What to consider before digitizing manual approvals

Before digitizing manual approvals, you need to map the current flow, define clear alçada criteria, and confirm that the chosen tool integrates with the ERP without creating rework. Skipping this planning stage is the most common reason digitization projects stall halfway through.

Many companies jump straight to the tool without first understanding why approvals are still manual. Sometimes the process was never documented; sometimes rules change informally depending on who is approving that day.

Digitizing without this mapping just moves the mess into a new system, faster but just as confusing. That's why prior planning matters as much as choosing the tool.

What to map before starting

Every type of request that currently goes through manual approval
Who approves each type, and whether that rule is formal or informal
The average time each approval takes today
The points where delays or lost requests happen most often
Whether there are frequent exceptions to the current rules
What ERP data is needed for each approval

Criteria for choosing the right tool

Check whether it allows alçada by value, role, and cost center
Confirm native integration with the company's ERP
Assess whether setup requires code or can be done by the team itself
Check whether there's an execution log for traceability
Consider the real implementation time, not just what's advertised
Assess the billing model and how it scales with the team

How Jestor supports this transition

Jestor offers the Approvals module, ready for hierarchy and alçada by value
Jestor connects natively to Omie and Conta Azul, keeping the ERP as the tax source of truth
Jestor lets you build the flow without code, which speeds up digitization
Companies have reported replacing up to 19 spreadsheets after adopting Jestor for approvals

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to document everything before digitizing? Ideally, map the main flows first; Jestor helps structure this during implementation.

Does digitizing approvals replace the company's ERP? No. Digitization creates an approval layer that works alongside the ERP, without replacing it.

How long does it take to go from manual to digital? It varies with the complexity of the rules, but native integrations significantly reduce that time.

Get to know Jestor

With Jestor, you can automate workflows, connect departments, and build internal systems your way, all without code and with AI support. Get to know Jestor at jestor.com and discover how to take your company's management to a new level of efficiency and integration.

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