Triggers return-to-work checklists 48hrs pre-return

Real impact: Healthcare provider reduced last-minute shift coverage scrambles by 68%. Nurses actually used their vacation days for once.

4. Change Orders That Don't Bleed Profit

When client requests scope change in ApproveThis:

Old way: Sales says yes → Forgets to update TimeKeeper project hours → Team works free overtime → Profit margins look anemic.

New way: Approval triggers:

• Automatic TimeKeeper job updates with new hours
• Requires finance sign-off if exceeding original budget
• Locks time entries to revised project codes only

Real impact: Engineering firm increased change order profitability by 29%. Accountants stopped sobbing during month-end close.

Setting This Up Without Losing Your Mind

We've all seen "easy" integrations that require a PhD in systems architecture. This isn't that. Here's the TL;DR:

Step 1: The Handshake

Connect ApproveThis and TimeKeeper through Zapier. Takes 4 minutes if you type slow. Zapier's interface looks like this:

Step 2: The Brain

Build your first "Zap" (fancy term for automation recipe). Example: When TimeKeeper records a clock-in → Check ApproveThis rules → If location is suspect, email manager. If normal, auto-approve.

Step 3: The Safety Net

Use ApproveThis' audit trails. Every automated action gets logged with:

• Who approved what
• Which rules triggered
• Full context snapshots

No more "the system did it" excuses during audits.

Why Your Teams Will Actually Use This

HR: From Paper Pushers to Culture Architects

Automate the compliance crap (FMLA tracking, overtime approvals) so you can focus on actual human stuff. Example: When ApproveThis flags a pattern of late clock-ins, HR gets alerted to check in with the employee - not just punish.

Operations: From Firefighting to Fire Prevention

Real example: Manufacturing plant connects machine downtime logs (TimeKeeper) to maintenance approval workflows (ApproveThis). Now they fix issues before third shift starts, instead of during.

Finance: From Nagging to Strategizing

ApproveThis' calculated fields auto-flag time entries that blow project budgets. CFOs get forecasts that don't resemble fantasy football drafts.

The Nuts and Bolts You Care About

License-Free Approvers

External clients can approve TimeKeeper entries without needing a TimeKeeper login. Great for agencies approving client projects or contractors validating hours.

Vacation Coverage That Works

ApproveThis auto-reassigns approvals when managers are OOO. No more "I was on PTO" excuses for late approvals.

Thresholds With Teeth

Example: Auto-approve PTO requests under 3 days but require VP sign-off over 5 days. TimeKeeper data ensures thresholds adapt to actual team capacity.

Bottom Line

This isn't about being "cutting edge." It's about fixing the approval bottlenecks that make your best people waste time on bureaucratic BS. The combo of ApproveThis + TimeKeeper via Zapier works because:

• No new logins for approvers
• No manual data juggling
• No "oops, forgot to update both systems" moments

Either keep doing approvals the broken way, or spend 20 minutes setting this up. Your call.

Book a demo to see real examples from your industry. Or start a free trial and connect your first TimeKeeper workflow today.