# Sequential Approval

While browsing the internet, I recently learned about a new approval feature in Power Automate, **Sequential Approval**.

Previously, managing sequential approval in Power Automate required creating numerous action steps, each representing a level of approval. Modifying the approval process necessitated altering every step.

Let's try the Sequential Approval process to see if we can gather some useful ideas for our project.

## Business Case 

My business case: Quote approval flow.

* The Quote approval level: **3 levels**
* Approval sequence: **Approver 1 -> Approver 2 -> Approver 3**

For the first solution, within the Quote entity, I established three fields: *<mark style="color:blue;">Approver 1, Approver 2</mark>*, and *<mark style="color:blue;">Approver 3</mark>*. Additionally, I created three corresponding fields for each approver: *<mark style="color:blue;">Approval Status, Approval Comment</mark>,* and *<mark style="color:blue;">Approval Date.</mark>*

<figure><img src="https://4233060750-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FjhtQupP7ACZVtv3cCNCr%2Fuploads%2FYgq87xI1ChkoP00xjiys%2FCleanShot%202024-06-25%20at%2021.57.15.png?alt=media&#x26;token=2666c2f5-cdee-4c79-aceb-7896fb13eeef" alt=""><figcaption><p>Quote entity - Approval Tab</p></figcaption></figure>

## 1. Power Automate: Before the Sequential Approval feature

Before the Sequential Approval feature, I created the power automat for the approval process as below.

<figure><img src="https://4233060750-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FjhtQupP7ACZVtv3cCNCr%2Fuploads%2FRPKV3lQiKR0IzXOb0Enj%2FApproval_before_Sequential-Feature.png?alt=media&#x26;token=680fb433-362d-450a-bfc3-ab6d4c87411a" alt=""><figcaption><p>Sequential Approval Flow - before new feature.</p></figcaption></figure>

Before this feature, I set up three Approval actions, each corresponding to a different Approver. It takes time and is difficult to control.

## 2. Power Automate: After the Sequential Approval feature

Now, I tried the new early feature **Sequential Approval** in the Approval flow. And the flow is shorter and easy to control.

### *<mark style="color:blue;">2.1 Enable get early feature to get sequential approval feature</mark>*

Currently, this feature is just applied to the Environment which enabled the ***Get new features early*** option. This option is only enabled when creating a new environment.

<figure><img src="https://4233060750-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FjhtQupP7ACZVtv3cCNCr%2Fuploads%2F1Y7mhRlyH7U9M7FyEnoZ%2FNew_env_get-new-feature.png?alt=media&#x26;token=09f2ec90-b661-48dc-b1d0-5174ad6edcf6" alt=""><figcaption><p>Enable "Get new features early" - It's mean "Release Cyle" of environment.</p></figcaption></figure>

Okay... now, back to the Power Automate Maker and try to create a new Sequential Approval Power Automate. In the **Approval action,** you will see the new *Sequential Approval* option as below.

<figure><img src="https://4233060750-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FjhtQupP7ACZVtv3cCNCr%2Fuploads%2FIGkcE3zqjE9sDIQ9RrfC%2FNew_sequential-approval-option.png?alt=media&#x26;token=b8fd4522-9b55-45b4-93e1-bbd064938ba9" alt=""><figcaption><p>New "Sequential Approval" option of "Start and wait for an approval" action step.</p></figcaption></figure>

### *<mark style="color:blue;">2.2 My Solution for Sequential Approval Flow</mark>*

#### 2.2.1 Changing on Quote entity:

With the new feature, I have changed the design of the Quote entity:

* I created 2 new fields: ***Approval Status,** and **Approval Summary*** to update the approval status & history of each Approver.
* Not using fields: Approver 1/2/3 status, Approver 1/2/3 comment, Approval 1/2/3/ date.

And my approval flow also changed as below.

<figure><img src="https://4233060750-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FjhtQupP7ACZVtv3cCNCr%2Fuploads%2FzSx7TDNgvE45k4bTyXyW%2FCleanShot%202024-06-29%20at%2011.08.21%402x.png?alt=media&#x26;token=e7a13e44-c013-45d6-88e2-1f2cc34cc84e" alt=""><figcaption><p>Changing of Quote entiy</p></figcaption></figure>

#### 2.2.2 Sequential Approval Flow

<figure><img src="https://4233060750-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FjhtQupP7ACZVtv3cCNCr%2Fuploads%2FDWNLxeR9tsBoH2tKSkQd%2FNew_Sequential-approval-flow.png?alt=media&#x26;token=cd819b5f-b554-41fa-abb4-d6193d1ca5d1" alt=""><figcaption><p>New Sequential Approval flow</p></figcaption></figure>

#### 2.2.3 **Testing**

My Quote record:

<figure><img src="https://4233060750-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FjhtQupP7ACZVtv3cCNCr%2Fuploads%2FAcMzxNAhBTsiEAcG160K%2FCleanShot%202024-06-29%20at%2011.08.21%402x.png?alt=media&#x26;token=93b2c57b-fdc9-47cc-8b37-52a0e3442ff4" alt=""><figcaption><p>My Quote record - 3 approver</p></figcaption></figure>

Testing new sequential flow:

The quote was changed status to **Submitted** and the flow will be triggered to running.

<figure><img src="https://4233060750-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FjhtQupP7ACZVtv3cCNCr%2Fuploads%2F4S9vVBT5h1qm9P5s5QNC%2FTeams_Sequential-approval.png?alt=media&#x26;token=e6f6db46-d81e-4189-9b9c-d69f568bf1c7" alt=""><figcaption><p>The Sequential Approval notification on Teams.</p></figcaption></figure>

Now I will log in to Teams and update the Approval Status and we will see the final result below.

<figure><img src="https://4233060750-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FjhtQupP7ACZVtv3cCNCr%2Fuploads%2FpAnx6fvB73Se75gnDhR8%2FFinal-result_Sequential-approval.png?alt=media&#x26;token=ab17d09b-bbb8-4f62-8703-1efd650a081e" alt=""><figcaption><p>Final Approval result</p></figcaption></figure>

This feature is so cool. I love that. How about you? Let's try it.. :tada::heart\_eyes:

Thank you & Hoping well!\
\&#xNAN;**\[NTD]yns.asia**