Why This Integration Isn't Just Another Zap
Let's cut through the BS: most "integrations" are just fancy notification systems. But when you connect ApproveThis (the approval muscle) with Escala (your CRM engine) through Zapier, you're building an actual nervous system for decision-making.
We're talking about turning Escala's contact data into actionable approval triggers, then feeding approved decisions back to fuel smarter campaigns. No more spreadsheet ping-pong between sales ops and finance. No more "Wait, did marketing ever approve that vendor list?"
Where This Combo Hits Different
Mid-size companies (50-5k employees) get squeezed the hardest by approval chaos. You're big enough to need real process, but small enough that "enterprise solutions" feel like wearing a tuxedo to a startup pitch. Here's where this integration actually moves needles:
Killing Shadow Approvals
Your sales team's using Escala contacts? Great. But when they need Legal to sign off on a custom proposal, that email thread with 12 forwards isn't cutting it. Connect Escala contact updates to ApproveThis workflows and suddenly every deal-related approval lives where the deal actually happens.
Budget Control That Doesn't Slow Deals
Marketing wants to blast a new campaign. Instead of Slack-begging for budget approval, set Escala campaign triggers to kick off ApproveThis workflows with auto-approval thresholds. Under $5k? Auto-greenlight. Over? Route to CMO with deal context pulled straight from Escala records.
Real-World Use Cases That Don't Suck
Let's get specific. These aren't theoretical "could be cool" scenarios - these are fixes for actual pain points we've seen in companies using both platforms:
The Compliance Two-Step
Healthcare tech company (350 employees) uses Escala for patient outreach tracking. Every new campaign requires legal review. Old way: PDF attachments in emails that get buried. New flow:
- Escala campaign draft saved → triggers ApproveThis workflow
- Legal team gets email with campaign details + compliance checklist
- Approval adds audit trail directly to Escala campaign notes
Result: 62% faster compliance reviews, all tracked where the work happens.
Deal Desk on Autopilot
Enterprise SaaS company (1,200 employees) handles complex contracts. Their Zapier setup:
- Escala opportunity reaches $50k+ → ApproveThis pings deal desk
- Approved contracts auto-update Escala with terms
- Denied deals trigger Escala tasks for sales follow-up
Bonus: Approvers don't need Escala licenses. Just email access. (Big win when working with external partners.)
Setting This Up Without Losing Your Mind
We'll keep this simple because nobody needs another 20-step tutorial:
1. The Core Connection
Create your Zapier account if you don't have one (takes 2 minutes). Connect Escala and ApproveThis as apps. Pro tip: Name your Zaps clearly - "Escala Contacts → Approval Requests" beats "Zap #47".
2. Pick Your Pain Point
Start with one trigger that annoys multiple teams. Example: When Escala contacts hit "High Value" status, require manager approval before sales engagement. Use ApproveThis' calculated fields to pull deal size from Escala for auto-approval thresholds.
3. Test Like You Mean It
Run 3-5 test approvals with real users. Check that Escala data appears correctly in ApproveThis requests. Pro tip: Use ApproveThis' vacation delegation feature so approvers out sick don't bottleneck tests.
Department-Specific Wins
Sales Ops Teams
Stop being the approval police. Set up approval chains where:
- Discounts over 15% auto-route to regional directors
- Custom contract terms trigger legal review
- New partner onboarding requires compliance checks
All tied to Escala deal stages with zero manual data entry.
Marketing Teams
Launch campaigns faster without rogue spending:
- Budget increases auto-escalate based on Escala pipeline data
- New vendor contracts require dual approval
- Event sponsorships get cross-department sign-off
Finance Teams
Finally get visibility into operational approvals:
- PO approvals tied to Escala project budgets
- Contract renewals auto-flag for review 90 days out
- Expense reports cross-checked against Escala client meetings
Why This Isn't Just Another To-Do List
ApproveThis brings specific firepower to Escala workflows that generic tools don't:
Approval Thresholds That Actually Work
Set dollar limits where:
- Under $1k → auto-approved
- $1k-$5k → team lead approval
- Over $5k → CFO review
All pulling real-time data from Escala records.
Delegate Without Losing Control
When approvers are OOO, ApproveThis auto-reassigns tasks while keeping Escala updated. No more "Waiting on Jane's backup" statuses.
Bottom Line
If your teams live in Escala but keep chasing approvals elsewhere, you're bleeding time and compliance. This integration isn't about flashy features - it's about eliminating the approval scavenger hunts that kill mid-size company agility.
Next step: Grab an ApproveThis trial, connect it to Escala via Zapier, and automate one approval process this week. Not sure where to start? Book a 15-minute demo and we'll show you the highest-impact use case for your industry.
Integrate with Escala 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 Escala
Suggested workflows (and their Zapier components) for Escala
Create new Escala contacts for received approval requests
Streamline your contact management by automatically creating new contacts in Escala whenever a new approval request is initiated with ApproveThis. Save time by ensuring all stakeholders are recorded promptly.
Zapier Components
Trigger
New Request
Triggers when a new approval request workflow is initiated.

Action
Create Contact
Creates a new contact in Escala if the contact does not already exist based on email address.
Initiate approval request upon new contact creation in Escala
Ensure every new contact creation triggers an approval process. This automation helps maintain oversight and approval on each new contact added to Escala, enhancing the workflow's transparency and accountability.
Zapier Components

Trigger
Contact Created
Triggers when a new contact is created.
Action
Create Request
Creates a new request, probably with input from previous steps.
Update Escala contacts when requests are approved or denied
Keep your Escala contact details up to date by automatically updating them whenever an approval request is completed in ApproveThis. This ensures contact information reflects the current status and decisions efficiently.
Zapier Components
Trigger
A Request Is Approved/Denied
Triggers when a request is approved or denied.

Action
Create or Update Contact
Creates a new contact or updates an existing contact based on email address.
Start approval request for removed contacts in Escala
Ensure compliance and data integrity by initiating an approval process whenever a contact is removed from Escala. This automation helps prevent unauthorized data deletion and maintains proper records.
Zapier Components

Trigger
Contact Removed
Triggers when a contact is removed.
Action
Create Request
Creates a new request, probably with input from previous steps.
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