How ApproveThis + Followup CRM Fix Approval Gridlock for Construction Teams

When Bids Meet Approvals

Let's get real - construction project management is like herding cats wearing hard hats. Between bid approvals, change orders, and supplier contracts, your CRM becomes a graveyard of stalled deals. Followup CRM keeps your projects moving, but when every decision needs five sign-offs? That's where things get sticky.

ApproveThis acts like the traffic cop for your Followup CRM data. We automate the "Hey, can you approve this?" dance that turns 2-day processes into 2-week marathons. No more chasing down managers in the field or waiting for corporate to check their email.

Why This Combo Works

Followup CRM houses your project DNA - bids, contacts, timelines. ApproveThis handles the human layer of decisions. Connect them through Zapier, and you've got:

• Automatic approval chains when new bids hit your pipeline
• Real-time CRM updates when decisions get made

Best part? Your field supers can approve directly from email without needing Followup CRM logins. Corporate keeps control without becoming a bottleneck.

For the GCs Chasing Public Contracts

Municipal bids require 3+ approval layers by law. Set up approval groups that automatically loop in:

1. Estimating manager
2. Bonding company rep
3. Licensing coordinator

Approvals happen in sequence with hard deadlines. If someone's OOO, vacation delegation shifts authority automatically. Approved bid? It auto-populates in Followup CRM with all compliance docs attached.

For Specialty Contractors Scaling Up

Electrical/mechanical subs often hit cash flow walls from slow change order approvals. Set thresholds:

- Under $5k? Foreman approves via SMS
- $5k-$25k? Project manager + accountant
- Over $25k? Escalate to operations VP

Approved change orders auto-create Followup CRM tasks with updated budgets. Denied requests trigger immediate client alerts through the same system.

Three Ways This Pays Off

1. No More "Who Approved This?"

When new contacts get added to Followup CRM (think: subcontractors, suppliers), ApproveThis triggers:

a) Insurance/license verification request → Risk team
b) Credit check approval → Accounting
c) Project assignment → Operations

All approvals nest under the contact record. Approved vendors get auto-tagged in Followup CRM; denied entries flag compliance issues.

2. From Approved Bid to Active Project in 60 Seconds

Here's the magic sequence:

1. Followup CRM bid → Approved via ApproveThis
2. Zapier creates Followup CRM project
3. Budget thresholds auto-set based on bid amount
4. Subcontractor PO approvals pre-routed

Field crews get notified before the office even finishes their coffee.

3. Change Order Clarity

When project specs change in Followup CRM:

- Approval thresholds determine who signs off
- Calculated fields auto-adjust material/labor costs
- Approved changes sync back with revision notes
- Denials log reasons for future reference

No more version control nightmares or "I thought you approved that!" arguments.

Setting It Up Without Losing Your Mind

1. Connect the Apps: Create a Zapier account (takes 2 minutes)
2. Pick Your Trigger: "New Contact" in Followup CRM or "Approval Completed" in ApproveThis
3. Map Critical Fields: Project ID → Approval ID, Budget → Threshold Rules
4. Test with Live Data: Use an active bid to confirm approvals create CRM projects

Pro Tip: Start with your most painful approval process. For 73% of contractors, that's change orders over $10k.

Who Benefits (Besides Your Sanity)

Project Managers

Get automatic audit trails for every decision. No more digging through emails when owners question timelines.

Accounting Teams

Approved budgets auto-lock in Followup CRM. Overages require re-approval, preventing end-of-month surprises.

Field Superintendents

Approve safety plan exceptions or equipment rentals from their phone. Updates sync to CRM in real-time.

Business Development

See which approval bottlenecks delay bids. Use ApproveThis analytics to streamline future proposals.

The Bottom Line

Construction runs on approvals. Followup CRM organizes the data; ApproveThis organizes the people. Together, they turn "Where are we on this?" into "It's already handled."

Your move. Either keep playing approval phone tag, or set up ApproveThis with your Followup CRM in an afternoon. We even do live demos with actual contractors - no sales fluff, just real workflows.