
ApproveThis manages your SignRequest Integration approvals.
April 17, 2025
Integration Category: Signatures
Why Approval Management Needs Digital Signatures
Modern businesses face a critical gap between internal approvals and external action. Teams approve contracts in email chains, then scramble to collect signatures. Legal signs off on vendor agreements, but the document gets stuck in someone’s inbox. HR finalizes offer letters, only to delay onboarding waiting for signatures. ApproveThis and SignRequest solve this disconnect through Zapier-powered automation that bridges decision-making with execution.
ApproveThis specializes in structured approval workflows with role-based permissions, conditional logic, and real-time tracking. SignRequest delivers legally binding e-signatures with audit trails. Together, they create closed-loop processes where approvals automatically trigger signature requests – and signed documents initiate follow-up approvals. This isn’t just about saving time; it’s about eliminating the 72-hour delays that happen when processes rely on manual handoffs between systems.
Three Ways to Connect Approvals with Signatures
1. Contract Execution for Legal Teams
When legal counsel approves a vendor agreement in ApproveThis, the integration automatically sends the final contract via SignRequest to all parties. A regional law firm used this workflow to reduce client onboarding from 14 days to 48 hours. Key advantage: Approvers in ApproveThis don’t need SignRequest licenses, allowing external partners to review terms without platform access.
2. HR Onboarding Acceleration
New hire offer letters approved in ApproveThis trigger personalized SignRequest documents with dynamic fields for role-specific clauses. One tech startup eliminated 12 manual steps in their process, cutting time-to-hire by 65%. Vacation delegation in ApproveThis ensures sign requests never stall if HR managers are out.
3. Procurement Compliance
Supplier contracts over $50k automatically route to finance directors in ApproveThis. Upon approval, SignRequest sends NDAs with calculated expiration dates based on the contract’s terms. A manufacturing company using this integration reduced compliance violations by 83% in Q1.
Technical Advantages You Can’t Replicate Manually
These workflows work because ApproveThis handles complex logic that email approvals can’t:
- Threshold-Based Routing: Contracts under $10k auto-approve via calculated fields, freeing managers for strategic work
- Multi-Stage Sequencing: Legal > Finance > CEO approvals happen in order, with SignRequest only triggering after final sign-off
Meanwhile, SignRequest provides:
- Template Version Control: Always send the latest NDA template after approval
- Signer Authentication: Meet compliance requirements that basic PDF tools can’t
Implementation Guide for Cross-Functional Teams
Step 1: Map Your Current Process
Identify where approvals stall before signatures. Sales teams often discover 40% of quote approvals wait for VP review unnecessarily – set thresholds to auto-approve small deals.
Step 2: Configure ApproveThis Workflows
Build approval chains in ApproveThis with:
- Conditional paths (e.g., contracts vs. NDAs)
- Approval groups (legal team + department head)
- Email fallbacks for external partners
Step 3: Connect via Zapier
In Zapier, create Zaps that:
1. Start when ApproveThis requests are approved/denied
2. Pull document metadata from ApproveThis
3. Push to SignRequest with template variables
Zapier’s interface requires no coding – test with a simple HR form first.
Department-Specific Benefits
Finance Teams
Invoice approvals with automatic PO generation in SignRequest reduce payment delays. One controller automated $2.3M/month in vendor payments by connecting approval thresholds to signature triggers.
Sales Organizations
Deal desk approvals auto-send contracts via SignRequest with deal-specific terms. A SaaS company increased Q4 closures by 22% by eliminating signature request delays.
Operations Managers
Procurement approvals trigger service agreements with SLAs populated from ApproveThis request forms. Reduces errors from manual data entry by 91%.
Why This Integration Becomes Essential at Scale
When processing 100+ approvals weekly, manual signature follow-ups create:
- Compliance gaps (unsigned NDAs)
- Revenue leaks (unexecuted contracts)
- Audit risks (missing approval-signature links)
ApproveThis + SignRequest via Zapier provides an immutable audit trail showing who approved what, when, and how it was signed. Legal teams gain instant visibility into contract status without status update meetings.
Getting Started
1. Register for ApproveThis (14-day trial)
2. Connect your existing SignRequest account
3. Build one test workflow (e.g., employee offer letters)
4. Schedule a demo to replicate success across teams
Key Reminder: Approvers in ApproveThis don’t need SignRequest seats. Clients sign documents via email while your team maintains control in ApproveThis.
Final Thoughts
Approvals and signatures aren’t separate processes – they’re two stages of organizational decision-making. By connecting ApproveThis and SignRequest, you’re not just automating tasks; you’re creating a system where every approved decision immediately converts into executable action. The result? Faster cycle times, fewer errors, and teams that focus on work that matters instead of chasing documents.
Ready to eliminate approval-to-signature delays? Book a customized demo showing how your specific workflows can be optimized.
Integrate with SignRequest Integration and get 90 days of ApproveThis for free.
After you create a Zapier integration, please email us at support@approve-this.com with your account name and we'll add 3 months of ApproveThis to your account. Limit one redemption per account.
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Best Approval Workflows for SignRequest
Suggested workflows (and their Zapier components) for SignRequest
Create approval requests for new signed documents
When a document is signed in SignRequest, this integration creates an approval request in ApproveThis for review. It streamlines follow-up processes and ensures proper sign-off for critical documents. *Note: Ensure approvals are set up in ApproveThis before integrating.*
Zapier Components

Trigger
New Document Signed
Triggers when a SignRequest is signed.
Action
Create Request
Creates a new request, probably with input from previous steps.
Send sign requests for new approval workflows
When a new approval workflow is initiated in ApproveThis, this automation sends a SignRequest document automatically. It helps streamline document preparation and ensures a timely delivery of sign requests. *Note: Customize your SignRequest template for best results.*
Zapier Components
Trigger
New Request
Triggers when a new approval request workflow is initiated.

Action
Send SignRequest
Creates and sends a new SignRequest.
Send template sign requests when approvals complete
When an approval process is completed in ApproveThis, this automation sends a templated SignRequest to finalize the process. It bridges the gap between approval and action, ensuring consistent document handling. *Note: Configure your template parameters appropriately in SignRequest.*
Zapier Components
Trigger
A Request Is Approved/Denied
Triggers when a request is approved or denied.

Action
Send SignRequest From Template
Creates and sends a new SignRequest from a SignRequest Template.
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