ApproveThis manages your Textlocal Integration approvals.

When Bureaucracy Meets Text Messaging

Let’s get real – approval processes suck. They’re the traffic jam of business operations. But what if you could turn that gridlock into a high-speed pass lane using two tools you already need? ApproveThis handles the red tape. Textlocal delivers the instant communication. Connect them through Zapier, and suddenly you’re solving two universal headaches:

• Approval requests that die in email inboxes
• Critical messages that get sent without oversight

What Each Tool Does Best

ApproveThis: Your Approval War Room

This isn’t another project management tool trying to do approvals as an afterthought. ApproveThis is built specifically for decision-making chains. Custom workflows that actually make sense. Real-time tracking that doesn’t require 15 follow-up emails. And the kicker? Approvers don’t need logins for your other systems – huge when dealing with clients or contractors.

Textlocal: SMS Without the BS

Textlocal isn’t your grandma’s group text. We’re talking bulk messaging with teeth – send surveys, tickets, or documents via SMS. Delivery receipts. Two-way inboxes. Perfect for companies that need to communicate at scale but hate getting ghosted by their own customers.

Why This Combo Hits Different

Most Zapier integrations just shuffle data between apps. This one actually changes how teams operate:

For leadership: Finally see where approvals get stuck, while ensuring critical comms get human review before blasting to 10K customers.

For ops teams: Stop being the messenger between approvers and the SMS platform. Set it once, then watch approvals and texts handle themselves.

Bonus win: External approvers (clients, partners) can OK things via email/SMS without needing your Textlocal credentials. Security teams love this. Auditors too.

Real-World Use Cases That Don’t Feel Like Corporate Fluff

1. Emergency Approval Texts for Operations Teams

Picture this: Your warehouse manager needs same-day approval for overtime during peak season. The CFO is stuck in back-to-backs. With ApproveThis + Textlocal:

- Request gets created in ApproveThis
- Zapier fires SMS to CFO’s personal phone via Textlocal
- CFO replies “Approve” from their morning coffee line
- Warehouse gets auto-email confirmation before the foam settles on their latte

No app logins. No “I didn’t see the email.” Just done.

2. Marketing Campaigns That Don’t Go Off the Rails

Every marketer’s nightmare: Sending a promo SMS to 50K numbers… with a typo. Now imagine this flow:

1. Copywriter finishes draft in Textlocal
2. Zapier creates approval request in ApproveThis
3. Legal lead + CMO get SMS preview with link to full message
4. Both approve via email reply
5. Campaign sends automatically at scheduled time

Bonus: ApproveThis’ version control keeps everyone on the same draft. No more “I approved version 3, not 4!”

3. Field Service Coordination That Actually Works

HVAC company with 200 technicians. Customer texts “AC leaking” to your Textlocal number. Zapier triggers:

- Creates approval request for $250 emergency service fee
- Customer gets SMS payment link upon approval
- Tech auto-dispatched when payment clears

All while your billing team tracks everything in ApproveThis’ dashboard. No more lost texts or unauthorized discounts.

How to Set This Up Without Losing Your Mind

Zapier’s the glue here. Basic flow:

1. Pick your trigger: Start in either app (new Textlocal message needs approval, or approved request needs SMS)
2. Map critical fields: Approval reason → SMS body, sender info → approver list
3. Set up emergency brakes: Use ApproveThis’ approval thresholds to auto-approve small amounts, but require human eyes on big spends
4. Test with 2 phones: Your cell and your most annoying colleague’s. Better to fail now than with 10K customers.

Pro tip: Use ApproveThis’ calculated fields to auto-flag requests needing legal review based on SMS content keywords.

Which Teams Steal All the Credit?

HR & Talent Acquisition

Job offers via SMS sound sketchy until you do it right. ApproveThis ensures comp packages get proper sign-off before texts go out. New hires get offer letters as SMS attachments they can sign digitally. No more “The CEO approved WHAT salary?!”

Procurement & Inventory

When supplier prices change, procurement can:
1. Get SMS alerts through Textlocal
2. Kick off emergency approval workflows
3. Lock new pricing once approved
All before the morning standup. Vendor comms stay logged in Textlocal, approvals tracked in ApproveThis. Auditors wet their pants with joy.

Customer Support Escalations

Support rep gets refund request over SMS. Instead of guessing policy:
- Creates approval with customer’s purchase history
- Manager approves partial refund via email
- Customer gets SMS confirmation with payment ETA
CSAT scores jump because you’re not waiting on email threads.

The Quietly Powerful Features You’ll Abuse

Beyond the basics, this combo unlocks:

Approval jailbreaking: Textlocal’s two-way SMS turns any phone into an approval device. Field techs approve parts orders via text. Contractors confirm deliverables from flip phones. Grandpa-style clients actually respond.

Compliance armor: Every approved SMS campaign leaves an audit trail – who approved what, when, and under which policy version. GDPR/CCPA teams sleep better.

Escalation overrides: If approvers don’t reply to SMS, ApproveThis bumps it up the chain automatically. No more “But I was on vacation!” excuses.

Common Mistakes (Save Yourself the Rage)

⚠️ Don’t: Blast every approval request via SMS. Set thresholds – only ping phones for urgent/high-value items.
✅ Do: Use Textlocal’s scheduling with ApproveThis’ SLAs. Need approval by 3PM? Schedule reminder texts at 2:45.
⚠️ Don’t: Let everyone create approval Zaps. Centralize templates so Karen in accounting doesn’t build a Frankenstein workflow.
✅ Do: Combine ApproveThis groups with Textlocal contact lists. Finance team gets SMS alerts for budget approvals, ops gets shipping change requests.

How to Start Without Getting Fired

1. Grab a Textlocal account if you don’t have one
2. Start an ApproveThis trial
3. Build one time-saving Zap:
  - Try the “Approve SMS campaigns before sending” template
  - Or the “Emergency budget approvals via SMS” flow
4. Run a Friday afternoon test with your team
5. Come Monday, watch how many fewer panicked Slack DMs you get

Still reading? That’s either impressive or concerning. Point is – approvals and SMS don’t have to be soul-crushing. Connect these two through Zapier, and you might actually make process management… tolerable.