ApproveThis manages your Grid approvals.

When Spreadsheets Meet Structured Approvals

Grid has become the go-to solution for teams that live in spreadsheets but need more flexibility – from tracking project budgets to managing client onboarding lists. But when those spreadsheets drive critical business decisions, manual approval processes create bottlenecks. Emails get lost, stakeholders miss updates, and version control becomes a nightmare.

This is where ApproveThis changes the game. By connecting Grid’s data organization capabilities with ApproveThis’ structured approval workflows through Zapier, businesses gain an ironclad system for vetting changes, enforcing compliance, and accelerating decisions – all while keeping teams in the tools they already use.

How It Works: Approval Automation Without the Headache

The integration uses Zapier to create a two-way bridge between Grid and ApproveThis. Data changes in Grid can trigger approval workflows, and approval outcomes automatically update your spreadsheets. What makes this powerful is the elimination of manual handoffs – no more copying/pasting data between systems or chasing down sign-offs in messy email threads.

Key Technical Advantages

ApproveThis handles complex approval logic that spreadsheets alone can’t manage:

• Conditional Routing: Send high-value requests to executives while auto-approving smaller transactions
• Cross-Team Collaboration: External partners approve directly via email without needing Grid access

Meanwhile, Grid becomes your centralized source of truth, tracking every approval’s status, historical data, and related documents.

Real-World Use Cases (Beyond Theory)

Let’s break down two core integrations with examples that show tangible business impact:

1. Budget Adjustments Require Executive Sign-Off

Scenario: A marketing agency uses Grid to track client campaign budgets. When a project manager exceeds their discretionary spending limit:

1. New row added in Grid triggers ApproveThis workflow
2. Finance lead + client account director receive approval request
3. Approval outcome auto-updates Grid with decision notes

Result: Finance teams prevent overspending while account teams maintain client trust through transparent budgeting.

2. Vendor Onboarding with Compliance Checks

Scenario: A manufacturing company uses Grid to manage supplier qualifications. New vendor submissions trigger:

1. Legal review of contract terms
2. Procurement team assessment of pricing
3. Automated Grid update upon final approval

Result: 60% faster vendor onboarding while maintaining strict compliance standards.

Department-Specific Benefits

Finance Teams: Control Without Micromanagement

ApproveThis’ approval thresholds allow automatic approval of routine expenses under $500 while flagging larger transactions for review. When integrated with Grid:

• Real-time budget tracking with audit trails
• Quarterly close cycles shortened by 2-3 days

Operations: Scale Processes Without Adding Headcount

A logistics company uses the integration to manage fleet maintenance approvals. Mechanics submit repair requests via Grid, which route based on:

• Cost estimates
• Vehicle availability impact
• Preventive maintenance schedules

Approvers get mobile-friendly requests, reducing repair downtime by 18%.

Implementation Made Simple

Setting up the integration takes under 30 minutes for most teams:

1. Map Your Critical Data Points: Identify which Grid columns correspond to approval request fields (e.g., “Budget Amount” → “Approval Threshold”)
2. Configure Conditional Logic: Use ApproveThis’ visual builder to set rules like “Route to CFO if >$10K”
3. Test with Real-World Scenarios: Run mock approvals to ensure data flows correctly between systems

Pro Tip: Use ApproveThis’ Calculated Fields to automate complex decisions – for example, auto-approving requests where “Total Cost” ≤ “Budget Remaining” from Grid.

Why This Beats Native Solutions

While Grid offers basic commenting features, it lacks:

• Enforceable approval sequences
• Legal-grade audit trails
• Role-based access controls

ApproveThis adds this structure without forcing teams to abandon their existing Grid setups. Plus, since approvers don’t need ApproveThis licenses for basic actions, companies save $12-25/user/month compared to other platforms.

Getting Started

Ready to move beyond spreadsheet chaos? Here’s your next step:

Existing Zapier Users: Connect Grid and ApproveThis in under 10 minutes using pre-built templates.

New to Approval Automation: Book a demo to see how 150+ companies scaled processes without adding bureaucracy.

Either way, you’ll discover how combining Grid’s flexibility with ApproveThis’ structure creates approval processes that actually work at scale.