Auto-approve or escalate purchase requests based on limits

Purpose

1.1. Automate purchase request approvals and escalations to enhance efficiency and enforce spending controls.
1.2. Automates decision logic based on predefined limits or roles, reducing human error in financial workflows.
1.3. Standardizes the automated purchase approval process across millwork shop operations and corporate finance.
1.4. Ensures all purchase requests exceeding set thresholds are escalated automatically to authorized personnel.
1.5. Maintains audit trails by automating documentation and notification of each automated approval/escalation.

Trigger Conditions

2.1. Automatedly trigger workflow on submission of a new purchase request.
2.2. Trigger on requests exceeding preset monetary limits (e.g., $2,500).
2.3. Department, category, or vendor triggers for specialized approvals.
2.4. Automated trigger if request lacks required attached documentation.
2.5. Re-trigger automation if initial approver is unresponsive beyond a set timeframe.

Platform Variants

3.1. Microsoft Power Automate
- Feature: Approval workflows; automate PowerApps triggers with "Start and wait for an approval" action.
3.2. SAP Ariba
- Feature: Approval Rules; configure the “Automated Approval Routing” API for threshold-based escalation.
3.3. Oracle Fusion Cloud Procurement
- Feature: Self-Service Procurement; “Manage Approval Groups” automates conditional escalations.
3.4. Coupa
- Feature: Approval Chains; setup “Custom Approval Flows” API for automated limits check.
3.5. Zoho Creator
- Feature: Workflows; automate decision logic by scripting function on form submission.
3.6. ServiceNow
- Feature: Flow Designer; configure “Catalog Task” automation for escalated approvals.
3.7. SAP S/4HANA
- Feature: Flexible Workflow; automate purchase requisition approvals using workflow templates.
3.8. Monday.com
- Feature: Automations Center; configure automator to trigger “Status Change” upon approval or escalation.
3.9. Smartsheet
- Feature: Automated Workflows; configure automation to change sheet row status based on value limits.
3.10. Kissflow
- Feature: Automated Approval Flow; configure limit-based rule trigger in workflow builder.
3.11. Jira Service Management
- Feature: Automation Rules; use “Approval Required” trigger for automatable escalation.
3.12. DocuSign CLM
- Feature: Workflow Designer; configure “Conditional Routing” automation for escalation.
3.13. Trello
- Feature: Butler Automation; setup card move based on checklist status/value for escalation.
3.14. Slack
- Feature: Workflow Builder; automate sending requests for approval to a channel/user.
3.15. Google Workspace (Apps Script)
- Feature: Google Forms + Sheets; automate approvals by scripting Apps Script triggers on form submission.
3.16. HubSpot
- Feature: Workflows; automate escalation emails and assignment based on deal value.
3.17. AirTable
- Feature: Automations; auto-send record for management sign-off if value exceeds threshold.
3.18. Workato
- Feature: Recipes; configure automator to chain conditional steps for automated approvals.
3.19. Pipefy
- Feature: Process Automation; automate card movement and task assignment by request value logic.
3.20. Asana
- Feature: Rules; automate custom fields trigger for approval/escalation assignment.

Benefits

4.1. Automates compliance with corporate spending policies.
4.2. Enhances process speed by automatedly bypassing manual reviews for lower-value requests.
4.3. Reduces risk and error by automating escalation for nonstandard approvals.
4.4. Automated audit logs ensure traceability and transparency in finance workflows.
4.5. Scalability—automation adapts as financial approval policies evolve.
4.6. Automates multi-level approvals, saving administrative labor.
4.7. Improves employee satisfaction by removing bottlenecks with automation.
4.8. Ensures that out-of-policy purchases are caught and escalated automatically.
4.9. Integrates with existing systems for seamless end-to-end automation.
4.10. Customizable to changing business rules with simple automator adjustments.