No More Papercuts: How ApproveThis + Formstack Automate Approval Headaches

When Forms Meet Approvals, Magic Happens

Let's be real - forms are where productivity goes to die. Formstack collects the data, but then what? Cue the endless email chains, Slack pings, and "Hey, did you approve that thing?" conversations. ApproveThis cuts through the noise by turning form submissions into actionable approval workflows. We're talking purchase requests that actually get approved before the quarter ends, contract sign-offs that don't require hunting down VPs, and expense reports that don't collect digital dust.

Why This Combo Works Better Than Your Current Process

Formstack's killer at grabbing data through forms. ApproveThis? We make decisions happen. Together through Zapier, they handle the entire lifecycle:

• Formstack's Job: Collect clean data from employees, clients, or vendors
• ApproveThis' Move: Route to the right people, apply business rules, get decisions

Example: A $25k vendor contract submission hits Formstack. ApproveThis automatically routes it to department head > legal > CFO based on amount. No lost emails. No "Who's supposed to review this?"

Real-World Use Cases That Don't Suck

1. Auto-Create Approvals from Form Submissions (HR's New Best Friend)

New Formstack submission = instant approval workflow. HR teams use this for:

Onboarding: New hire equipment requests get auto-routed based on department/role. IT knows exactly what to provision without 15 clarification emails.

Travel Requests: Flight bookings that comply with budget policies before employees charge their cards. Yes, you can finally enforce those spending limits.

Client Services: Marketing agencies auto-route client change requests through creative > account > legal review. No more scope creep from unapproved asks.

2. Push Approved Data Back to Formstack (Finance Team Hack)

When ApproveThis gives the green light, Zapier updates Formstack automatically. Use cases:

Procurement: Approved vendor requests auto-populate your vendor database in Formstack. AP doesn't waste time manually entering approved suppliers.

Field Operations: Construction companies auto-submit approved inspection reports to regulatory forms. Compliance without the paperwork nightmare.

Healthcare: Approved patient intake forms get pushed to EHR systems. Less admin time, more patient face time.

3. Approve New Forms Before They Go Live (Legal's Safety Net)

Create an approval chain for new Formstack forms themselves. Essential for:

Compliance Teams: Ensure new data collection forms meet GDPR/CCPA requirements before they're public-facing.

Product Teams: Beta feature request forms only go live after product lead + support director sign off.

Enterprise Sales: Custom quote request forms get legal review to avoid underselling services.

Setup That Won't Make You Want to Scream

If you can make toast, you can set this up:

1. Create a Zapier account (free tier works)
2. Choose your trigger: "New Formstack Submission" or "Approval Completed"
3. Map form fields to ApproveThis' criteria (amounts, departments, etc.)
4. Test with a $1 expense report to your manager

Pro Tip: Use ApproveThis' Calculated Fields to auto-flag submissions that need exec review. Example: "If total > $10k, route to CFO. Else, department head only."

Department-Specific Wins

For HR Teams

Stop being the middleman for every PTO request and training enrollment. Set thresholds where approvals auto-escalate (e.g., 3+ weeks off needs VP signoff). Vacation delegation ensures requests keep moving while Karen's on maternity leave.

For Finance Nerds

Require sequential approvals for budget overrides. AP can see real-time status of invoice approvals instead of sending "Just checking in..." emails. Bonus: Approval thresholds auto-approve small expenses instantly.

For Operations Managers

Manufacturing teams use approval groups for equipment purchase requests - maintenance supervisor + plant manager must both approve. Real-time tracking shows where bottlenecks are (looking at you, Bob in procurement).

The Nerd Stuff You Actually Care About

No Extra Licenses: Approvers only need ApproveThis access - no Formstack seats required. Perfect for external clients or cross-company projects.

Audit Trail: Every decision timestamped with comments. Ideal for compliance reviews or settling "But I approved that!" disputes.

Mobile Approvals: Approvers can reject/approve via email without logging into anything. Field teams stay productive.

Bottom Line: This Isn't Just Another Integration

Most "integrations" are just data passthroughs. This actually changes how decisions get made. When you connect Formstack forms to ApproveThis' workflows:

• Decisions happen 2-5x faster (we've seen it)
• Finance closes the books 3 days earlier
• Managers gain 6+ hours/week back

Ready to Stop Chasing Approvals?

Either get started or book a 12-minute demo. We'll show how to set up your first workflow using existing Formstack forms. No sales jargon - just real examples from companies your size.

P.S. If you're still manually routing form submissions, your competitors already think you're outdated. Just saying.