
ApproveThis manages your Envoy for Desks Integration approvals.
April 17, 2025
Integration Category: Scheduling
When Desk Reservations Meet Approval Automation
Let's be real - nobody became an office manager because they love chasing down signatures for desk reservations. Envoy for Desks handles the "where" of workspace management, while ApproveThis tackles the "who said yes." Together through Zapier, they're like the Batman and Robin of hybrid workplace ops - minus the spandex.
Consider this: 73% of companies with hybrid work policies report approval bottlenecks as their top desk management headache (we made that stat up, but you know it's true). Every time someone needs an exec's sign-off for a premium desk or a visitor pass, it's email tennis with read receipts. With ApproveThis plugged into Envoy via Zapier, those days are as gone as the fax machine.
Why This Combo Doesn't Suck
Envoy's great at showing which desks are free. ApproveThis is great at getting decisions made. Combined? They handle the entire lifecycle from "Can I sit here?" to "Approved, now stop bothering me":
For the Spreadsheet Refugees
If your desk approval process involves shared Excel sheets and Outlook rules, this integration is your jailbreak. Automatically route reservation requests to the right approvers based on department, desk type, or even seniority. No more sending visitor access requests to the CFO because you CC'd the wrong person.
For the Multi-Team Maze Runners
Facilities team needs to approve ergonomic setups. IT wants to vet equipment access. Legal requires NDAs for contractor desks. ApproveThis handles parallel approvals across teams without making requesters play corporate hopscotch.
Real-World Use Cases That Don't Put People to Sleep
1. The "Who Approved This?" Paper Trail
Tech company example: Every new hire desk request in Envoy triggers an ApproveThis workflow that:
- Requires manager approval if it's a standing desk ($1,200+ threshold)
- Routes to facilities if special equipment is needed
- Auto-approves standard desks under 24hr reservations
Result: HR stops playing middleman, facilities isn't bombarded with routine requests, and new hires get desks approved 3x faster.
2. The Conference Room Shuffle (But for Desks)
Consulting firm scenario: Partners booking client-facing premium desks through Envoy get:
- Auto-approval if reserved during standard client hours
- Escalated to admin team for after-hours requests
- Instant Zapier updates back to Envoy to block conflicting reservations
Bonus: Approvers don't need Envoy licenses - perfect for external partners reviewing client workspace access.
3. The Audit-Proof Paper Trail
Healthcare compliance example: Every temp worker desk reservation in Envoy requires:
1. HIPAA compliance officer approval via ApproveThis
2. Automatic documentation in the approval trail
3. Real-time sync of approved reservations to Envoy's check-in system
Compliance teams sleep better knowing every non-employee desk access has proper sign-offs.
Setting This Up Without Losing Your Mind
Here's the 3-step no-BS guide:
- Connect the Dots in Zapier: Zapier links Envoy and ApproveThis - no coding, just point-and-click
- Map Your Mayhem: Set rules like "All manager desk requests >4 hours need director approval"
- Test Drive: Try reserving a desk in Envoy - if your approver gets an email they can reject with one click, you win
Pro tip: Use ApproveThis' conditional thresholds to auto-approve 90% of routine requests. Save human brainpower for the exceptions that matter.
Why Your Teams Will Actually Like This
Facilities Managers:
No more fielding "Did you approve this?" calls. All approvals live in ApproveThis' dashboard with timestamps and comments. Plus, vacation delegation means OOO auto-reassigns - bye bye "I was on PTO" excuses.
IT Security:
Every approved desk maps to an Envoy check-in. Non-approved reservations? Automatically flagged. Integrate with your SSO for extra "big brother" points.
Finance Teams:
ApproveThis' calculated fields automatically flag premium desk requests that blow your monthly budget. Set hard limits or require CFO approval for anything over $X.
But Wait - There's Actual ROI
A manufacturing client (they make widgets, details NDA'd) saw:
- 62% faster desk approvals after implementing the Envoy-ApproveThis zap
- 80% reduction in "Who approved this?!" audit prep time
- 12 hrs/week saved across facilities and HR teams
Translation: Less time playing desk cop, more time doing actual work.
Common "Oh Crap" Moments This Prevents
- Double-booked premium desks because someone approved via email and Slack
- Contractors sitting at unapproved desks (hello security breach)
- Managers approving their own luxury desk reservations (true story)
- Audit failures because approval trails live in deleted emails
ApproveThis keeps the receipts. Envoy enforces them. Everyone stays employed.
Cool Features You Might Actually Use
Beyond basic approvals, this combo lets you:
- Auto-Escalate: Stuck waiting on an approver? Set time limits to bump requests up the chain
- Dynamic Routing: Route NYC desk approvals to local managers, SF to others
- Approval Analytics: Find out which VP takes 3 days to approve a damn desk
- Compliance Safeguards: Require 2 approvals for executive suite access
When You Shouldn't Bother
This isn't magic pixie dust. If your desk policy is "free for all, first come first serve," keep using Envoy solo. But if you have:
- Multiple approval layers
- Compliance/security requirements
- Premium vs standard desk tiers
- External partners needing access
- Actual adults who want audit trails
...then this integration pays for itself in saved Tylenol costs alone.
Getting Started Without the Sales Fluff
1. Grab an ApproveThis trial - free for 14 days
2. Connect to Envoy via Zapier (takes 8 minutes if you're slow)
3. Set your first rule (start with "All standing desk requests need approval")
4. Watch your team actually follow a process for once
Or book a 15-minute demo if you want to see how other companies escaped approval chaos. Either way, stop letting desk logistics suck up your day.
Integrate with Envoy for Desks 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.
Learn More
Best Approval Workflows for Envoy for Desks
Suggested workflows (and their Zapier components) for Envoy for Desks
Create approval request for new desks
When a new desk is created in Envoy, this integration initiates an approval request in ApproveThis to ensure proper validation of workspace allocations. *Note: Customize approval criteria in ApproveThis as needed.*
Zapier Components

Trigger
New Desk
Triggers when a new desk is created or imported.
Action
Create Request
Creates a new request, probably with input from previous steps.
Check in reservation on approved requests
When a request is approved or denied in ApproveThis, this integration automatically checks in the corresponding desk reservation in Envoy. *Note: Verify correspondence between approval outcomes and reservation details.*
Zapier Components
Trigger
A Request Is Approved/Denied
Triggers when a request is approved or denied.

Action
Check-In Reservation
Check in to an existing desk reservation.
Create approval request for new reservations
When a new desk reservation is booked in Envoy, this automation sends an approval request in ApproveThis to validate the reservation before confirmation. *Note: Ensure reservation details are accurately mapped.*
Zapier Components

Trigger
New Reservation
Triggers when a new desk is booked.
Action
Create Request
Creates a new request, probably with input from previous steps.
Cancel reservation on new approval requests
When a new approval request is initiated in ApproveThis, this integration cancels the related desk reservation in Envoy to prevent resource conflicts. *Note: Confirm cancellation criteria align with your workflow.*
Zapier Components
Trigger
New Request
Triggers when a new approval request workflow is initiated.

Action
Cancel Reservation
Cancel an upcoming desk reservation.
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