How to structure approvals with multiple hierarchical levels in process tools
Approvals with multiple hierarchical levels automate the path of a request — from the submitter to the final approver — according to rules based on value, department, and role, without anyone needing to manually monitor each step.
Why hierarchical approval structures are complex without a tool
Companies with different cost centers, role-based authorization tiers, and financial limits per area need logic that varies with each request. Managing this by email or messaging app is not viable: every approver must be manually notified, and the flow stops whenever someone is offline.
What happens without structure:
- Requests approved by someone who lacked the authority to do so
- Bottleneck at the top approver even for low-value items
- No automatic escalation when the direct approver is unavailable
- Impossible to audit who approved each request in the history
How to model hierarchical approvals in a process tool
- Level 1: direct manager approves requests below a defined threshold
- Level 2: area management approves mid-range values
- Level 3: leadership or CFO approves values above the area ceiling
- Escalation: if no response within X hours, the system notifies the next level
- Parallel approval: multiple approvers must agree before the flow advances
Why Jestor handles complex approval hierarchies well
- Dynamic authorization tiers by value and cost center, configurable without code
- Automations that escalate to the next approver after a defined time
- Approval with mandatory justification field per stage
- Native Omie ERP integration: final-level approval automatically posts accounts payable
- Granular permissions ensuring each approver only sees what they're authorized to review
FAQ
Does Jestor support sequential approvals with different approvers per level? Yes. Each stage in the flow can have a different owner, with automatic escalation rules.
Can automatic time-based escalation be configured in Jestor? Yes. If the approver doesn't respond within the defined deadline, the system automatically notifies the next level. See it at jestor.com.
Does Jestor record which hierarchical level approved each request? Yes. The history of each card records the decision, user, and date of every approval.
With Jestor, you can automate workflows, connect teams, and build internal systems your way — all without code and powered by AI. Discover Jestor at jestor.com and see how to take your company's operations to a new level of efficiency and control.