Automation · Approval Workflows

Automate approval workflows instead of chasing down requests by phone.

Automating approval workflows means routing vacation requests, invoice sign-offs, or orders according to clear rules instead of letting them disappear into emails, paper slips, or overflowing inboxes. NordFlux builds you the right path with escalation and deputy rules. You set the rules, the system makes sure they are followed, and every decision stays traceable.

The problem

Requests disappear into inboxes until someone remembers.

Whether it's a vacation request, invoice sign-off, or order: as soon as a process needs a signature or an okay, it often sits stuck for days, with no one responsible for following up.

  • 01The vacation request sits in the inbox of the manager who is on vacation themselves, and no one feels responsible for the stand-in.
  • 02Invoice sign-offs run through email forwarding until a reply gets lost and the payment deadline is missed.
  • 03Orders above a threshold need several signatures, but no one can see who currently has the request.
  • 04By the end of the month, no one knows exactly who approved what and when, when an audit asks.
Use cases
01

Automating approvals: the whole path.

We don't automate a single signature, we automate the request's entire path from submission to documented decision. We combine these five building blocks to fit your process.

01

Digital request path

Vacation requests, expense reports, or order requests come in via form, Teams, or portal instead of paper slips or email chains. The request goes automatically to the right person, without detours.

Savings 3–8 h/week for the team
02

Escalation and deputy rules

If the responsible person doesn't respond within a set deadline, for example due to vacation or illness, the request automatically moves on to a designated deputy or the next level.

Effect no request is left stuck
03

Invoice and order approvals by threshold

Approvals run by amount, cost center, or department: small amounts are approved by one person, larger ones automatically go through several stages, without anyone tracking it manually.

Effect clear responsibility per amount
04

Notification instead of follow-up calls

Whoever needs to approve gets a message in Teams, by email, or via app, including a reminder before the deadline. No one has to call around anymore to check if a request arrived.

Savings fewer follow-up queries
05

Traceability and log

Every approval is documented with a timestamp and person, audit-proof and exportable. During a review by auditors or controlling, the proof is complete.

Effect complete audit trail
Solution paths

Which path fits your system landscape?

There isn't one single right tool. We choose based on what's already running for you and the systems that need to be connected.

Microsoft 365 in place
Power Automate

Approvals run directly through the Approvals app in Teams or Outlook, with storage in SharePoint. Your existing Microsoft 365 license often already covers a large part of this.

Flexible & cross-system
n8n as the hub

n8n connects HR software, ERP, and communication tools into one path and can run on a server in Germany on request. Good when many different systems come together.

Legacy systems without an interface
UiPath for approval screens

Some approvals still run through old ERP or accounting screens without an interface. Then a UiPath robot handles the entry just as a person would at the screen.

How we work

The 30-day model.

From the first conversation to a running approval path in 30 days, at a fixed price instead of an open-ended timesheet.

1

Free initial analysis

60 minutes, no obligation: we look at which requests and approvals are currently stuck with you and where things get held up.

2

Concept and fixed price

You get a concrete proposal: which path we'll build, which escalation rules apply, and what it costs. One number, no surprises.

3

Implementation with real cases

We build the automation and test it with your real requests, including special cases like vacation stand-ins or large orders. You see every step along the way.

4

Handover and operation

Your team gets to know the path, receives documentation, and knows where it can step in. On request, we continue to support operations.

More than approvals

Approvals are rarely the only paperwork jam.

Invoice receipt, order processing, onboarding: what works for approvals works for many recurring processes in mid-sized businesses. On the overview page you can see what else can be automated.

View process automation
Free initial analysis

How many requests are currently stuck in an inbox at your company?

In the free initial analysis, we look together at where your approval processes are currently stuck and what automation can achieve. 60 minutes, no obligation, no sales pressure.

  • Fixed price instead of an open-ended timesheet
  • Your data stays in Germany
  • You set the rules, the system follows them
Frequently asked questions
05

What decision-makers often ask about approval workflows.

What does automating approval workflows cost?

After the free initial analysis you get a fixed price, which depends on the number of approval stages and the systems to be connected. A single vacation request workflow in Teams is something different from a multi-stage invoice approval connected to DATEV or an ERP. The fixed price is set before the decision and does not change during the project.

What happens if a manager is on vacation and requests pile up?

That's exactly what we build escalation and deputy rules into the workflow for. If the responsible person doesn't respond within a set deadline, the request automatically goes to a deputy or the next level. That way nothing sits for days just because someone isn't at their desk right now.

Do we lose control over approvals if a system decides automatically?

No. The automation handles routing, reminders, and documentation, the decision is still made by a person. You set the rules, for example thresholds by amount or department, and every approval remains traceably logged. We don't build a black box, but a path you can review at any time.

Does this also work if we use several systems, for example Teams, an ERP, and HR software?

Yes, that's the standard case. We connect the systems you already use instead of creating an additional isolated solution. Depending on your starting point, we use Power Automate in the Microsoft 365 environment, n8n as a neutral hub, or UiPath for systems without an interface.

Automate Approval Workflows | NordFlux