What this service solves
Give one recurring request a clear path from submission through review. The requester can see who needs to act. Reviewers see the same facts and can record a decision or return an item for correction. An agreed timeout puts stalled work in front of a designated escalation owner.
What you get
Visible review queue
See the request and the current reviewer or exception owner at each stage.
Decision trail
Trace approval and return decisions and see when a request needs manual escalation.
What’s included
Capture requests consistently
Agree which request fields reviewers need and how to identify the request consistently throughout the process.
Route to the right reviewer and escalate timeouts
Route the request through the two sequential review levels and apply the agreed reminder and escalation rule when it waits past the deadline.
Record approve and return decisions
Record approvals and returns with the review state and the feedback the requester needs before resubmitting.
How implementation works
Map decisions
Confirm who can make each decision, what information they need, and how an exception is handled.
Build review states
Build the queue and review states so each reviewer receives the correct request and a return goes back to the requester.
Test approve, return, and timeout
Exercise approval, return, and timeout with sample requests and verify that the decision trail matches the agreed process.
Technical considerations
- Review states and transitions
- Define which role can move a request from submitted to first review, second review, returned, or complete. Keep the request reference visible through a return. The rule for a corrected request should say where it reenters the sequence.
- Timeout handling
- Set the agreed event that starts the review window. Distinguish a reminder for the current reviewer from an exception that needs a person to intervene. If the requested decision arrives after escalation, follow the authority and state rules agreed for that case.
Systems, inputs & prerequisites
An approval matrix, sample requests, review SLAs, and agreed escalation owner.
- An approval matrix, a sample request for each review outcome, and the review time limit.
- A person authorized to own an escalation and decide what happens when the expected reviewer is unavailable.
Starting scope & pricing
Base scope
One request type, two sequential approval levels, one reminder rule, and one exception route.
Illustrative workflow
Submit the request
Capture purpose, estimated cost, and the fields the reviewers require.
Review the budget
Send the request to the first reviewer and record any return for correction.
Record the decision
Route approved items to the next reviewer and retain the decision on the request.
Validation & handover
- Submit a sample request and confirm that the second reviewer receives it only after the first level approves it.
- Return a sample for correction and check that the decision and its reason remain associated with the request.
- Exercise a timeout and confirm who can see the exception, what the current state says, and who can act next.
Limitations & possible extras
Limitations
Decision ownership and authority must be agreed before activation. Additional approval levels, identity integration, or a licensed workflow tool may need separate scoping.
Decision ownership and authority must be agreed before activation.
Possible extras
Additional approval levels, secure identity integration, or a licensed workflow tool.
Questions about this service
What happens when a reviewer misses the deadline?
The workflow follows the agreed reminder and exception route. The designated owner sees which review is waiting and can take the manual action allowed by your approval matrix.
Does a corrected request always restart at the first reviewer?
That depends on the approval rule. Agree whether a change to an approved amount or request purpose invalidates the earlier decision, then test the chosen path.
Can the two approvals run in parallel?
The starting workflow uses two sequential review levels. Parallel approval, additional levels, or separate routes for other request types need additional scoping.
What should be recorded when a request is returned?
Keep the decision and enough detail for the requester to correct the item. Agree which fields a reviewer may see and how a corrected request should refer to the original.