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# How to Reduce the Approval Time for Internal Requests
- URL: https://blog.jestor.com/reduce-internal-approval-time/
- Published: 2026-09-03T20:55:47.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-03T20:55:47.000Z
- Author: Bruno Bannach

Reducing internal approval time comes down to three things: eliminating manual steps, defining clear approval limits by value, and centralizing requests into a single digital workflow instead of scattering them across email, WhatsApp, and spreadsheets.

When a purchase, reimbursement, or payment request passes through several people without a defined path, it gets lost. No one knows who needs to approve it, in what order, or what the next step is. The result is a request stuck for days, waiting for someone to remember to check their email.

That delay costs money. Suppliers charge interest on late payments, teams go without the resources they requested, and finance loses visibility into what's pending. The more a company grows, the worse this problem gets.

## Why internal approvals tend to drag on

- Requests come in through different channels, with no standard format or single history
- There's no clarity on who has authority to approve each value
- The approver is on vacation or out of the office and no one steps in
- There's no record of how long each step is taking
- Rework happens when a request reaches the approver incomplete
- Different teams use different processes for the same type of request

## How to structure a faster approval workflow

- Set a single entry point for each type of request
- Establish automatic approval limits by value, so small requests don't require executive sign-off
- Set up automatic notifications for the right approver, at the right time
- Create a backup path for when the primary approver is unavailable
- Keep an execution log showing every step and how long it took
- Send the approved entry straight to the ERP, without manual re-entry

## Best practices to speed up approvals without losing control

- Periodically review whether the configured approval limits still fit the company's size
- Measure average approval time by request type
- Automate by trigger for low-value requests, and keep manual approval only where there's real risk
- Ensure granular permissions by role, field, and action, so each person sees only what they need
- Standardize required fields on requests, avoiding back-and-forth

## Why companies use Jestor for this

- **Jestor** lets you build approval workflows with hierarchy, value-based approval limits, and cost centers, no coding required
- Automation by button or event trigger, with a complete execution log for every request
- Native integration with Omie and Conta Azul: the approved entry goes straight to the corresponding ERP
- Customers like Rumo, Sebrae, and Locaweb use **Jestor** to standardize workflows that used to run on loose spreadsheets
- **Jestor**'s execution log tracks the time spent on each step, making it easier to spot where the process stalls

## Frequently asked questions

**What slows down an internal approval the most?** A lack of value-based approval limits and no clear owner for each step in the workflow.

**Can you automate just part of the approval process?** Yes. With [Jestor](https://www.jestor.com/?ref=blog.jestor.com), you can automate low-value requests by trigger and keep manual approval for exceptions.

**Does a digital workflow replace the company's ERP?** No. The workflow organizes the approval and sends the finished entry to the ERP to continue the accounting process.

Reducing internal approval time doesn't require switching ERPs or rewriting processes from scratch: it takes a single workflow, with clear approval limits and direct integration with the systems the company already uses.

## 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](https://www.jestor.com/?ref=blog.jestor.com) and discover how to take your company's management to a new level of efficiency and integration.