Purpose
1.2. Ensure documented approval from appropriate roles before client proposals, preventing unauthorized pricing deviations.
1.3. Log all approval decisions for compliance, audit trails, and future reviews.
1.4. Streamline workflow across sales, estimation, finance, and management, reducing delay and manual follow-ups.
1.5. Centralize communications, notifications, and status monitoring throughout the approval process.
Trigger Conditions
2.2. Request for non-standard pricing on materials or labor.
2.3. Sales representative flags job for special terms or exceptions.
2.4. Customer requests promotional or volume-based pricing.
2.5. Any deviation from standard rates inserted in quoting platform.
Platform Variants
• Feature/Setting: Process Builder/Flow, Approval Process—trigger when Opportunity.Discount > threshold; capture managerial approval.
3.2. Microsoft Power Automate
• Feature/Setting: Automated Flow—When an estimate is created in SharePoint with special pricing, send adaptive card in Teams to approver.
3.3. HubSpot
• Feature/Setting: Workflow automation—trigger on ‘Deal’ field ‘Discount’; send internal notification and approval task via connected email/Slack.
3.4. Zoho CRM
• Feature/Setting: Blueprint/Aproval Rules—enforce multi-stage discount approval and record comments.
3.5. Slack
• Feature/Setting: Workflow Builder—custom slash command to submit approval request; use message dialog API for approvals.
3.6. Twilio SMS
• Feature/Setting: Messaging API—send SMS to manager on approval needed; capture reply to approve or deny.
3.7. DocuSign
• Feature/Setting: PowerForms API—launch approval document when special pricing terms prepared.
3.8. SAP
• Feature/Setting: Business Workflow—trigger upon order creation with discount in SAP Sales module; route through configured approval chain.
3.9. ServiceNow
• Feature/Setting: Flow Designer—approval business rule on deal record meeting specific pricing criteria.
3.10. Asana
• Feature/Setting: Automation—create approval task when a new estimate requires exception pricing.
3.11. Trello
• Feature/Setting: Butler automation to create board card and notify supervisor for jobs needing pricing approval.
3.12. Gmail
• Feature/Setting: Filters + Apps Script—auto-send approval email template for quotes tagged with “special pricing”.
3.13. Outlook
• Feature/Setting: Power Automate integration—auto-generate approval request emails with embedded approve/deny buttons.
3.14. Google Forms
• Feature/Setting: Form submission triggers Apps Script workflow to send out for approval, log responses, and update master spreadsheet.
3.15. Jira Service Management
• Feature/Setting: Automation Rule—create approval issue if pricing adjustment needed; status tracks progress.
3.16. Pipedrive CRM
• Feature/Setting: Workflow Automation—trigger approval alert when discount field exceeds policy limit, send webhook to manager.
3.17. QuickBooks Online
• Feature/Setting: Custom Approvals—trigger approval request for invoice/estimate with flag for non-standard pricing.
3.18. Monday.com
• Feature/Setting: Automations—send request to specific stakeholder for discounts over X% on quote record.
3.19. Freshsales
• Feature/Setting: Workflow—approval email sent when offer value deviates from standard; record approval in activity log.
3.20. Zendesk Sell
• Feature/Setting: Triggers & Automation—flag deals needing price exception, alert manager via internal note/API call.
Benefits
4.2. Reduces unauthorized pricing changes, maintaining margin integrity and policy compliance.
4.3. Provides a full audit trail, supporting internal and regulatory reviews.
4.4. Unified communication—decision makers notified instantly across preferred channels.
4.5. Clear accountability—records who approved or denied each pricing exception.
4.6. Scales seamlessly as volume of requests or team size grows.