✅Sequential Approval

#Approval, #PowerAutomate, #PowerPlatform

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: Approver 1, Approver 2, and Approver 3. Additionally, I created three corresponding fields for each approver: Approval Status, Approval Comment, and Approval Date.

Quote entity - Approval Tab

1. Power Automate: Before the Sequential Approval feature

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

Sequential Approval Flow - before new feature.

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.

2.1 Enable get early feature to get sequential approval feature

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.

Enable "Get new features early" - It's mean "Release Cyle" of environment.

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.

New "Sequential Approval" option of "Start and wait for an approval" action step.

2.2 My Solution for Sequential Approval Flow

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.

Changing of Quote entiy

2.2.2 Sequential Approval Flow

New Sequential Approval flow

2.2.3 Testing

My Quote record:

My Quote record - 3 approver

Testing new sequential flow:

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

The Sequential Approval notification on Teams.

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

Final Approval result

This feature is so cool. I love that. How about you? Let's try it.. 🎉😍

Thank you & Hoping well! [NTD]yns.asia