ApproveThis manages your openHandwerk Integration approvals.

Why Approval Automation Matters for Trade Businesses

Let's cut through the sawdust: if you're running a trade business - plumbing, electrical, construction, or any field where jobs move fast - paper-based approvals are killing your momentum. openHandwerk already helps you manage projects and customers. ApproveThis adds the missing piece: structured approval workflows that keep projects moving without bureaucratic delays.

When you connect these through Zapier, you create a system where:

• New customer accounts trigger immediate approval requests
• Approved projects auto-schedule in openHandwerk

Best part? Approvers only need ApproveThis access - no extra openHandwerk licenses required. Perfect for involving clients or contractors who don't need full system access.

Where openHandwerk Ends and ApproveThis Begins

openHandwerk excels at job scheduling, CRM, and document management. But when you need:

• Multi-person approvals (think project budgets or change orders)
• Automatic escalation when approvers are OOO
• Real-time audit trails for compliance

That's where ApproveThis takes over. A roofing company might use openHandwerk to track materials inventory, while ApproveThis handles approvals for supplier orders over $5K using conditional thresholds.

Real-World Use Cases That Actually Matter

1. Customer Onboarding That Doesn't Leak Profits

Electrical contractors: When a new client gets added in openHandwerk, ApproveThis automatically:

• Routes contract approval to project manager
• Checks if deposit meets 20% threshold
• Only schedules the job after finance signs off

No more "Who approved this?" emails when payment issues arise.

2. Project Kickoffs That Don't Require Babysitting

HVAC companies: New openHandwerk projects trigger approval requests that:

• Require safety supervisor sign-off
• Auto-calculate permit costs using dynamic fields
• Reassign approvals if team leads are on vacation

Your field crews get green-lit jobs faster, without hounding the office.

3. Post-Approval Automation That Actually Works

When an estimate gets approved:

• openHandwerk auto-schedules the installation
• Client portal gets updated
• Materials list pushes to procurement

Plumbing businesses report cutting project setup time from 3 days to 4 hours using this combo.

Setting This Up Without Losing Your Mind

Here's the no-BS guide:

1. Create Zapier account (free tier works)
2. Connect openHandwerk → Choose trigger (new customer/project)
3. Add ApproveThis → Set approval rules (sequential/consensus)
4. Test with live data (pro tip: use "Test Client - Roof Repair")

Most teams get this running in under 20 minutes. Seriously.

Department-Specific Wins

Field Teams

No more waiting for office approval to start jobs. Get SMS/email alerts when approvals clear, complete with openHandwerk job details.

Finance

Auto-flag projects exceeding budget thresholds. Require CFO approval for any change orders over 15% before they hit openHandwerk.

Operations

See approval bottlenecks in real dashboards. Know exactly which projects are stuck waiting on permits vs. client signatures.

Why This Isn't Just Another Integration

Competitors handle approvals. None combine:

• Email-based approvals (field guys love this)
• Auto-delegation during vacations
• Dynamic calculations in approval logic

A masonry company reduced approval delays by 68% using vacation delegation alone.

Getting Started Without the Sales Pitch

Two paths:

1. DIY: Sign up free, connect via Zapier, use pre-built templates
2. Hands-off: Request demo, we'll build your first 3 workflows

Either way, you're live faster than it takes to brew site coffee.

The Bottom Line for Trade Businesses

openHandwerk keeps jobs organized. ApproveThis keeps decisions moving. Together, they prevent:

• Profit-killing approval delays
• Compliance risks from missed sign-offs
• Team frustration from unclear processes

500+ trade businesses now approve projects 4x faster. Your turn.