Some approval processes are more complicated than a single approval or denial. You may have several instances in which several approvers need to approve or deny a request before the flow can move to the next step in the process. In these cases, you can create multistep approvals.
When you start a new approval process, you have a basic one-step approval workflow.
You can easily customize the basic approval workflow into a multistep approval.
Modify the Default “One Step Approval” Workflow
- Start by deleting the Send Email element under the “Approve” outcome.
Also, delete the link under it so we could create a new outcome later on.
- Open the Element panel.
- Replace the deleted Send Email with an Approval element.
You can then edit the new Approval element’s properties by clicking on the gear icon. In the Approval Properties panel, you can add the approver’s email, rename the element, and configure other options.
Once you’ve created and set up a new Approval element, you need to set up the outcomes.
Set up the Outcome
In this example, we’re going to set up the workflow so that the form filler gets notified of the outcome via email. So go ahead and add two Send Email elements under the Approval element previously created – one for “Approved” and one for “Denied”.
To put them all together:
- Hover on the previously created Approval element, then click or drag the plus icon that appears at the edge of the element.
- Connect it to the “approved” Send Email element.
- Click on the Select Outcome button and select the Approve option.
- Repeat the process for the “Denied” outcome.
Note: You can edit the Outcomes option from the Approval element’s properties panel.
Please visit the following user guide for more information about advanced settings: How to Set up an Approval Element in Jotform Approvals
When you’ve added another approval step and correctly connected all the elements, you’ll have a multistep approval process.
Create a Multistep Approval from Scratch
You can create a multistep approval from scratch via the My Approvals page.
- Click on the Create Approval button.
- Select Start From Scratch.
When you select Start From Scratch, you’ll see a new approval workflow without any elements.
First, select a form for the new approval workflow. Click on the Add Form button.
After selecting the form, start dragging and dropping the elements you need from the Elements tab on the left side of the screen.
You can learn more about all of the Approval Element from the below guide: How to Set up an Approval Element in Jotform Approvals
The main element of every multistep approval process is the approval element. You’re able to select as many approval steps as you need.
Simply drag and drop approval elements from the Elements tab to start creating a multistep approval.
Please note that you cannot link multiple approval processes to the same form. Your form can only be connected to one approval process; however, you can create multiple steps in one approval process.
Select the approval element and move it to your flow. You can edit the approval properties by clicking on the dots next to the element and selecting the gear icon. In the Approval Properties, you can add the approver’s email, rename the element, or configure other options.
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10 Comments:
I've got multistep approvals working however it would be good for the second approver to see in the email who has approved the request at the previous stage. Can the email form contain this information?
Hello! We have multiple approvals in our flow. For some submissions, we need to add attachments after submissions (Because we needed more info, documentation, etc). When we do this, our approval committee receives the email notification that they need to approve but isn't able to see the submission. How do we prevent this from happening?
Is there a limit on approvers/emails that can be sent in the approval flow within any of the paid subscriptions?
I have a form where I need the 1st approval to complete a verification form and add it to the approval flow before it goes to a 2nd approver. Is this possible?
Good Afternoon,
I am trying to create a multistep approval based on an employee branch--meaning IF an employee works at location A and selects location A from the drop-down--their request will go to the specific approver for location A. I would like to set this up for 7 locations. Am I able to do this on one form...or should I create 7 different forms?
Thank you in advance!
Alexa
Hola!
Agradeceré su ayuda con lo siguiente:
Es muy importante para nosotros que en un flujo de aprobación de varios pasos, se muestre en la columna "status" de la tabla del formulario, el paso de aprobación en el que se encuentra actualmente el proceso y que no se limite a mostrar únicamente "en progreso", "aprobado" o "denegado".
Muchas gracias por su ayuda
Good day, I am trying to create a new hire requisition form.
Is it possible to have the Approvers email be an entry vs. a single preselected approver? So the person requesting the approval would enter the approvers email?
Can I generate a report of the approved and denied requests? How can I do it?
I configured my flow with two approval levels, but the last one does not receive the requests approved by the first level. What should i do to correct it?
Can I set up an approval flow so that a form template can be sent to a person for a signature, then sent to a second person for a second signature, then sent to a third person for a final signature, if I won't know the email address of the third recipient until just before I need to send the form?
I have a form that a teacher will fill out and sign. They will then have to send the form with their signature to management for a second signature. Management will then need to send that form to a third party (a parent) but we won't be able to send it until the first 2 signatures have been collected. How do we set this up?