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Power Automate - Building Flows
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Need help with approval flow - completely new to Power Automate

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Posted on by 24
Hi!
 
I've been tasked with trying to find a good solution for this approval flow, but I've never worked in Power Automate before so I was hoping you could just tell me if it is possible at all and also what might work best then.
 
So the current process is that an employee fills in an excel document with information and sends it to the first approver. Based on certain data input that approver either sends it to Approver A or Approver B. If it goes to Approver A it then directly goes to Final Approver, but if it goes to Approver B, it then has to go to Approver A before Final Approver. Note: The current process is just e-mails with the attached excel document.
 
So there are two possible flows:
- Sender -> Delegator -> Approver A -> Final Approver
- Sender -> Delegator -> Approver B -> Approver A -> Final Approver
 
One thing to note is that Approver A also has to be able to edit the document/data input before sending it to the Final Approver.
My initial thought was using a Form, but that doesn't let Approver A edit it + it doesn't seem like a good way to keep records of the data input as a document.
Thanks.
  • wskinnermctc Profile Picture
    6,517 Super User 2025 Season 1 on at
    Re: Need help with approval flow - completely new to Power Automate

    It is possible, but I think it is a lot of extra work that doesn't add value.

     

    If the Approver doesn't approve, then change the status of the item to something like "Denied". Use the result of the approval to have a branch in Power Automate that goes to the item and changes the status to Denied and then ends the flow.

    I think it would be better to leave all requests on the list, even denied so you can see records or maybe patterns or errors. All you have to do is filter by the status of the items.

     

    Here is an example where each approver has a status and the overall Stage of the request.

    wskinnermctc_0-1706022788456.png

     

  • SimonB3 Profile Picture
    24 on at
    Re: Need help with approval flow - completely new to Power Automate

    Thank you, I like these suggestions and will try implementing it. One question: Is there a way to build it so that the sharepoint list item is deleted if the first approver doesn't approve it? Or is it another option where the first approver can view it someone for approval before it is created in the sharepoint list?

  • Verified answer
    wskinnermctc Profile Picture
    6,517 Super User 2025 Season 1 on at
    Re: Need help with approval flow - completely new to Power Automate

    I know you are new to power automate and this might seem like a lot, but you should make a sharepoint list. Build the SharePoint list and pretend if you were going to tell people to manually use it to complete everything.

     

    Pretend like you would say,

    • Sender 1, you go and create an item in the SharePoint list that you want reviewed and approved. Select the specific properties or whatever that will determine if this is sent to Approver A or Approver B.

    Then Sender 1 Email the person you need to approve and tell them you are done.

     

    • Approver B, you go into the SharePoint list and update the fields that you need to check and then change the Status showing you are completed or Approved.

    Then Approver B you email the Approver A and tell them you are done.

     

    • Approver A you go into the SharePoint list and update the fields that you need to check and then change the Status showing you are completed or Approved.

    Approver A then you email the final approver and tell them you are done.

     

    • Final Approver, you review the SharePoint list item and select the Status showing it is done or Approved. 

    Final Approver, you email everyone and tell them you are done.

     

    Build a SharePoint List as a tool that people could manually go update. Design it have status or information that each user could understand and complete their function.

     

    Now you use the same logic that people would manually complete, and replace it with Power Automate where applicable.

    • Sender 1 Fill out a MS Form
      • Power Automate creates an Item in a SharePoint List
      • Power Automate sends an Approval request to B or A depending on user input.
    • Approver B looks at data and determines if it is approved or not
      • Power Automate updates the SharePoint list item with approval status
      • Power Automate sends Approval request to A
    • Approve A looks at data and determines if it is approved or not
      • Power Automate updates the SharePoint list item with approval status
      • Power Automate sends Approval request to Final approver
    • Final Approver looks a data an determines if it is approved or not
      • Power Automate updates the SharePoint list item with status
      • Power Automate sends notification email to everyone

     

    You need to lay out your process and then logically design the tool to fit the process, then automate the tool. If you have people who need to make edits, then have them update the SharePoint list item directly and they can click approved when they are done.

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