ApproveThis manages your DigitalChalk approvals.

Why Approval Workflows Belong in Your LMS (And Vice Versa)

Let's cut to the chase: if your training department still runs on "reply-all" email chains for course approvals, you're not just wasting time - you're playing Russian roulette with compliance. Enter ApproveThis and DigitalChalk, two platforms that handle very different but equally critical pieces of the corporate training puzzle.

DigitalChalk excels at delivering courses at scale. ApproveThis keeps decision-making from turning into a bureaucratic nightmare. Together? They create closed-loop automation where every training action requiring human judgment gets processed faster than a caffeine-addicted project manager at 8:59 AM.

The Nuts and Bolts of the Integration

Through Zapier, these platforms hand off data like relay runners passing a baton. DigitalChalk triggers events (course completions, registrations, grading needs), which ApproveThis converts into approval workflows. Approved decisions flow back to update DigitalChalk automatically. The kicker? Approvers only need ApproveThis access - no extra DigitalChalk seats required. Perfect for external auditors or cross-department reviews.

Real-World Use Cases That Don't Suck

1. Compliance Training That Actually Complies

Healthcare orgs and financial institutions: this one's your jam. When a nurse completes HIPAA training in DigitalChalk, ApproveThis automatically routes completion certificates to compliance officers. Calculated fields verify training hours against requirements. Thresholds auto-approve standard completions but escalate anomalies. No more "I swear I emailed that PDF" excuses.

2. Client Certification Programs That Scale

Tech companies certifying partners on new software: DigitalChalk delivers the training, ApproveThis manages client-specific approval chains. When a partner completes their final exam, customized workflows route results to both your team and their manager. Vacation delegation ensures someone's always available to approve - critical for global operations.

3. Employee Development That Doesn't Die in HR Hell

That leadership training request? It used to get lost between HR, finance, and department heads. Now, when an employee registers for an advanced course in DigitalChalk, ApproveThis:

• Checks budget against calculated fields
• Routes to department heads for ROI justification
• Auto-approves under $1k with manager consent

All while keeping the employee updated via ApproveThis' email notifications.

Setting This Up Without a PhD in Zapier

Connect the platforms in three steps even your least techy manager can handle:

1. Create your Zapier account (they have a free tier)
2. Set DigitalChalk as the trigger app (element completed, offering registered, etc.)
3. Set ApproveThis as the action app to generate approval requests

Pro tip: Use ApproveThis' conditional logic to handle 80% of routine approvals automatically. Only escalate exceptions to human reviewers.

Department-Specific Wins

HR Teams: Onboarding That Doesn't Make New Hates Quit

New hire completes orientation courses? ApproveThis pings HRBP and department heads to confirm readiness. Approved? DigitalChalk auto-enrolls them in role-specific trainings. Denied? Comments flow back to L&D for immediate fixes.

Operations: Certifications That Keep the Lights On

Factory workers needing safety recertification? DigitalChalk tracks completion dates, ApproveThis starts renewal approvals 60 days out. Automatic escalation to shift supervisors if not approved in 72 hours. Real-time dashboards show who's cleared to operate equipment.

External Training Teams: Client Approvals That Don't Leak Margins

When clients complete custom courses in DigitalChalk, use approval groups to:

• Require consensus from 3+ client stakeholders
• Apply conditional thresholds for automatic sign-off on perfect scores
• Attach completion certificates to invoices automatically

Features You'll Actually Use

Beyond basic approvals, this combo delivers:

Email-Based Approvals: Let external partners sign off directly from Outlook without platform logins. Track opens/clicks to identify bottlenecks.

Calculated Fields: Auto-flag training requests exceeding budget by combining DigitalChalk's course cost with ApproveThis' real-time math.

Vacation Delegation: Critical for global teams - automatically reassign approvals when reviewers are OOO.

Common Pitfalls (And How to Dodge Them)

Don't: Try to approve every single course element. Use thresholds to auto-approve scores above 85%.

Do: Map DigitalChalk custom fields to ApproveThis templates. Course IDs, participant emails, and scores should flow automatically.

Don't: Forget expiration dates. Add calendar integrations to Zapier for recurring certifications.

Bottom Line

If your training approvals process involves more than three emails or two spreadsheets, you're hemorrhaging time and risking compliance fines. The ApproveThis-DigitalChalk integration via Zapier isn't just about automation - it's about creating audit trails for regulators, visibility for managers, and sanity for everyone involved.

Ready to stop playing approval whack-a-mole? Register for ApproveThis or grab a demo. Already using DigitalChalk? Their Zapier docs show exactly how to connect the dots.