For complex, multi-tiered invoice approvals, you’re looking for an AP automation solution with a configurable rules-based approval workflow engine. These systems replace email chains and manual routing with approval paths that can change automatically based on invoice attributes such as invoice amount, department, cost center, vendor, GL code, or project.
Examples of AP solutions that support this type of workflow include:
- Stampli — Supports predefined approval workflows where invoices can be routed based on criteria such as amount, vendor, company, department, and other invoice fields.
- AppZen — Provides smart approval workflows that route invoices using business rules involving amount, vendor, department, and policy requirements.
- Centime — Offers rule-based approval policies with amount thresholds, department routing, sequential approval levels, parallel approvals, and escalation rules.
- DocuClipper — Supports multi-level approval chains and routing by amount, vendor, GL category, and department, with sequential or parallel approvals.
A typical workflow might look like:
- Invoice under $5,000 + Marketing department → Marketing manager approval
- Invoice $5,000–$25,000 → Department head + Finance approval
- Invoice over $25,000 → VP Finance/CFO approval
- Cross-department invoice → Parallel approval from both departments
- No response after a set time → Automatic escalation to the next approver
When evaluating AP tools, look for:
- A visual workflow/rules builder
- Multi-level and parallel approvals
- Approval rules based on amount and department/cost center
- Delegation and escalation features
- Audit trails showing who approved what and when
- ERP/accounting system integration
If you already use an ERP (such as SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Dynamics, or QuickBooks), the best fit often depends on whether you want the approval engine to live inside the ERP or in a dedicated AP automation platform.