ApproveThis manages your GitHub Integration approvals.

When Approval Meets Code

Let’s cut through the jargon: approvals suck. Code reviews suck worse. But what if you could make both processes feel less like bureaucratic speed bumps and more like… well, actual work? That’s where connecting ApproveThis with GitHub via Zapier comes in. It’s not about replacing your dev team’s favorite tools – it’s about giving them guardrails that don’t kill momentum.

Why This Combo Isn’t Just Another Integration

GitHub’s where code lives. ApproveThis is where decisions get made without endless Slack threads. Together? They handle the two biggest bottlenecks in software teams: getting eyes on code and getting sign-off without chasing people down.

Here’s the kicker: ApproveThis approvers don’t need GitHub licenses. Your client’s CTO can greenlight a production push from their Gmail. Your compliance team can vet security updates without logging into yet another platform. And your devs? They stay in their flow state.

Real Shit You Can Automate

Example 1: A mid-sized SaaS company uses the GitHub + ApproveThis zap to route all new issues tagged “security” through legal review. If approved, the issue auto-assigns to a senior dev. If denied, it gets tagged “won’t fix” with pre-written compliance rationale. No manual handoffs.

Example 2: An e-commerce platform ties ApproveThis’ calculated fields to GitHub pull requests. Any code change impacting checkout processing over $X in transaction volume requires CFO approval. Because sometimes devs shouldn’t decide what “production-critical” means.

Three Ways This Stack Actually Gets Used

1. From GitHub Issue to Approved Action Item

New bug report? Feature request? Zapier triggers an ApproveThis workflow that:

• Routes to engineering lead based on issue labels
• Auto-denies low-priority requests after 48hrs (thanks, approval thresholds)
• Updates GitHub status when resolved

Who cares: Project managers who hate status meetings. Support teams tired of “when will this get fixed?” emails.

2. Pull Requests That Don’t Die in Committee

Set ApproveThis to create GitHub pull requests only after:

• Code passes security scans (auto-approved)
• UX lead signs off on interface changes
• Product owner verifies it aligns with sprint goals

Who cares: Dev leads who want to enforce review standards without being the bottleneck. Startups where “move fast” can’t mean “break things.”

3. The Feedback Loop That Actually Closes

When ApproveThis resolves a request (approved or denied), Zapier auto-updates GitHub issues with:

- Decision rationale
- Next steps
- Post-approval tasks assigned

Who cares: Remote teams across time zones. Auditors who need paper trails. Anyone who’s ever screamed “WHY WAS THIS REJECTED?!”

Setting This Up Without Losing Your Mind

1. Create a Zapier account (free tier works)
2. Connect GitHub → ApproveThis
3. Pick your trigger (new issue, PR, etc.)
4. Map critical fields: issue labels → approval type, submitter → requester
5. Test with a $0 budget test issue

Pro tip: Use ApproveThis’ calculated fields to auto-route based on issue metadata. High severity label? Escalate to VP Eng. “Legal review” tag? Add your GC as approver.

Who Actually Benefits Here?

Dev Teams That Ship

ApproveThis’ real-time tracking means no more digging through GitHub comments to see who’s blocking a release. Vacation delegation stops PRs from rotting because someone’s at DEF CON.

Non-Tech Stakeholders Who Need Control

Your finance team gets emailed approval requests for infrastructure spend tied to new features. They click “approve” → PR merges. They click “deny” → issue gets “budget hold” label. No Jira login required.

Compliance Nerds

Every approved/denied decision in ApproveThis timestamps and records the why. GitHub issues update automatically with this paper trail. Auditors stop bothering you. Sleep better.

The Unsexy Features You’ll Learn to Love

- Approval thresholds: Auto-approve minor bug fixes under 2hrs estimated dev time
- Conditional routing: Send all API-related PRs to your architect, skip junior reviews
- Email approvals: Let external contractors approve via Gmail without GitHub access
- Auto-escalation: If a critical issue isn’t approved in 4hrs, notify the CTO

When to Avoid This Integration

This isn’t a magic bullet. If your team:

- Doesn’t use GitHub’s labeling/system
- Has approval processes changing weekly
- Prefers chaotic “just @ me” decision-making
...maybe stick to spreadsheets and hope.

Bottom Line

ApproveThis + GitHub via Zapier is for teams that treat approvals as part of the development process – not an annoying afterthought. It’s about enforcing just enough process to prevent disasters, without slowing down the people building things.

Ready to stop herding cats? Get started with ApproveThis or schedule a 15-minute demo. No sales jargon – just show you how to approve a GitHub PR from your inbox.