ApproveThis manages your Whatboard Integration approvals.

Why Combine ApproveThis with Whatboard?

Approval processes often stall projects. Someone creates a board in Whatboard to map out a client campaign, product launch, or internal initiative – but then it sits in limbo waiting for stakeholders to sign off. ApproveThis eliminates this friction by adding structured approval workflows directly into your Whatboard collaboration process. Together, these tools create a seamless loop where ideas become actionable plans faster.

Whatboard excels at visual project planning, while ApproveThis specializes in routing decisions to the right people at the right time. When connected via Zapier, teams gain three critical advantages:

• No more missed approvals: Automatically convert new boards into approval requests
• Accountability: Track who approved what, when, and under which conditions
• Cross-team alignment: Involve external partners or executives without complicating access

Key Capabilities Compared

Whatboard provides a dynamic space for teams to brainstorm, organize tasks, and track project statuses through customizable boards. Its strength lies in real-time collaboration and visual progress tracking.

ApproveThis adds governance to this creativity. When a board moves from planning to execution, ApproveThis ensures:

• Automatic routing to required approvers (finance, legal, department heads)
• Compliance with spending limits or policy thresholds
• Documented audit trails for every decision

Real-World Use Cases

Thematic Benefit: Bridging Planning & Execution

Many teams use Whatboard for early-stage ideation but hit roadblocks when moving from "what if" to "approved." This integration closes that gap. For example:

Marketing Campaign Approvals

A digital agency creates a Whatboard for a client's Q3 campaign. The Zapier integration automatically generates an approval request in ApproveThis when the board is finalized. Stakeholders receive email notifications with a link to review the board and approve/reject directly from their inbox. ApproveThis' calculated fields can flag if projected expenses exceed client budgets, triggering automatic escalations.

Product Launch Checklists

A SaaS company uses Whatboard to manage launch timelines. When the engineering team marks a board as "Ready for Release," ApproveThis routes it to Legal for compliance review, then to the CMO for final sign-off. Sequential approvals ensure no step is skipped, while vacation delegation prevents delays if key approvers are OOO.

Client Proposal Workflows

Consultants building proposals in Whatboard can trigger approvals for external clients. Since ApproveThis doesn't require clients to have Whatboard licenses, they review and approve directly via email – maintaining security without access complexity.

Setup Guide: Connect in 15 Minutes

1. Create a Zapier Account: Visit Zapier (free tier works for basic workflows)
2. Choose Your Trigger: Select "Board Created" from Whatboard's Zapier triggers
3. Set Up Approval Rules: Map Whatboard fields (budget, timeline, attachments) to an ApproveThis request template
4. Test & Activate: Create a test board in Whatboard to confirm approvals route correctly

Pro Tip: Use ApproveThis' conditional logic to auto-approve small budget items (<$1K) while requiring manual review for larger spends.

Team-Specific Benefits

Marketing Teams

Accelerate campaign kickoffs by eliminating email chains for creative approvals. When a content calendar board is ready, ApproveThis routes it to brand compliance, then to the CMO. Real-time tracking prevents last-minute scrambles to confirm sign-offs.

Project Managers

Maintain velocity on complex initiatives. If a sprint planning board requires security review, set up parallel approvals where DevOps and Legal review simultaneously rather than sequentially. Approval groups cut review time by 30-50% on multi-department projects.

Operations Leaders

Enforce spending controls without micromanaging. When a procurement board includes vendor quotes, ApproveThis can auto-approve orders under $5K while requiring CFO sign-off above that threshold. Calculated fields automatically sum line items across board sections.

External Collaborators

Agencies and consultants using Whatboard can share boards with client approvers via ApproveThis' email-based system. Clients review directly from their inbox without needing Whatboard logins, maintaining project security while simplifying access.

Advanced Features Worth Exploring

While the core integration solves immediate bottlenecks, combining these tools unlocks deeper efficiencies:

Dynamic Escalations

If an approver doesn't respond within 48 hours, ApproveThis can reassign the request to their manager. This keeps projects moving when dealing with busy executives or external partners.

Version Control

When a Whatboard is updated post-approval, trigger a new review cycle automatically. This prevents scope creep by ensuring changes get proper scrutiny.

Reporting Synergy

Export approval metrics from ApproveThis (average decision time, frequent bottlenecks) and visualize them in Whatboard alongside project timelines. Identify process improvements through data.

Why This Integration Works

Most approval tools force teams into rigid frameworks that clash with creative processes. ApproveThis adapts to how you already use Whatboard instead of demanding workflow changes. Key differentiators:

No License Overhead: External approvers (clients, vendors, partners) don't need ApproveThis licenses or Whatboard seats – they engage via email
Context-Rich Reviews: Approvers see full board context via attachments/links, not just form fields
Two-Way Updates: Comments from ApproveThis can feed back into Whatboard, maintaining a single source of truth

Getting Started

To implement this integration:

1. Register for ApproveThis: Start a free trial
2. Connect to Whatboard: Use the pre-built template in Zapier's library
3. Run a Pilot: Test with one board type (e.g., client proposals) before scaling

For complex needs like multi-tiered approvals or conditional thresholds, schedule a demo to explore enterprise features.

The Bottom Line

Approvals shouldn't derail collaboration – they should be part of the workflow. By integrating ApproveThis with Whatboard via Zapier, teams maintain creative momentum while adding necessary governance. Whether you're launching products, managing client work, or coordinating internal initiatives, this combination ensures ideas progress from whiteboard to reality at full speed.