ApproveThis manages your Picky Assist Integration approvals.

When Approval Processes Meet Real-World Communication

Let's cut through the noise: most approval systems work great... until they crash into how people actually communicate. That purchase order approval? It's stuck because the budget manager keeps forwarding PDFs via WhatsApp. The contract sign-off? Delayed because legal keeps texting "Looks good" without actually updating the system. This is where connecting ApproveThis and Picky Assist via Zapier becomes your secret weapon.

Why This Combo Works

ApproveThis handles the structured part - routing, rules, audit trails. Picky Assist deals with the messy reality of SMS and WhatsApp. Together, they create workflows that actually match how teams operate. No more chasing down rogue messages or playing telephone tag with external partners.

Three Business Problems This Integration Solves

Problem 1: Approval Requests Getting Lost in Chat Purgatory

Example: A regional distributor uses WhatsApp to receive urgent inventory requests from 50+ retail partners. Their old system? Employees copy-pasted messages into emails, which then got stuck in approval queues. Now, any WhatsApp message tagged #URGENT automatically creates an ApproveThis request with supplier details and delivery windows pre-filled.

Problem 2: Silent Approvals = Confused Teams

Example: A marketing agency's finance team kept approving campaign budgets via email, leaving project managers guessing. Now, every approved budget in ApproveThis triggers a WhatsApp update to the PM and client lead. If denied? The requester gets an SMS with specific rejection reasons pulled from the approval notes.

Problem 3: Mobile-Dependent Partners Getting Left Out

Example: A construction firm's external contractors kept missing equipment approvals buried in their project management tool. Solution? Approval requests now arrive via SMS with a one-tap "Approve/Deny" link. No app installs required, and responses sync back to ApproveThis automatically.

Use Cases That Actually Matter

Customer Service Escalations That Don't Suck

When support teams get a WhatsApp message requesting a refund over $500:

1. Picky Assist detects keywords ("refund", "$")

2. ApproveThis creates a case with customer history

3. Finance lead approves/denies via email

4. Customer gets SMS update with next steps

Field Operations That Keep Moving

Maintenance tech receives SMS about broken equipment:

- Creates parts request via WhatsApp photo

- ApproveThis routes to facilities manager

- Approval triggers purchase AND notifies vendor via WhatsApp

- All without the tech leaving their repair job

Setup That Doesn't Require an IT Degree

1. Connect the Apps: Zapier handles the bridge between Picky Assist and ApproveThis.

2. Map Triggers: "New WhatsApp/SMS" starts most workflows.

3. Add Logic: Use ApproveThis' calculated fields to auto-approve small expenses or escalate big ones.

4. Test with Real Data: Send a WhatsApp message to confirm it creates an approval request.

5. Add Human Safeguards: Set approval thresholds so only amounts over $X need human review.

Why Your Approvers Will Actually Use This

Key detail: Approvers don't need Picky Assist licenses. The VP who insists on email? They get approval requests there. The contractor who only uses SMS? They respond that way. ApproveThis becomes the hub without forcing everyone into new tools.

Department-Specific Wins

Procurement Teams

Suppliers WhatsApp purchase orders  Auto-convert to approval requests with vendor performance data attached  Approved POs trigger SMS confirmations to suppliers with delivery details.

HR Teams

Candidate accepts offer via SMS  Triggers IT equipment approval workflow  Approved request auto-orders laptop and notifies candidate via WhatsApp with onboarding details.

Sales Operations

Deal discount requests over 15% come via SMS  Route to regional manager + finance  Approved deals update CRM and notify sales rep via WhatsApp.

The Features You'll Actually Use

Vacation Delegation: Approver OOO? Requests automatically reroute without needing to reconfigure Picky Assist flows.

Approval Thresholds: Auto-approve small ticket items from trusted vendors via SMS.

Real-Time Tracking: See which WhatsApp requests are pending versus stuck.

Conditional Logic: Route high-priority SMS messages to senior staff first.

What This Isn't

Not replacing your CRM. Not automating complex negotiations. It's about taking the approval bottlenecks that happen over messaging apps and making them trackable. No AI buzzwords, just fewer missed requests.

Getting Started Without the Overwhelm

1. Identify one process where approvals leak into WhatsApp/SMS

2. Map the current mess (who messages whom, how decisions get logged)

3. Build a simple Zapier flow using our pre-made templates

4. Run a 2-week pilot with a small team

5. Expand after fixing the inevitable "Oh, we forgot about..." moment

Final Reality Check

This works best for companies where:

- Field teams rely on mobile messaging

- External partners aren't on your internal systems

- Approval delays cost real money (lost shipments, missed SLAs)

- You're tired of "I approved that last week!" excuses

If that's your world, it's time to stop forcing people into apps they hate and start meeting them where they already work. Get ApproveThis set up in a day, connect it to Picky Assist via Zapier, and actually fix approval delays instead of just complaining about them.