Why Pair Physical Security with Approval Automation?
Let’s get real: approval processes suck when they’re manual. Chasing down signatures for access permissions? Forgetting to revoke contractor keys? Spending hours cross-referencing spreadsheets to see who approved what? That’s why pairing ApproveThis (approval workflows) with Nexkey (access control) isn’t just smart – it’s borderline survival mode for scaling companies.
Here’s the deal: Nexkey handles the physical side of access – locks, key sharing, group permissions. ApproveThis owns the digital paperwork – routing requests, getting sign-offs, enforcing rules. Together, they turn “Hey, can Bob get access to the server room?” into a 30-second process that even Bob’s manager can handle between coffee sips.
Business Benefits That Actually Matter
This integration isn’t about flashy tech. It solves three concrete problems for mid-sized companies:
- No more “Who approved this?” chaos: Every Nexkey access event ties directly to an audit trail in ApproveThis.
- Stop overpaying for software seats: Approvers only need ApproveThis access – no extra Nexkey licenses required for external partners.
Take a manufacturing plant. Their facilities team uses Nexkey to manage 200+ doors. With ApproveThis, when a vendor requests after-hours access, it routes to the plant manager and safety lead simultaneously. Approval? Nexkey grants temporary access. Denial? Auto-email explains why. No spreadsheets, no missed SLAs.
Real Use Cases (That Don’t Sound Like Corporate BS)
1. “Why is there a plumber in the CFO’s office?”
The Setup: Nexkey detects a key share on an executive suite lock → ApproveThis requires Facilities + Security approval before access is granted.
Who Cares: Property management firms. Imagine a high-rise where tenants can’t just hand out master keys. Every temporary access request gets vetted without property managers playing middleman.
ApproveThis Bonus: Use approval thresholds – requests under $500 (like a pre-approved vendor) get auto-approved. Emergency? Bypass with escalation rules.
2. “The server room door is wide open... again.”
The Fix: ApproveThis receives IT access request → Once approved, Zapier triggers Nexkey to unlock specific doors during set hours.
Life Saver For: Healthcare IT teams. New dev needs server access? Approval requires both CTO and compliance sign-off. Approved? Nexkey grants Thursday 2-4PM access only. No more sticky notes with door codes.
3. “Contractor left last week but still has access.”
The Flow: ApproveThis marks project as complete → Nexkey auto-revokes all associated keys.
Game Changer For: Construction firms. When a subcontractor’s approval expires, their keys die same day. No more manual clean-up or security walkthroughs.
4. “New hire starts tomorrow. Do they have building access?”
The Magic: HR submits onboarding approval in ApproveThis → Once signed off, Nexkey adds employee to “Office East” and “Parking” groups.
HR Teams Rejoice: Especially in retail chains. Approve regional manager → auto-grant access to all stores in their territory. No more IT tickets for access updates.
Setting This Up Without Losing Your Mind
If you can make a Zoom call, you can build this integration. Here’s the 30,000-foot view:
- Create Zapier account (they’re the middleman here)
- Choose trigger: “New Key Share in Nexkey” or “Approval Completed in ApproveThis”
- Add action: “Create Approval Request” or “Unlock Door/Revoke Key”
- Test with one door/approval type first (protip: use the CEO’s office as your test zone – keeps everyone motivated)
Need granular control? Layer in ApproveThis’ conditional logic. Example: Key shares during business hours get fast-tracked. After 5PM? Require VP approval.
Which Teams Get the Biggest Win?
Facilities Managers
Stop being the “door police.” Set rules like:
“All storage room requests need custodial supervisor approval if >$5k equipment inside.”
Auto-revoke keys during inventory weeks. Track which approvers drag their feet (looking at you, accounting).
IT Directors
Compliance just got easier. Now:
- SOC2 audits show exact approval chains for server room access
- Terminated employees lose building access before HR finishes exit paperwork
Operations Leaders
Scale without chaos. A 50-person startup growing to 500? ApproveThis+Nexkey means:
- New office locations get copy/pasted approval rules
- Mergers don’t turn into a keycard nightmare
Why This Isn’t Just Another Integration
Most workflow tools stop at digital approvals. ApproveThis + Nexkey bridges the physical gap. We’re talking:
- Auto-expiring approvals: Grant a vendor 48-hour access – no manual revocation
- Location-aware rules: Require higher approvals for high-risk zones
- Real-time denials: Reject a key request? Nexkey blocks it before the person reaches the door
It’s like giving every manager an invisible security guard who actually reads the policy manual.
No, Really – How Hard Is This?
If you’re using Nexkey, you’ve already got the hardware. ApproveThis plugs in via Zapier – no devs required. Pricing starts at “less than your monthly door repair budget.”
And remember: Approvers don’t need Nexkey logins. Client needs warehouse access? They approve via email. Your Nexkey admin still controls actual access rights.
Bottom Line: Approval Shouldn’t Be the Bottleneck
Physical security meets approval automation isn’t some futuristic concept. With Nexkey handling the doors and ApproveThis managing the paperwork, you’re basically giving your ops team a time machine.
Ready to stop babysitting access requests? Register for ApproveThis or book a 15-minute demo. We’ll show how to make “Who approved that?” questions disappear.
Integrate with Nexkey Integration and get 90 days of ApproveThis for free.
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Best Approval Workflows for Nexkey
Suggested workflows (and their Zapier components) for Nexkey
Create approval requests for new key share events
When a key share event occurs on a Nexkey lock, this integration initiates an approval process in ApproveThis. It creates a new approval request to verify the key share before completion. *Note: Ensure locks are configured properly for key share tracking.*
Zapier Components

Trigger
Key Share on Lock
Triggers when a key share takes place on specified lock.
Action
Create Request
Creates a new request, probably with input from previous steps.
Perform unlock for new approval requests
When a new approval request is received in ApproveThis, this integration triggers an unlock action in Nexkey for timely access control. It ensures that digital approvals lead to secure access operations. *Note: Verify controller connectivity for internet-based unlocks.*
Zapier Components
Trigger
New Request
Triggers when a new approval request workflow is initiated.

Action
Perform Unlock
Perform an unlock on target lock. Only for an Internet-connected Controller.
Revoke keys after approval completion
Once an approval process is completed in ApproveThis, this integration revokes keys in Nexkey to ensure security compliance. It helps businesses dynamically revoke access based on approval outcomes. *Note: Confirm user identity for secure key revocation.*
Zapier Components
Trigger
A Request Is Approved/Denied
Triggers when a request is approved or denied.

Action
Revoke Keys
Revoke a key from a target user.
Add group members after new approval requests
When a new approval request is received in ApproveThis, this automation adds members to a Nexkey group for team access. It streamlines the process of group updates after approvals and reduces manual onboarding tasks. *Note: Ensure group settings match approval requirements.*
Zapier Components
Trigger
New Request
Triggers when a new approval request workflow is initiated.

Action
Add Group Members
Adds members to specified group
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