ApproveThis manages your Samsara Integration approvals.
April 17, 2025
Integration Category: Devices
When Approval Workflows Meet Real-World Data
Let's get real: approval processes are where productivity goes to die. Especially when you're dealing with physical operations - fleets rolling down highways, technicians in the field, warehouses moving inventory. This isn't spreadsheet land. Delayed approvals mean real trucks idling, real shipments missing deadlines, real safety issues slipping through cracks.
That's why combining ApproveThis's approval automation with Samsara's operational data creates something actually useful. We're talking about taking live sensor data, maintenance reports, and route changes - then applying human decision-making exactly where it matters, without the email tennis.
Why This Combo Works (When Others Just Add More Apps)
Samsara's great at telling you what's happening. ApproveThis is great at deciding what happens next. Together, they remove the "Hey, can you look at this?" middleman from operational decisions.
Key advantage: Approvers don't need Samsara licenses. Your finance team approving fuel spend? External safety auditors? They get what they need in email or ApproveThis' dashboard without you buying another 50 Samsara seats.
Real-World Scenarios That Don't Suck
1. "Why Is This Truck Sitting?" → Automatic Approval Chains
Transportation companies live this: Driver submits a maintenance request via Samsara. Right now, it probably goes to a dispatcher's email, then they forward to maintenance, who CCs finance... and the truck's still in the lot.
With the integration:
- Samsara detects new document (inspection report, repair request)
- Zapier triggers ApproveThis to route it based on cost thresholds
- $500 repair? Shop manager approves via email
- $5,000 engine rebuild? Auto-escalates to fleet director + CFO
Bonus: ApproveThis' calculated fields auto-add markup percentages or compare against maintenance contracts before routing.
2. Route Approvals That Actually Prevent Driver Mutiny
Logistics teams hate this: Planners create "optimized" routes in Samsara that drivers immediately trash because they know a bridge is out or a client won't accept before 9 AM.
Fix it:
- New Samsara route created → ApproveThis pings veteran drivers for review
- Sequential approval chain: Junior planner → Senior dispatcher → Safety officer
- Approved? Route goes live. Rejected? Comments auto-return to Samsara
Why it works: Approval groups with mixed internal/external reviewers prevent routes that look good on screen but fail in reality.
3. Compliance Paperwork That Doesn't Vanish into the Void
Safety audits. Fuel tax reports. IFTA filings. These matter, but chasing field managers for signatures is like herding cats with jetpacks.
Set it and (mostly) forget it:
- Samsara generates compliance docs → ApproveThis slaps on digital sign-off requests
- Automatic reminders every 12 hours
- Past deadline? Escalates to their boss + logs in audit trail
Secret weapon: Vacation delegation ensures approvals don't stall because someone's on PTO.
Setting This Up Without Losing Your Mind
If you can make a sandwich, you can connect these systems:
- Grab your Zapier account (existing or new)
- Pick a trigger from Samsara - new document, route change, etc.
- Choose ApproveThis as the action - "Create Request" with your template
- Test with real data (e.g., a $1,500 repair order)
- Turn on and stop babysitting approvals
Pro tip: Use ApproveThis' conditional logic to handle edge cases. Example: Route changes under 50 miles auto-approve, over 50 miles need human eyes.
Who Actually Benefits (Beyond IT)
Operations Teams
Stop being the human router between drivers, mechanics, and finance. Approvals happen in context - repair requests include Samsara's vehicle health history automatically.
Finance Departments
Finally get visibility into field spend without drowning in PDFs. Approval thresholds auto-reject unauthorized purchases, while calculated fields add PO numbers to every approved request.
Safety Officers
Make compliance proactive. New driver certifications in Samsara trigger approval workflows that lock vehicle assignments until HR confirms training completion.
The Quiet Part Out Loud
Most approval software tries to replace your existing tools. This integration does the opposite - it makes Samsara's data actionable without forcing another platform on people. Drivers stay in Samsara. Approvers stay in email. Controllers stay in QuickBooks. But everything connects where it matters.
What You’re Not Getting
Let's be clear: This isn't magic. If your approval chains are broken because Karen in accounting refuses to decide anything before lunch, no software will fix that. But for teams who just need to remove manual busywork, it works.
Next Steps for People Who Hate Wasting Time
If you're using Samsara and still handling approvals through forwarded emails or sticky notes, we need to talk. Book a 15-minute demo to see how ApproveThis handles your ugliest approval scenario. Or just sign up and connect it yourself - we don't do high-pressure sales crap.
Integrate with Samsara Integration and get 90 days of ApproveThis for free.
After you create a Zapier integration, please email us at support@approve-this.com with your account name and we'll add 3 months of ApproveThis to your account. Limit one redemption per account.
Learn More
Best Approval Workflows for Samsara
Suggested workflows (and their Zapier components) for Samsara
Create approval requests for new Samsara document submissions
Ensure every new document submitted in Samsara receives the necessary approvals with this automation. When a document is submitted, it automatically initiates a request in ApproveThis for relevant stakeholders to review and approve. Streamline your workflow process and ensure no important document remains unchecked.
Zapier Components
Trigger
New Document Submitted
Triggers when a new document is submitted.
Action
Create Request
Creates a new request, probably with input from previous steps.
Create new Samsara routes for approved requests
Automatically create routes in Samsara for requests approved in ApproveThis. Once a request is approved or denied, corresponding actions will trigger, ensuring that logistics and operations teams always work with up-to-date information and plans. Ideal for managing and executing logistical requests efficiently.
Zapier Components
Trigger
A Request Is Approved/Denied
Triggers when a request is approved or denied.
Action
Create Route
Creates a Route to an existing address. Must add a "Create Address" action prior to creating a route, if using address that isn't already in address book.
Create approval requests for new Samsara routes
Streamline your route management by creating approval requests whenever new routes are added to Samsara. This automation triggers the creation of an approval request in ApproveThis, ensuring that all route additions are reviewed and validated efficiently.
Zapier Components
Trigger
New Route Added
Triggers when a new route is added to Samsara
Action
Create Request
Creates a new request, probably with input from previous steps.
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