ApproveThis manages your ShippyPro Integration approvals.

Why E-Commerce Teams Are Combining These Tools

Let’s cut to the chase: shipping logistics is where good customer experiences go to die. Between last-minute rush orders, carrier selection headaches, and return authorization bottlenecks, most operations teams are stuck playing whack-a-mole instead of scaling their business. That’s why smart companies are connecting ApproveThis (the approval automation tool) with ShippyPro (the shipping management platform) using Zapier. It’s not about replacing your existing tools – it’s about making them actually talk to each other.

Here’s the kicker: ShippyPro handles the physical movement of packages, while ApproveThis handles the decision-making about how those packages move. Together, they turn “Hey, should we upgrade this shipping method?” from a 3-day email chain into a 3-minute automated process.

What Each Tool Does (And Where They Overlap)

ShippyPro is your logistics control tower. It’s great at:

• Printing labels across 200+ carriers
• Tracking shipments in real time
• Managing returns through branded portals

ApproveThis is the decision engine. It specializes in:

• Routing requests to the right people
• Enforcing approval policies automatically
• Keeping an audit trail of every decision

The magic happens when ShippyPro’s shipping events (new orders, tracking updates, returns) automatically trigger approval workflows in ApproveThis – no manual data entry required.

Real-World Use Cases That Actually Matter

1. Preventing “Rush Order” Chaos

Scenario: A VIP customer places a $5,000 order at 4:55 PM Friday. Your warehouse team needs to know immediately whether to pay for Saturday delivery.

The Fix: New ShippyPro orders → ApproveThis conditional approval based on order value. How it works:

- Orders under $1k: Auto-approved for standard shipping
- $1k-$5k: Alert warehouse manager via SMS
- $5k+: Require CFO approval (with profit margin data attached)

Who cares: DTC brands with high-value SKUs (luxury goods, B2B equipment) that can’t afford shipping mistakes.

2. Killing Carrier Selection Debates

Scenario: Your team spends hours weekly arguing whether to use UPS Ground or FedEx SmartPost for 5lb packages going to Texas.

The Fix: ApproveThis’ calculated fields + ShippyPro rate shopping. Set rules like:

“If delivery window >3 days AND shipping cost exceeds 8% of order value → Require logistics manager approval to proceed.”

Who cares: 3PLs and high-volume sellers where small per-package savings compound fast.

3. Returns That Don’t Annoy Everyone

Scenario: Customer requests a return for a $200 coat. Your policy requires manager approval for non-defective returns over $150.

The Fix: ShippyPro return portal submission → ApproveThis workflow that:

- Checks reason code (defective vs. changed mind)
- Pulls original order value
- Routes to CS lead if over threshold
- Auto-approves/denies based on rules

Who cares: Apparel companies and anyone with restocking fee policies.

Setup That Takes Less Time Than Your Coffee Break

1. Create a Zapier account (free tier works)
2. Connect ShippyPro → Choose trigger (new order, return, etc.)
3. Connect ApproveThis → Set approval rules
4. Test with a $5 test order

Pro tip: Start with one workflow (like high-value order approvals) before automating everything. You’re not Amazon – yet.

Why Your Finance Team Will Actually Smile

ApproveThis’ approval thresholds mean your accounting folks stop getting CC’d on every $20 FedEx upgrade. Instead:

- Automatic 2-day shipping caps per customer tier
- Budget alerts when monthly shipping spend hits 75%
- Audit trails for every exception approval

Translation: Fewer spreadsheet emergencies at month-end close.

The Hidden Benefit Nobody Talks About

With ApproveThis, your external partners (3PLs, drop shippers) can approve/deny shipping requests without needing ShippyPro logins. They just reply to an email. Fewer logins = fewer security headaches + faster decisions.

When Not to Use This Integration

If you’re shipping 10 orders/month manually, keep doing that. This is for companies where:

- Shipping costs are a top 3 expense
- You have multiple approvers across locations
- “Where’s my order?” calls are drowning support

Bottom Line: Approval Automation Isn’t Optional Anymore

E-commerce moves at customer speed, not your internal process speed. By connecting ShippyPro and ApproveThis, you’re not just automating approvals – you’re eliminating the decision latency that kills margins and customer trust.

Ready to stop being the bottleneck? Get your ApproveThis account or schedule a 15-minute demo. We’ll even help you build your first ShippyPro integration – no sales jargon, just logistics fixes that work.