ApproveThis manages your Formitable Integration approvals.

When Reservations Meet Approval Automation

Let’s be real: running a restaurant isn’t just about food. It’s about managing the endless stream of “Can we get the private room for 30?” requests, last-minute cancellations, and trying to remember if the sous-chef approved that $2k wine order. This is where Formitable (your reservation MVP) and ApproveThis (the approval ninja) come in. Connect them via Zapier, and you’ve got a system that handles the messy middle between “table booked” and “service delivered.”

Why This Combo Works Like a Well-Oiled Kitchen

Formitable handles the front-of-house stuff: reservations, table rotations, special requests. ApproveThis handles the back-of-house chaos: getting decisions made fast without chasing people down. Together, they automate the handoffs that usually cause delays. Think:

• No more sticky notes on the manager’s laptop about VIP bookings
• Zero “Did we ever approve that wedding party deposit?” emails

Bonus: ApproveThis approvers don’t need a Formitable license. Perfect for when your event planner, corporate client, or that wine rep needs to sign off on something without getting access to your entire system.

Real-World Use Cases (That Don’t Suck)

1. The “Holy Crap, It’s a VIP” Scenario

Problem: A reservation pops up in Formitable labeled “CEO Dinner - Dietary Restrictions: Yes.” Your hostess isn’t paid enough to decide if this needs special treatment.

Fix: Zapier triggers an ApproveThis request sent to the GM and head chef. They get an email (or Slack alert), review the details, approve/deny in two clicks. Formitable auto-updates the reservation notes with “GM approved - comp dessert course.”

Who Cares: Restaurant groups with multiple locations. No more relying on whoever’s working the host stand to “remember” to flag high-profile guests.

2. The “We’re Out of Sea Bass” Shuffle

Problem: A 20-top orders the tasting menu, but your supplier just emailed that halibut’s delayed. Kitchen needs to approve a $500 upcharge for substitution.

Fix: Update the reservation in Formitable → Zapier pings ApproveThis → Chef gets a calculated field showing cost impact. Approval comes through → reservation notes update automatically. No FOH/BOH shouting match.

Who Cares: Upscale spots where menu changes directly impact prep time and food costs. Also avoids “We agreed to WHAT?!” moments during dinner rush.

3. The “Cancel This Without Starting a Fire” Protocol

Problem: Big event cancellation in Formitable. Need finance to confirm if the deposit covers it, events team to release the space, and GM to approve refunds.

Fix: Cancel in Formitable → ApproveThis fires off a parallel approval chain. Finance checks deposit rules, events updates their calendar, GM gives final thumbs-up. All without 17 forwarded emails.

Who Cares: Hotels with attached restaurants, venues handling weddings/corporate events. Stops one department from making promises others can’t keep.

Features Your Team Will Actually Use

ApproveThis isn’t just another app to ignore. Here’s what makes it stick:

• Email Approvals: Managers can approve from their phones between lunch and dinner rushes. No app login required.
• Vacation Delegation: Sous-chef out? Requests auto-reroute to the next in line. No more “Sorry, Chef’s in Tahiti” delays.
• Thresholds: Auto-approve small stuff (like swapping a $15 bottle) but escalate anything over $200 to the beverage director.

Setting This Up Without Losing Your Mind

Zapier’s the glue here. You’ll:

1. Pick a trigger in Formitable (new reservation, cancellation, etc.)
2. Set up the corresponding action in ApproveThis (create request, update status)
3. Test with a real-world scenario (e.g., book a test table as “VIP - Needs Confirmation”)

Full setup takes 15 minutes if you’re slow at clicking. Zapier’s tutorials cover the basics, and ApproveThis has pre-built templates for Formitable flows.

Who Gets Their Life Easier

Operations Managers

Stop playing telephone between the reservation system and the kitchen. Approvals happen in context, with all the details (party size, special requests, contact info) pulled straight from Formitable.

Finance Teams

Every approved upsell or denied refund leaves an audit trail. Run reports on how often the kitchen OKs ingredient swaps, or track which managers are loose with comps.

Event Planners

Clients want changes? Those requests route through ApproveThis instead of blowing up your phone. Plus, external vendors (like florists) can approve delivery times without getting a Formitable login.

The Bottom Line (No Fluff)

If your restaurant’s approval process involves yelling across the kitchen or hoping someone checks their email, this integration cuts the chaos. It’s not about replacing human decisions—it’s about making those decisions happen faster, with less drama.

ApproveThis works because it’s not another app people hate using. Approvers interact via email, managers get a clear view of what’s stuck, and everything ties back to the systems you already use (looking at you, Formitable).

Next Steps

If you’re spending more time chasing approvals than actual customers, it’s time to fix that. Register for ApproveThis or grab a demo to see how it plays with Formitable. Worst case? You save 5 hours a week. Best case? You finally get to leave before closing time.