ApproveThis manages your ManicTime Cloud Integration approvals.

Two Systems, One Competitive Edge

When time tracking meets approval automation, businesses gain something rare: complete visibility into productivity and control over operational decisions. ManicTime Cloud's automatic activity logging reveals exactly where time gets spent, while ApproveThis ensures every consequential decision follows proper channels. Together through Zapier, they create closed-loop accountability that transforms raw data into auditable business processes.

Consulting firms automatically flag client-billable hours for manager review. Manufacturing teams validate machine downtime classifications before ERP updates. Healthcare administrators oversee patient care time allocations. The integration solves a universal problem: bridging the gap between observed work patterns and authorized actions.

Why This Integration Works

ManicTime Cloud tracks computer activity with surgical precision - applications used, documents opened, and website visits. But raw activity data isn't the same as approved work records. ApproveThis adds governance layers through:

Decision Guardrails

Configure approval rules that trigger when ManicTime tags meet specific criteria. Example: Require CFO sign-off for any "Client Entertainment" tag exceeding 2 hours/day.

Cross-Team Alignment

Approvers receive requests via email without needing ManicTime licenses - critical when external stakeholders or executives need to validate time classifications.

Audit-Proof Records

Every approved/denied request in ApproveThis timestamps who authorized what activity classification, creating legal-grade documentation.

Real-World Impact Across Industries

Law Firms: Matter-Centric Time Validation

When paralegals tag document review time to specific cases in ManicTime, ApproveThis routes hour allocations to responsible attorneys. Partners automatically get requests if weekly case hours exceed retainers. Outcome: 32% reduction in client billing disputes for early adopters.

IT Managed Services: Change Control

Technicians tagging server maintenance in ManicTime trigger approval requests to client POCs through ApproveThis. Clients receive change details via email, approve/reject directly, maintaining SLAs without login hassles.

Architecture Firms: Project Hygiene

Auto-flag design revisions exceeding budgeted hours. When an architect's "Design Revisions" tag hits 80% of allocated time, ApproveThis notifies project managers to approve overtime or scope adjustments.

Implementation Made Simple

Connect ManicTime Cloud and ApproveThis in under 15 minutes using Zapier:

1. Create Zapier account (if new to Zapier)
2. In Zapier, choose ManicTime Cloud as trigger app
3. Select "New Tag Created" event
4. Connect ApproveThis as action app
5. Map tag details to approval request fields
6. Test with sample tag creation

Pro Tip: Use ApproveThis' Calculated Fields to auto-calculate cost impacts based on tagged hours before routing for approval.

Beyond Basic Tag Approvals

While tag governance is the primary use case, combined platform capabilities enable advanced workflows:

Overtime Escalation

Trigger approval requests when ManicTime detects after-hours work patterns. ApproveThis routes to direct managers first, then HR if exceeding monthly thresholds.

Project Continuance

Auto-pause projects when tagged hours hit budget caps until ApproveThis obtains financial controller sign-off for overages.

Compliance Audits

Generate approval trails for SOC 2 compliance by validating time tagged to security protocols versus actual activity logs.

Department-Specific Benefits

Finance Teams

Receive automatic approval requests for time tagged to capital projects exceeding forecasted hours. Use Approval Thresholds to auto-approve small variances while flagging major deviations.

Operations Managers

Validate equipment downtime classifications before syncing to maintenance systems. ApproveThis' Vacation Delegation ensures approvals never stall during plant manager absences.

HR Leadership

Monitor approval patterns for time-off tags to identify departments with chronic overtime issues. ApproveThis' audit logs provide documented evidence for workforce planning.

Why Competitors Can't Match This

Alternative solutions either lack ManicTime's passive tracking accuracy or ApproveThis' granular approval controls. Spreadsheet-based approvals create version chaos. Native time apps' approval features can't handle multi-team scenarios without expensive seat licenses.

The Zapier integration uniquely combines:

• Zero-engagement tracking (ManicTime)
• External approver access (ApproveThis)
• Custom escalation paths

Getting Started

Begin with a pilot workflow:

1. Identify high-risk time classification (e.g., client-billable hours)
2. Set up tag-based approval trigger in Zapier
3. Configure 2-step approval chain in ApproveThis
4. Run parallel process for 1 payroll cycle
5. Analyze approval latency vs. error reduction

Most teams see ROI within 30 days through reduced billing disputes and faster client approvals.

The Future of Governed Productivity

As remote work fragments operational visibility, the ManicTime-ApproveThis integration offers a blueprint for controlled autonomy. Employees work without intrusive surveillance, managers approve based on accurate data, and executives gain macro insights from approval patterns.

Ready to transform time tracking from passive observation to active governance? Start your ApproveThis trial or schedule a custom demo to see real-time tag approvals in action.