When Your CRM Needs Adult Supervision
Let's be real - SugarCRM's great at tracking leads and managing customer data. But when it comes to actually getting shit approved? You're still playing email tag with legal, begging finance to review contracts, and wondering if that discount request got lost in Barry-from-accounting's vacation inbox.
ApproveThis isn't another tool to clutter your stack. It's the missing "approval layer" that plugs straight into SugarCRM via Zapier. Think of it like giving your CRM a direct line to every decision-maker - without forcing them to log into yet another system.
Why This Combo Doesn't Just Work - It Actually Solves Things
Most integrations just move data around. Ours changes how work happens. Here's the breakdown:
For the SugarCRM Die-Hards
Your sales team lives in Sugar. Legal won't touch it. ApproveThis bridges that gap:
- Auto-convert CRM records into approval requests (no copy-paste hell)
- Keep full audit trails of who approved what deal terms/discounts
- Escalate stuck requests before deals go cold
What ApproveThis Brings That Sugar Can't
We handle the messy human stuff SugarCRM wasn't built for:
- Approval chains that adapt based on deal size or risk level
- Auto-reassign tasks when approvers are OOO (no more "waiting for Barry")
- Real-time visibility without micromanaging Slack/email
Real-World Use Cases That Don't Suck
1. Deal Desk on Steroids
Scenario: Your sales team offers custom pricing in SugarCRM. Finance needs to approve anything over 15% discount. Today? It's a spreadsheet shuffle.
Fix: Auto-create ApproveThis requests when deals hit threshold → Finance approves/denies via email → SugarCRM updates automatically. Bonus: ApproveThis' calculated fields auto-flag high-risk deals.
2. Procurement That Doesn't Bottleneck
Scenario: New vendor requests in Sugar take weeks because nobody knows who signs off.
Fix: New vendor record in Sugar → ApproveThis routes to legal (contract), IT (security review), then CFO → Only approved vendors get activated. Killer feature: Conditional routing skips unnecessary steps.
3. Marketing That Moves Faster Than Legal
Scenario: Campaigns stall waiting for compliance reviews.
Fix: New campaign brief in Sugar → Auto-send to legal via ApproveThis → Comments/approvals sync back as notes. Why it works: Legal team approves via email without Sugar access.
Setting This Up Without Losing Your Mind
We kept it simple because your IT team has better things to do:
- Connect SugarCRM + ApproveThis via Zapier (15-minute setup)
- Map Sugar fields to approval request templates
- Set escalation rules ("If no response in 48hrs, notify VP")
Pro tip: Start with one high-pain process (like contract approvals), then expand. Most teams see ROI within 2 approval cycles.
Who Actually Benefits Here?
Sales Ops Teams
Stop being the approval middleman. Custom workflows ensure compliance without deal delays. Real example: One SaaS company reduced sales contract turnaround from 6 days to 11 hours.
Finance Departments
Enforce approval thresholds automatically. If a PO in Sugar exceeds $50k? Route to CFO. Under $10k? Auto-approve. Actual result: 78% fewer "urgent" approval requests.
External Partners
Client needs to sign off on project plans in Sugar? Send approvals via email - no client logins required. Key advantage: Maintain control without friction.
The Nerd Stuff You Actually Care About
No license headaches: Approvers only need email - perfect for clients/contractors. Security first: SOC 2 compliant, granular permissions. Scalability: Handles 10 or 10,000 monthly approvals.
Bottom Line: This Isn't About Tools
It's about fixing the approval black holes that make your team look slow and disorganized. The combo works because:
- Keeps teams in their preferred tools (Sugar for sales, email for execs)
- Eliminates "I thought YOU approved that?" moments
- Makes compliance actually manageable
Ready to stop herding approval cats? Get Started with ApproveThis or schedule a 15-minute demo.
Wait - What About [Specific Concern]?
"We have complex approval chains": Our conditional routing handles multi-department approvals with parallel paths and escalation rules.
"We need audit trails": Every decision is logged with timestamps, comments, and approver details - exports directly to Sugar.
"Our legal team hates new tech": They approve/reject via email. Seriously. No logins, no training.
Integrate with SugarCRM 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 SugarCRM
Suggested workflows (and their Zapier components) for SugarCRM
Create SugarCRM records for new approval requests in ApproveThis
Handle your approval processes seamlessly by creating new records in SugarCRM whenever a new approval request is initiated in ApproveThis. This ensures that all necessary data is captured and actioned efficiently, keeping your CRM updated with the latest request information and facilitating decision-making.
Zapier Components
Trigger
New Request
Triggers when a new approval request workflow is initiated.

Action
Create Record
Creates a new record in any module you specify (Leads, Contacts, Tasks, etc.).
Initiate ApproveThis approval requests for new SugarCRM records
Streamline your approval process by automatically creating a new approval request in ApproveThis whenever a new record is added in SugarCRM. This integration keeps your team's approval workflow running smoothly by ensuring all new CRM data undergoes the necessary review and authorization processes.
Zapier Components

Trigger
New Record
Triggers when a new record is added to a module you specify (Leads, Contacts, Tasks, etc.).
Action
Create Request
Creates a new request, probably with input from previous steps.
Update SugarCRM records when approval statuses change in ApproveThis
Ensure that your CRM reflects the latest approval decisions by automatically updating related records in SugarCRM whenever an approval request is either approved or denied in ApproveThis. This keeps your data accurate and up-to-date, facilitating informed business decisions based on the latest approval statuses.
Zapier Components
Trigger
A Request Is Approved/Denied
Triggers when a request is approved or denied.

Action
Update Record
Updates an existing record in any module you specify (Leads, Contacts, Tasks, etc.).
You'll ❤️ these other ApproveThis integrations
-
RiskAdvisor
Published: April 17, 2025RiskAdvisor helps agents connect their clients with the right insurance
-
Brillium
Published: April 17, 2025A powerful assessment platform for creating and delivering exams, quizzes, certifications, and surveys across desktop and mobile platforms. Easy-to-use authoring, detailed reporting, and built-in integration with leading learning and talent management platforms.
-
roomvu
Published: April 17, 2025Branded Real Estate Videos Localized to Your Market