What are approval workflows in Workload?
Workload's approval workflows allow IT Directors to configure custom multi-level validation processes for projects, budgets, and requests. The system supports sequential and parallel approvals, conditional routing, automatic escalation, and complete audit trails. Workflows can be customized per resource type and scenario.
Configurable Approval Workflows
Streamline project, budget, and request approvals with multi-level validation, complete traceability, and enterprise compliance.
Why use approval workflows?
Multi-Level Validation
Define approval chains with sequential or parallel validation stages
Complete Traceability
Full audit trail of all approval actions for compliance and audits
Streamlined Processes
Automated routing and notifications reduce approval time and bottlenecks
Automatic Escalation
Automatic escalation if approvals are not completed within specified timeframes
Use Cases
Apply approval workflows to various scenarios
Project Approvals
Require approval for project creation, major changes, or resource allocation modifications
Budget Approvals
Multi-level approval for budget requests, modifications, or budget increases
Request Approvals
Validate project requests from business units before approval and resource allocation
Workload vs Manual Processes
Frequently Asked Questions
What are approval workflows in Workload?
Workload's approval workflows are configurable multi-level validation processes that allow IT Directors to define custom approval chains for projects, budget requests, and other resources. The system supports sequential approvals where each approver must approve before the next can review, parallel approvals where multiple approvers can review simultaneously, conditional approvals based on criteria like budget amount or project type, automatic routing to the appropriate approvers based on rules, and complete audit trails of all approval actions. Workflows can be configured per resource type (projects, budgets, requests) and customized to match your organization's approval processes. This ensures that all important decisions go through proper review and authorization, while maintaining complete traceability for compliance and audit purposes.
How do I configure approval workflows?
Configuring approval workflows in Workload is straightforward and can be done by IT Directors or administrators. You start by creating workflow templates that define the approval structure for different resource types. Each template can have multiple approval gates (steps) that define who needs to approve and in what order. You can configure sequential gates where approvals happen one after another, parallel gates where multiple approvers can review simultaneously, conditional gates that route to different approvers based on criteria, and automatic escalation if approvals are not completed within specified timeframes. Once templates are created, they can be assigned to specific resource types or projects. The system automatically applies the appropriate workflow when resources are created or updated, ensuring consistent approval processes across your organization.
What types of resources can use approval workflows?
Workload's approval workflows can be applied to various resource types including project creation and major changes, budget requests and budget modifications, project requests from business units, resource allocation changes that exceed certain thresholds, and other custom resources as needed. Each resource type can have its own workflow template, allowing you to define different approval processes for different types of decisions. For example, you might require more approvals for large budget requests than for small ones, or have different approval chains for strategic projects versus operational projects. This flexibility ensures that your approval processes match your organization's governance requirements while maintaining efficiency for routine decisions.
How does multi-level validation work?
Multi-level validation in Workload allows you to define approval chains with multiple stages, where each stage must be approved before the process can continue. You can configure sequential validation where approvers review in a specific order, parallel validation where multiple approvers can review simultaneously, conditional routing where different approvers are involved based on criteria, and escalation rules that automatically notify or reassign approvals if they're not completed on time. Each validation level can have different approvers, and the system tracks the status of each approval in real-time. This ensures that all required stakeholders have reviewed and approved before resources are finalized, while providing complete visibility into the approval status at any time.
What is the audit trail for approvals?
Workload maintains a complete audit trail for all approval actions, providing full traceability for compliance and audit purposes. The audit trail includes who approved or rejected each request, when the action was taken, any comments or reasons provided, the complete approval history showing all stages and approvers, timestamps for each action, and notifications sent to stakeholders. This audit trail is permanent and cannot be modified, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and providing a complete record for internal audits. The system also provides reporting capabilities that allow you to analyze approval patterns, identify bottlenecks, and optimize your approval processes over time.
Can I customize approval workflows for different scenarios?
Yes, Workload provides extensive customization options for approval workflows. You can create different workflow templates for different resource types, define conditional routing based on criteria like budget amount, project type, or department, configure different approval chains for different scenarios, set up automatic escalation rules, and customize notification messages and timing. This flexibility allows you to match your approval processes exactly to your organization's governance requirements. For example, you might require more approvals for large budget requests, have different approval chains for strategic versus operational projects, or route approvals to different approvers based on the department or business unit involved. The system supports complex approval scenarios while maintaining simplicity for common cases.
Ready to streamline your approval processes?
Configure approval workflows for your organization and improve governance