ApproveThis manages your HiveDesk Integration approvals.

Why Combine ApproveThis and HiveDesk?

When project management meets approval automation, teams move faster with fewer errors. ApproveThis and HiveDesk solve complementary challenges: one ensures decisions happen systematically, while the other organizes remote work effectively. Together, they create a closed-loop system where tasks and projects only move forward after proper validation – without manual handoffs.

Consider a marketing agency managing remote contractors through HiveDesk. New client requests often require budget approvals from stakeholders who don’t use the time-tracking platform. With ApproveThis integrated via Zapier, project managers can trigger approval workflows directly from HiveDesk tasks. Decision-makers receive email notifications (no HiveDesk license required), review details, and click approve. Once greenlit, HiveDesk automatically starts tracking time against the task. This eliminates back-and-forth emails while maintaining oversight.

How These Platforms Complement Each Other

ApproveThis Strengths

ApproveThis specializes in structured decision-making. Its configurable approval chains adapt to complex organizational hierarchies, while features like automatic delegation during vacations prevent bottlenecks. Financial thresholds allow instant approval for small expenses but require executive review for larger amounts – perfect for balancing speed with control.

HiveDesk Capabilities

HiveDesk excels at remote workforce management. Beyond basic time tracking, it captures activity levels through periodic screenshots and provides granular reports on task progress. For businesses managing distributed teams or freelancers, it offers visibility into how work hours align with project budgets.

Real-World Use Cases

1. Govern Project Initiation

Consulting firms often struggle with uncontrolled scope creep. When a HiveDesk user creates a new project, ApproveThis can require partner approval before any time gets tracked. The integration ensures:

• Budget limits are validated against the proposal
• Client-specific billing rates are confirmed
• Resource availability is checked

Example: A digital agency uses calculated fields in ApproveThis to compare the project’s estimated hours (from HiveDesk) against remaining client retainers. If hours exceed the contract, the workflow automatically routes to the account manager for upsell approval.

2. Enforce Task-Level Approvals

Remote development teams benefit from requiring technical reviews before work begins. When a developer creates a task in HiveDesk:

1. ApproveThis triggers a two-step approval chain
2. Tech lead validates the approach
3. Project manager confirms client alignment

Only after both approve does HiveDesk start tracking time. This prevents misallocated effort on tasks that might later get scrapped.

3. Automate Post-Approval Actions

Upon approval completion in ApproveThis, HiveDesk can:

• Create projects with pre-defined task templates
• Assign team members based on approval comments
• Set budget alerts using approved amounts

A property management company uses this to handle maintenance requests. Supervisors approve vendor quotes in ApproveThis, which then auto-creates HiveDesk projects with deadline reminders tied to SLAs.

Setup Guide: Connect via Zapier

Linking these platforms takes 15 minutes using Zapier’s no-code interface:

Trigger Approval from New HiveDesk Task

1. In Zapier, choose HiveDesk’s “New Task” trigger
2. Map task details to ApproveThis fields (description, due date)
3. Set approval rules – thresholds, required reviewers
4. Test with a sample task

Create HiveDesk Projects Post-Approval

1. Use ApproveThis’ “Request Approved” trigger
2. Filter approvals by type (e.g., only project requests)
3. Convert approval data into HiveDesk projects
4. Add conditional logic for denied requests

Start building your integration – no developer needed.

Cross-Team Benefits

Operations Teams

Reduce overhead by eliminating manual data entry between systems. Approval thresholds automatically escalate exceptions, letting ops focus on edge cases rather than routine sign-offs.

Finance Departments

Maintain budget control without micromanaging. When HiveDesk tasks reference client contracts, ApproveThis compares actual hours against SOWs and triggers alerts before overages occur.

Remote Teams

Keep distributed workers aligned. Developers see approved specs upfront, while managers gain assurance that tracked time aligns with validated tasks. Screenshot audits in HiveDesk become exceptions reporting rather than constant surveillance.

Key Integration Features

Beyond basic triggers, leverage these advanced capabilities:

Conditional Approval Paths

Route HiveDesk tasks differently based on project type. Marketing content requests might need legal review, while IT tasks require security approval. Configure once in ApproveThis, then automate.

Real-Time Budget Checks

Connect ApproveThis’ calculated fields to HiveDesk’s time data. Example: If a task’s tracked hours reach 80% of budget, auto-pause work until additional funds are approved.

External Approvals

Clients can approve HiveDesk project extensions via email without accessing either platform. ApproveThis records their decision, then updates HiveDesk deadlines automatically.

Getting Started

To implement these workflows:

1. Sign up for ApproveThis (14-day trial available)
2. Explore HiveDesk plans (free tier for small teams)
3. Connect both via Zapier using the triggers above

For complex use cases like multi-currency approvals or compliance tracking, request a custom demo to see enterprise-grade features in action.

Final Insights

This integration isn’t just about automating steps – it’s creating accountability in distributed work. By tying HiveDesk’s granular tracking to ApproveThis’ audit trails, organizations gain:

- Clear ownership at each approval stage
- Historical data for process improvement
- Reduced risk of unauthorized work

Marketing agencies use this combo to prevent scope creep, software teams to enforce code review policies, and consultants to maintain client budget discipline. The common thread? Removing friction in governance so teams can focus on impactful work.