You can request approval on a Costs or Sales document at any time, whether or not it matches an existing approval workflow. This article covers both request approval paths and what happens once you've submitted a document.
Which process applies to your document
Which approval path a document follows depends on whether it matches an active approval workflow.
If a document matches an active workflow, requesting approval routes it automatically to that workflow's approver.
If a document doesn't match any workflow — or your account has no workflows set up — requesting approval lets you choose an approver yourself.
Existing workflows always take priority: if a document matches a workflow's criteria, it can only be routed through that workflow, not sent ad hoc.
For instructions on creating workflows, go to How to set up Costs and Sales approval workflows in Dext.
Request approval for a document that matches a workflow
When a document matches an active approval workflow, requesting approval sends it straight to the workflow's approver/s.
From the Costs or Sales inbox:
Select Request approval on the document row.
Or select the checkboxes next to multiple documents, open the Actions menu, then select Request approval.
The document moves to the Approvals tab and the assigned approver is notified by email.
Request approval for a document without a matching workflow
If a document doesn't match any active workflow, requesting approval lets you choose an approver manually.
In the Costs or Sales inbox, select the checkbox next to the document.
Select Request approval.
In the Choose an approver window, select an approver from the dropdown.
Select Request approval to confirm. The approver is notified by email.
Tip: You can select a mix of workflow-matched and non-matching documents in a single action — Dext routes each one based on its own criteria.
What happens after you request approval
Once you request approval, the document appears in the Approvals tab and shows a pending status, regardless of which path it took.
For step-by-step instructions on reviewing, approving, and rejecting documents, go to How to review and approve Costs and Sales items in Dext.