How ApproveThis + Zapier Chatbots Cuts Approval Delays (Without the Headaches)

Let's be real: approval processes suck. Not because people enjoy being bottlenecks (usually), but because most companies handle them like it's 1999. You've got requests buried in Slack threads, managers chasing down signatures, and clients stuck waiting days for simple sign-offs. Meanwhile, your chatbot's answering the same FAQs for the 100th time this week.

Here's where it gets interesting. Connect ApproveThis with Zapier Chatbots, and suddenly those two problems solve each other. Your chatbot becomes a 24/7 approval intake machine, and ApproveThis turns those requests into tracked, automated workflows. No more "I didn't see the email" excuses.

Why This Combo Works Like Duct Tape for Broken Processes

Zapier Chatbots handles the messy front-end stuff – answering questions, collecting info, triaging requests. ApproveThis does the back-end heavy lifting – routing decisions, enforcing rules, keeping records. Together via Zapier, they create a closed-loop system where:

• Customers/employees get instant confirmation their request was received
• Approvers deal with one centralized queue (not 12 different apps)
• You get audit trails instead of he-said-she-said

Example: A sales rep uses your chatbot to request a custom demo script. The bot collects details, ApproveThis routes it to legal + product team. Legal approves compliance, product adds technical guardrails, sales gets the green light – all without a single meeting.

Real Use Cases That Don't Feel Like Corporate Fluff

1. The "Click Here to Get Sh*t Done" Button

Most chatbot interactions die because users get stuck in infinite loops. Add buttons like:

"Need a PO approved? → Click here"
"Requesting time off? → Start here"

When clicked, Zapier triggers ApproveThis to create a request with all the context from the chat. Finance teams get structured data instead of "Urgent!!!" emails. HR gets all PTO requests in one place with auto-approvals for standard days off.

Who this helps:
- Field service companies: Techs in the field request parts via chatbot → Approvals auto-route based on cost thresholds
- Marketing agencies: Clients approve campaign drafts directly in chat → No more "I can't open the PDF"

2. Approval Status Updates That Don't Annoy Everyone

Instead of manually checking ApproveThis, users ask the chatbot: "Where's my vendor contract approval?" The bot pulls real-time status and gives a plain-English answer. If denied, it explains next steps using your playbook.

Cool factor: ApproveThis can trigger chatbot replies when approvals complete. Think automatic Slack messages like: "Your $25k AWS invoice was approved by 3/3 stakeholders. Finance will process payment by EOD."

3. Escalating Messy Situations Before They Blow Up

Zapier Chatbots detects frustrated users (multiple "Where is it?!" messages) → ApproveThis pings managers with escalation alerts. Or automatically bumps approval priority if the request is time-sensitive.

Real example: A healthcare provider uses this to fast-track HIPAA violation reports. Chatbot flags urgent keywords → ApproveThis skips junior staff and routes directly to compliance officers.

Setup That Doesn't Require an IT Degree

If you can build an IKEA shelf, you can connect these tools:

1. Create your ApproveThis workflow: Set rules like "All purchases over $5k need CFO approval" or "Contract reviews go legal → sales ops → client"
2. Build the chatbot trigger: In Zapier, choose when requests start – button clicks, specific keywords, forms
3. Map the data: Pull chatbot responses into ApproveThis fields (amounts, dates, requesters)
4. Add human checks: Approvers get emails with Approve/Reject buttons. No app login needed.

Pro tip: Use ApproveThis' calculated fields to auto-flag issues. Like if a chatbot-submitted travel request exceeds per diem rates before it even hits the manager's inbox.

Why Teams Actually Like Using This (Seriously)

For Execs:

See approval bottlenecks in real dashboards. Kill redundant steps. Stop being the human "approve" button for every minor request.

For Operations:

Auto-reassign approvals when people are OOO. Set thresholds so low-risk requests auto-approve. Integrate with your existing tools (Slack, Teams, whatever).

For External Partners:

Clients approve NDAs via chatbot → Legal gets structured requests → No back-and-forth. Bonus: They don't need ApproveThis licenses – just email.

The Part Where We Tell You to Try It

Look, approval processes won't ever be "fun." But making them less painful? That's doable. ApproveThis + Zapier Chatbots works because it's:

Faster: Cut approval times from days → hours
Cheaper: No more paying for external users' seats
Audit-friendly: Full logs of who approved what, when, and why

Ready to stop herding cats? Get started with ApproveThis or book a 15-minute demo. We'll even help you build your first chatbot integration – no sales jargon, promise.

FAQ (Because Someone's Gonna Ask)

Q: What if approvers hate new tools?
A: They approve/reject via email. Zero learning curve.

Q: Can we set dollar limits for auto-approvals?
A: Yep. Under $500? Auto-okay. Over $10k? Needs 3 signatures. You set the rules.

Q: Our ERP already does approvals. Why switch?
A: Keep your ERP. ApproveThis sits on top, handling edge cases and cross-team requests that ERP systems choke on.