ApproveThis manages your ServiceTrade Integration approvals.

When Field Service Meets Paperwork, Chaos Usually Wins

Let's be real - most service contractors didn't get into this business to push paperwork. You fix boilers, install HVAC systems, keep factories running. But somewhere between the wrench-turning and client handshakes, someone decided you also need to be an expert at chasing down signatures for purchase orders or getting project change requests approved.

That's where ApproveThis and ServiceTrade come in. We've seen how commercial HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractors use this combo to cut approval delays by 60% while actually knowing where every request sits. No more "I thought you were handling it" moments.

Why Your Service Ops Team Needs This Like a Leaky Pipe Needs a Wrench

ServiceTrade's great at managing jobs and customers. ApproveThis handles the bureaucratic sludge. Together through Zapier, they work like a dispatcher who never sleeps:

• No more double-entry: Deficiencies in ServiceTrade auto-create approval requests, approved requests auto-create ServiceTrade jobs
• Approvers don't need ServiceTrade logins: Clients or execs approve via email without accessing your main system
• Auto-prioritization: Set rules so a $50k equipment purchase pings the CFO, while a $500 part goes straight to the warehouse manager

Real World Fixes for Actual Service Teams

1. When Deficiencies Become Dollar Signs

The Problem: Your tech finds a rotting pipe during a routine inspection. They log it in ServiceTrade...and then what? Wait for a manager to OK the repair? Hope someone follows up?

The Fix: Auto-create an ApproveThis request with photos, repair options, and cost estimates pulled from ServiceTrade. The system routes it based on your rules - maybe site manager first, then client if over $5k.

Who Cares: HVAC companies doing preventative maintenance contracts. Turn every found deficiency into an approved upsell opportunity before the client forgets why they called.

2. From "Approved" to "Assigned" in 60 Seconds

The Problem: That $20k chiller repair gets approved...and sits in someone's inbox until the client calls asking why nobody showed up.

The Fix: When ApproveThis marks it approved, Zapier instantly creates a ServiceTrade job with all details pre-filled. Dispatchers get alerted before the approval email even hits their inbox.

Who Cares: Electrical contractors handling emergency repairs. Reduce "Why aren't you here yet?!" calls by automatically scheduling jobs the second approvals happen.

3. Comments That Actually Matter

The Problem: A tech adds "Customer mentioned roof leaks near unit" in a job comment. Three weeks later, that becomes a massive mold remediation project nobody approved.

The Fix: Trigger approval requests when specific keywords hit ServiceTrade comments. "Roof leak" comments auto-generate inspection requests with high priority.

Who Cares: Plumbing companies dealing with insurance work. Turn casual notes into actionable approvals before small issues become claim denials.

Setting This Up Without an IT Degree

If you can order parts online, you can build these Zaps:

1. Connect ServiceTrade and ApproveThis in Zapier (takes 2 minutes)
2. Pick a trigger like "New Deficiency" in ServiceTrade
3. Map the important fields - deficiency photos become approval attachments, job IDs stay consistent
4. Set approval rules - maybe anything over $10k needs CFO review
5. Test with a real deficiency (we suggest using "Test Customer - DO NOT DISPATCH" in ServiceTrade)

Pro Tip: Use ApproveThis' calculated fields to auto-flag requests needing extra scrutiny. Like multiplying repair hours by labor rates pulled from ServiceTrade to get total cost before routing.

Who Gets Their Life Easier (Besides Everyone)

Operations Managers

Stop playing telephone between field crews and accounting. Approval thresholds mean you only get pinged when actually needed. Vacation delegation stops approvals from piling up when you're out.

Field Supervisors

Real-time dashboards show exactly which repairs are approved vs. pending. No more promising clients "We'll start tomorrow!" only to find out procurement hasn't OK'd the parts.

Finance Teams

Auto-archive approved requests with ServiceTrade job numbers. When job costs overrun, see exactly who approved what changes. Audit trails that don't require digging through 12 systems.

The Part Where We Tell You to Try It

Look - if you're still manually forwarding deficiency reports for approvals, you're leaving money on the table. Every day a repair approval sits in someone's inbox is a day your crew could be billing hours.

ApproveThis works because:

• Approvers don't need logins (huge for client approvals)
• Integrates with ServiceTrade without messy API coding
• Scales from 10 to 10,000 requests/month without adding staff

Ready to stop being an approval middleman? Book a 15-minute demo or just start a free trial. Your techs will actually thank you.

FAQ (Because Someone's Gonna Ask)

Q: Can we use our existing ServiceTrade data in approvals?
A: Yep - Zapier pulls customer names, job histories, even attached photos straight into approval requests.

Q: What if an approver is on vacation?
A: ApproveThis auto-reassigns based on their calendar. No more "Waiting on Jim's Out of Office Reply" status.

Q: How's this different from ServiceTrade's built-in approvals?
A: Two words: conditional routing. ServiceTrade tells you something needs approval. We handle who, when, and what happens next based on your actual business rules.