Definition
An approval workflow is a defined set of rules that routes a record, such as a quotation, purchase request or discount, to the right people for sign-off before it can move to the next step.
What is an approval workflow used for?
Rules decide who approves (a named manager, any one of a group, all of them or a quorum such as two of three) and when approval is needed, for example above an amount or a discount level. A good workflow blocks the next step until approval is given, records who approved and when, and returns rejected items with a reason.
Example: quotations over USD 70,000 need two of three directors to approve before they can be sent.
Approval workflows replace sign-offs chased over chat and email, which leave no reliable audit trail. Many teams pair each step with a service level agreement.