7 approvals you can automate in a week

If approvals still live in email or spreadsheets, start with a fast, high-impact list. These steps remove delays and reduce rework without a large rollout.

Week-one approvals to automate

• Purchase requests under a fixed limit.
• Vendor onboarding or vendor changes.
• Discount approvals for sales teams.
• Overtime and staffing adjustments.
• Maintenance requests with required safety checks.
• Credit notes and refunds.
• Exception approvals for SLA breaches.

How to implement fast

Keep the first version minimal: request details, approver, and status. Add audit logs and reminders once the workflow is stable.

Measure time-to-approve before and after. This provides a clear ROI signal to decide the next workflow to automate.