ApproveThis manages your Solargraf Integration approvals.

When Solar Project Management Meets Approval Automation

Let’s be real – in solar installation, every minute spent waiting for someone to sign off on project changes is a minute your crew isn’t mounting panels or closing deals. That’s where pairing Solargraf’s solar project muscle with ApproveThis’ approval engine changes the game. We’re talking about turning what used to be days of “Hey, did you see my email?” into a single click that keeps projects moving.

Solargraf nails the solar-specific stuff: generating estimates, tracking installations, managing client specs. But when you need three people to OK a design change or budget adjustment? That’s where things get sticky. ApproveThis plugs into those moments through Zapier, automating the bureaucratic crap without making you rebuild your entire process.

Why This Combo Doesn’t Just “Work” – It Actually Solves Things

Most integrations just shuffle data between apps. This one attacks the specific headaches solar companies face:

For Sales Teams:

Imagine your rep’s at a client site, tweaks the system size in Solargraf to match their roof specs. Instead of CC’ing five managers in a email chain that goes cold, ApproveThis automatically:

• Routes the change to required approvers based on dollar value
• Lets them approve via email (no app logins)
• Updates Solargraf the second everyone signs off

For Operations:

When installers flag a structural issue needing design changes, your PM updates the Solargraf project. ApproveThis then:

• Requires engineering + safety team reviews in sequence
• Auto-reassigns approvals if someone’s OOO
• Holds the project in “revised” status until fully cleared

Bonus: Approvers don’t need Solargraf licenses. Perfect for city inspectors or external engineers who just need to vet specs, not poke around your entire system.

Real Workflows Solar Companies Are Using Right Now

1. “Don’t Let Project Updates Die in Email Purgatory”

The Zap: When any Solargraf project update exceeds your preset thresholds (like >15% cost increase or panel count change), ApproveThis automatically demands sign-offs from the right people.

Who’s Using This: A 200-employee installer in Arizona routes all design modifications through this combo. Result? 63% faster approval cycles on critical changes during peak season. Their ops director put it best: “It’s like having a tireless project shepherd that works at 2AM.”

2. “From Approved Design to Lead in 8 Seconds”

The Reverse Zap: When an estimate gets final approval in ApproveThis, it auto-creates a ready-to-install lead in Solargraf with all specs pre-loaded.

Why It Matters: Mid-sized installers waste hours manually re-entering approved designs into their project queue. One New Jersey company using this cut their admin time per job by 11 hours/month. Now their sales team can actually focus on selling.

Setting This Up Without Overcomplicating It

If you can make a sandwich, you can connect these tools:

Step 1: The Approval Safety Net

In Zapier, set Solargraf’s “Project Updated” trigger to kick off an ApproveThis workflow. Map key fields – total cost, panel count, client notes. Set thresholds so minor tweaks auto-approve, but big changes route to humans. Takes 15 minutes, saves 15 days/year.

Step 2: The Approval → Action Loop

When ApproveThis gives the green light, Zapier pushes the approved specs back to Solargraf as a install-ready lead. No more “Wait, was this the final version?” calls. Pro tip: Use ApproveThis’ calculated fields to auto-flag projects needing special handling (like tax credit forms).

Zapier handles the heavy lifting – you’re just connecting dots. No coding, no consultants, no “Wait, how does this work again?”

Features You’ll Actually Use (Not Just Corporate Buzzwords)

Email Approvals That Don’t Suck

Approvers get a clean email with key project details and big fat Approve/Reject buttons. No logins, no hunting through apps. Perfect for:

- City permit offices
- External electrical engineers
- Client stakeholders who only care about final numbers

Vacation Coverage That Works While You’re on Vacation

Set up delegation rules so if your head of engineering is hiking the PCT, approvals auto-reroute to their deputy. No more “Sorry, Dave’s off-grid” delays.

Budget Guardrails That Actually Guard

Auto-approve small change orders (under $1k?) but force higher-ups to review anything that nudges the project over quote. Combine with Solargraf’s cost tracking to kill budget creep.

What Most Companies Screw Up (And How to Avoid It)

Don’t: Automate Everything Day One

Start with high-impact, slow processes – like design change approvals or post-inspection clearances. Once those hum, tackle smaller stuff.

Do: Let Field Teams Trigger Approvals

Installers spot a roof issue? Have them update the Solargraf project on their phone, which auto-requests engineering review via ApproveThis. Cuts days out of the change order process.

Don’t: Ignore the Approval History

ApproveThis logs every decision with timestamps and comments. When a client asks “Why’d this take so long?”, show them exactly who delayed it and why. Accountability without the awkward meetings.

Why This Isn’t Just Another “Integration”

Most app pairings just move data. This one tackles the solar industry’s dirty secret: projects don’t stall because of technical issues. They stall because people aren’t signing off fast enough.

By embedding approvals directly into your Solargraf workflow, you’re not just speeding up decisions – you’re making them inevitable. No more lost requests, no more “I didn’t see the email”, just a clean path from project update to approved action.

Ready to stop babysitting approvals? Get ApproveThis connected to your Solargraf today, or schedule a demo to see how it handles your ugliest approval bottlenecks.