Skip to content
Zeo Route Planner Integration

ApproveThis manages your Zeo Route Planner Integration approvals.

April 17, 2025

Integration Category: Scheduling

When Route Planning Meets Approval Chaos

Let's be real - logistics teams aren't paid to chase down signatures. Yet here we are: dispatchers playing phone tag with sales managers to approve last-minute client stops, warehouse supervisors emailing CFOs for $500 overtime approvals, drivers stuck waiting because someone didn't click "approve."

Zeo Route Planner solves half the problem: it tells you where trucks should go. ApproveThis handles the other half: getting everyone to agree on why they're going there. Connect them via Zapier, and you've got a system where routes get built faster, exceptions get handled without drama, and drivers spend less time parked at 7-Eleven waiting for decisions.

Why This Combo Works (When Others Don't)

Most approval tools treat logistics like office work. ApproveThis doesn't. Need to approve a hazardous materials route at 3AM? The warehouse manager gets a text, taps approve, done. CFO out fishing? Vacation delegation automatically routes that fuel surcharge approval to their VP. Zeo's optimized routes mean nothing if the humans don't sign off - this integration makes that happen at the speed of actual business.

Key differentiator: Approvers only need ApproveThis access, not a Zeo license. Critical when dealing with external clients approving their own delivery schedules or auditors who just need to confirm compliance.

Real-World Scenarios (Not Fluffy Theory)

1. New Client Onboarding for 3PL Companies

Third-party logistics firms add routes daily for new clients. Problem? Each client has unique approval rules - some need sales director sign-off, others require safety team review for certain cargo types.

How it works:

  • Sales rep creates Zeo route with client's 100 stops
  • Zapier triggers ApproveThis workflow matching client's contract terms
  • Chemical shipment? Routes auto-flag for HAZMAT team approval
  • Approval threshold set: under $10k? Auto-approve. Over? CFO gets email/SMS

Result: New clients operational in 2 hours vs. 2 days. Drivers aren't idle while legal reviews standard contracts.

2. Retail Chain Emergency Deliveries

Big box retailer needs Saturday delivery to restock TP during a panic-buying spree. Store manager requests Zeo route with 4am ETD. Old way:

  • Email to district manager
  • Forwarded to regional ops
  • CC's finance for overtime budget approval
  • 3-hour delay minimum

Integrated way: Zeo flags "after-hours" route > ApproveThis simultaneously:

  • Pings district manager via SMS
  • Routes cost breakdown to finance (calculated fields show OT fees)
  • Both approve? Driver gets updated Zeo route before leaving warehouse

Field Service Companies: Where Minutes Cost Thousands

HVAC repair fleets using Zeo can't afford approval delays. Tech finishes job early? Could take on another client same day...if someone approves the overtime.

Integration setup:

  1. Zeo detects tech completing stop 3 hours under estimate
  2. ApproveThis auto-generates request with:
    • Calculated field: potential revenue from extra job vs. OT costs
    • Conditional routing: Dispatchers approve under $1k, else escalate
  3. Approval comes through > Zeo adds new stop automatically

Bonus: Vacation delegation means if the dispatcher's out, their backup gets the request instantly - no "permission denied" errors.

Setup That Doesn't Require an IT Degree

Zapier's the glue here. You'll need:

  1. ApproveThis account (14-day trial works)
  2. Zeo Route Planner subscription
  3. Zapier login (free tier handles basic workflows)

Critical steps:

1. New Zeo route > ApproveThis request zap:

  • Trigger: "Route Created" in Zeo
  • Action: "Create Request" in ApproveThis
  • Map Zeo's address fields to ApproveThis template
  • Set conditional logic (e.g., "If route contains 'HAZMAT', add safety team approval step")

2. ApproveThis approval > Update Zeo stop zap:

  • Trigger: "Request Approved" in ApproveThis
  • Action: "Update Stop" in Zeo
  • Map approval notes to Zeo's driver instructions

Pro tip: Use ApproveThis' calculated fields to auto-flag routes exceeding budget. Example: (Miles * $0.58) + (Driver Hours * $45) > $500 → Escalate to CFO

Who Actually Benefits? (Spoiler: Everyone)

Operations Teams: Stop babysitting approval emails. Real-time dashboards show exactly which routes are stuck waiting.

Finance: Approval thresholds auto-reject routes that blow budgets before they reach your inbox.

Sales: Close deals faster when clients can approve their own delivery schedules via ApproveThis portal (no Zeo license needed).

Drivers: Fewer "hold position" orders. Routes get approved while en route, not after reaching the destination.

Why This Isn't Just Another Integration

ApproveThis adds context to Zeo's routes that spreadsheets can't:

  • Approval chains: Safety > Operations > Finance, in order
  • Compliance papertrail: Every signature logged with timestamps
  • Dynamic adjustments: ApproveThis can modify Zeo stops mid-approval if, say, a client requests a time change

Example: Food distribution company needs USDA inspector approval for cold storage routes. Inspector gets email with temp logs attached - approves directly without needing to navigate Zeo.

No More "Who Approved This?!" Moments

ApproveThis' audit trail shows:

  • Who approved changing a Zeo route's priority
  • Time taken for each approval step
  • Comments from approvers (e.g., "Only approve if driver gets $50 hazard pay")

Critical for DOT compliance, client billing disputes, or just figuring out why a truck took that weird backroad.

Ready to Stop Being a Approval Middleman?

If your team spends more than 15 minutes daily chasing route approvals, this integration pays for itself. ApproveThis starts at $89/month, Zeo's pricing scales with fleet size.

Next steps:

Pro tip: Have your last 3 Zeo routes ready. We'll show how much faster they could've been approved.

🥳

Integrate with Zeo Route Planner 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 Zeo Route Planner

Suggested workflows (and their Zapier components) for Zeo Route Planner

Create approval request for new Zeo routes

When a new route is created in Zeo, an approval request is generated in ApproveThis to verify the route details. This integration ensures every new route is reviewed before implementation. *Note: Ensure route data is accurately mapped.*

Zapier Components

Zeo Route Planner Logo

Trigger

Route Created

Triggers when a new route is created in Zeo

Action

Create Request

Creates a new request, probably with input from previous steps.

Update Zeo stops for new approval requests

When a new approval request is received in ApproveThis, the corresponding stop in Zeo is updated to reflect the latest data. This automation keeps route planning synchronized with the approval workflow. *Note: Verify stop identifiers are consistent across systems.*

Zapier Components

Trigger

New Request

Triggers when a new approval request workflow is initiated.

Zeo Route Planner Logo

Action

Create Stop or Update Stop

Update already added pickup or drop-off stops into Zeo, ready for optimization and driver assignment.

Create approval request for completed Zeo stops

When a stop is marked complete in Zeo, an approval request is automatically generated in ApproveThis for review. This integration streamlines the verification process and enhances decision-making efficiency. *Note: Ensure stop completion details are properly mapped.*

Zapier Components

Zeo Route Planner Logo

Trigger

Stop Complete

Triggers when a Zeo stop is marked done by a driver

Action

Create Request

Creates a new request, probably with input from previous steps.