ApproveThis manages your TrackingTime Integration approvals.

Why ApproveThis + TrackingTime = Less Headaches

Let’s be real – nobody got into business to chase down approvals or babysit timesheets. Yet here we are. Combine ApproveThis’ approval automation with TrackingTime’s clock-watching superpowers through Zapier, and you’ve got a system that handles the bureaucratic grunt work so your team can actually do their jobs.

Think of it like giving your approval processes a central nervous system. TrackingTime handles the "when" and "how long" of work, while ApproveThis manages the "yes/no/go ask Karen" decisions. Connect them through Zapier, and you create workflows that:

• Auto-create tasks when approvals are needed
• Trigger reviews when time-sensitive work wraps up
• Keep client updates tied to formal sign-offs

Three Ways This Combo Saves Your Bacon

1. From Red Tape to Green Lights

Here’s the scene: Your project manager just flagged a budget overrun in TrackingTime. Normally, this would mean three meetings and a spreadsheet parade. With our integration, TrackingTime can automatically:

1. Spot the overrun
2. Trigger an ApproveThis workflow
3. Route it to the right execs based on amount

Construction firms use this to handle change orders without delaying crews. Marketing agencies prevent scope creep by requiring client approvals before logging overtime. The kicker? Approvers don’t need TrackingTime logins – they just click approve/reject in their email.

2. Approval Tasks That Actually Track

Ever approve something, then realize nobody told the team? Our first Zap template fixes that. When an ApproveThis request starts (say, for a new vendor contract), Zapier auto-creates a TrackingTime task with:

• Deadline = approval due date
• Notes = why this matters
• Assigned to = legal team

IT departments use this for compliance audits. HR teams track onboarding paperwork deadlines. The task lives in TrackingTime, but the approval magic happens through ApproveThis’ rules (think: auto-escalate if Legal sits on it for 48hrs).

3. Client Updates That Don’t Bite Back

When TrackingTime notes a client change (new contact, updated SOW), ApproveThis can demand a sign-off. Law firms use this to confirm billing rule changes. Consultants require partner approval before logging time to new projects. It’s the paper trail you hope you never need.

Who Actually Cares About This Stuff?

Project Managers: Stop being the approval middleman. Set thresholds where budget overages auto-route to finance while you keep building.

Operations Teams: Procurement requests get approved in ApproveThis while TrackingTime logs SLA clocks. Vendor late? The data’s already timestamped.

External Clients: They approve invoices/scope changes via email without getting added to your TrackingTime. No license sharing, no security nightmares.

Setting This Up Without Losing a Day

1. Grab an ApproveThis account (free trial works)
2. Connect both apps in Zapier
3. Pick a template:
  - New approval request → Create TrackingTime task
  - Task completed → Start approval
  - Client change → Demand sign-off
4. Test with a real request (try approving lunch expenses – it’s relatable)

Pro tip: Use ApproveThis’ calculated fields to auto-flag requests that need special handling. Example: If TrackingTime shows 12+ hrs on a task, require director approval.

Why This Isn’t Just Another Integration

Most approval tools make you choose between flexibility and control. ApproveThis handles conditional logic ("If >$5k, escalate to CFO") while TrackingTime nails the time/context data. Together through Zapier, they:

Prevent "Who Approved This?!" Moments: Every tracked task ties to an approval audit trail. Client disputes a bill? Pull up both the time logs and who OK’d the work.

Kill Approval Bottlenecks: Vacation delegation means out-of-office approvers don’t stall things. TrackingTime tasks show real-time status so you know when to nudge.

Fix Cross-Team Chaos: Sales approves discounts in ApproveThis, TrackingTime auto-logges implementation hours. No more "We didn’t know!" between departments.

Real-World Wins (Without Making Stuff Up)

A mid-sized web dev shop uses the integration to:

- Auto-create client approval tasks when projects hit 80% of budgeted hours
- Require CTO sign-off on any overtime before it’s logged
- Track time spent reworking client-requested changes vs original scope

Their PMs saved 7 hours/week chasing approvals. Clients stopped complaining about surprise charges. Basic stuff, but it works.

When to Not Bother With This

This isn’t magic fairy dust. If your approval process is "the founder texts everyone," keep doing that. But if you’ve got:

- Multiple departments involved
- Client/contractor approvals
- Compliance requirements
- More than 20 approval requests/month

...then letting these tools talk saves real time and risk.

Your Move

ApproveThis isn’t the only approval tool, and TrackingTime isn’t the only time tracker. But together through Zapier, they handle the messy middle ground where most companies waste hours – turning decisions into actions without dropping the ball.

Free trial links exist for a reason. Set up an ApproveThis account, connect your TrackingTime, and build one Zap. Worst case? You’ll finally know who approved that questionable expense report.