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# Automating Approval Workflows: How to Handle Exceptions
- URL: https://blog.jestor.com/exceptions-approval-workflow/
- Published: 2026-07-29T17:56:25.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-29T17:56:25.000Z
- Author: Bruno Bannach

Exceptions in an approval workflow are requests that don't follow the standard rule — an urgent case, an unforeseen situation, an absent approver. [Jestor](https://jestor.com/?ref=blog.jestor.com) lets you handle these exceptions without breaking the main workflow, using **role-based permissions** and a visual **Kanban & Pipe** to track each case.

## Why every approval workflow eventually has exceptions

No rule covers 100% of real-world cases. An urgent request that can't wait for the standard SLA, an approver on vacation, a situation that doesn't fit exactly into the defined value ranges — these are all exceptions that, if not planned for, end up breaking the process or being resolved informally, outside the system.

## How to handle exceptions without abandoning the process

The goal isn't to create a rigid rule for every possible exception, but to let someone with the right permission decide outside the standard rule, in a controlled and logged way.

**Common pains when exceptions aren't planned for:**

- An urgent request handled outside the system, with no record
- A stalled process because the standard approver is unavailable
- No flexibility for cases that don't fit the normal rules
- No distinction between "following the rule" and "opening a controlled exception"

**How Jestor handles exceptions:**

- Role-based permissions can include backup approvers for cases of absence
- Urgent requests can be flagged and prioritized on the Kanban & Pipe
- Exceptions are logged as such, without blending into the standard workflow
- The history clearly shows when a decision deviated from the normal rule, and why

**Where Jestor fits in:**

- Defines **role-based permissions**, including backup approvers
- Organizes requests, including exceptions, on a visual, prioritizable **Kanban & Pipe**
- Keeps the **Approvals** workflow flexible enough for cases outside the standard
- Logs exceptions in a traceable way, without mixing them with normal decisions

| Exception type      | How to handle it                   |
| ------------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| **Absent approver** | Permission configured for a backup |
| **Urgent request**  | Priority flag on the Kanban & Pipe |

## Why choose Jestor to handle exceptions

Jestor lets exceptions be handled in a controlled, logged way, with no need for the team to resolve cases outside the system.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Can I have a backup approver for cases of absence?** Yes, that can be configured in role-based permissions.

**Can urgent requests be visually prioritized?** Yes, Kanban & Pipe lets you flag and reorder requests by priority.

**Are exceptions logged differently from the standard workflow?** Yes, the history clearly shows when a decision deviated from the normal rule. Learn more at jestor.com.

With Jestor, you can automate workflows, connect departments, and build internal systems your way — all without code and with AI support. Check out Jestor at [jestor.com](https://jestor.com/?ref=blog.jestor.com) and see how to take your company's management to a new level of efficiency and integration.