Approval Workflow
Purchase orders require approval before they can proceed. This guide explains how approval limits work, how to submit POs for approval, and how approvers process requests.How Approval Works
- Creator submits PO for approval
- System routes to appropriate approver based on amount
- Approver reviews and approves or rejects
- If rejected, creator can edit and resubmit
Approval Limits
Approvers are assigned authorization limits. A PO can only be approved by someone with a limit equal to or higher than the PO total.Example Limits
| Approver Role | Limit (PKR) | Can Approve |
|---|---|---|
| Supervisor | Up to 50,000 | POs ≤ 50,000 |
| Manager | Up to 200,000 | POs ≤ 200,000 |
| Director | Up to 1,000,000 | POs ≤ 1,000,000 |
| Owner | Unlimited | Any amount |
Approval limits are set by system administrators. Contact your admin if you need to check or update approval limits.
Checking Who Can Approve
Location: PO Detail → Approval section The system shows:- Required approval level for this PO amount
- Who can approve this PO
For Creators: Submitting for Approval
Prerequisites
Before submitting:- Supplier selected
- Category selected
- At least one item added
- All item quantities and rates entered
Submit a PO
1
Open the PO
Procurement → Click on PO row
2
Verify PO is in Draft
Check status badge shows Draft
3
Review details
Verify supplier, items, amounts are correct
4
Click Submit
Button in header area
5
Confirm submission
PO sent for approval
- Status changes to Pending Approval
- PO becomes locked (no editing)
- Routed to approver based on total amount
- Approver notified (if notifications enabled)
After Submitting
| If Result Is | Status Changes To | What You Can Do |
|---|---|---|
| Approved | Approved | View, download, proceed with order |
| Rejected | Rejected | Edit, fix issues, resubmit |
For Approvers: Processing Requests
Finding POs to Approve
Option 1: Procurement List1
Go to Procurement
Sidebar → Procurement
2
Filter by Pending Approval
Status filter → Select Pending Approval
3
View your queue
Shows all pending POs you can approve
Reviewing a PO
Before approving, check:| Section | What to Verify |
|---|---|
| Supplier | Correct supplier selected |
| Items | Quantities and rates reasonable |
| Total | Amount within budget |
| Category | Correct material type |
| Documents | Supporting documents attached |
| Notes | Any special instructions |
Approving a PO
1
Open the PO
Click on PO row in list
2
Review all details
Check items, amounts, supplier
3
Click Approve
Green button in header or Approval section
4
Add comments (optional)
Any notes for the record
5
Confirm
PO approved
- Status changes to Approved
- Timestamp and approver recorded
- Creator notified (if notifications enabled)
- If linked to sample, material status may update
Rejecting a PO
1
Open the PO
Click on PO row
2
Review and identify issues
Note what needs to be fixed
3
Click Reject
Red button in header or Approval section
4
Add rejection reason
Explain what needs to change
5
Confirm
PO rejected
- Status changes to Rejected
- Rejection reason recorded
- Creator notified
- PO unlocked for editing
Handling Rejections
If your PO is rejected:1
Check rejection reason
PO Detail → Approval section or Activity tab
2
Click Edit
Now available (PO is unlocked)
3
Fix the issues
Update items, amounts, etc.
4
Save changes
Updates saved
5
Click Submit
Resubmit for approval
Common Rejection Reasons
| Reason | How to Fix |
|---|---|
| Wrong supplier | Edit → Select correct supplier |
| Incorrect quantity | Edit items → Update quantities |
| Rate too high | Negotiate with supplier → Update rate |
| Missing documentation | Documents tab → Upload required docs |
| Wrong category | Edit → Select correct category |
| Needs more detail | Edit notes → Add clarification |
Approval History
Every approval action is logged and visible in the PO. Location: PO Detail → Approval section or Activity tabHistory Shows
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Action | Submitted / Approved / Rejected |
| By | User who took action |
| Date | When action occurred |
| Comments | Any notes added |
Example History
| Action | By | Date | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Created | Amir | 2026-01-10 | — |
| Submitted | Amir | 2026-01-10 | — |
| Rejected | Hassan | 2026-01-11 | Rate too high, renegotiate |
| Edited | Amir | 2026-01-12 | — |
| Submitted | Amir | 2026-01-12 | Rate reduced per supplier |
| Approved | Hassan | 2026-01-12 | Approved |
Approval Notifications
If notifications are enabled:| Event | Who Gets Notified |
|---|---|
| PO Submitted | Approvers with sufficient limit |
| PO Approved | Creator |
| PO Rejected | Creator |
Notification settings are configured by administrators. Contact admin to enable or disable notifications.
Status Reference
| Status | Meaning | Who Can Act |
|---|---|---|
| Draft | Being prepared | Creator: edit, submit |
| Pending Approval | Waiting for approver | Approver: approve, reject |
| Approved | Approved, can proceed | View only |
| Rejected | Needs revision | Creator: edit, resubmit |
Common Scenarios
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| PO stuck in Pending | Contact approver or admin |
| Approver on leave | Admin can reassign or adjust limits |
| PO over my approval limit | Higher-level approver needed |
| Need to change approved PO | Contact admin (approved POs are locked) |
| Accidentally approved wrong PO | Contact admin immediately |
| Need expedited approval | Contact approver directly |
Troubleshooting
Submit button not showing
Submit button not showing
Approve button not showing
Approve button not showing
PO pending for too long
PO pending for too long
Cause: Approver hasn’t reviewed or is unavailable.Solution:
- Check who needs to approve (Approval section)
- Contact them directly
- If unavailable, contact admin for reassignment
Can't edit after rejection
Can't edit after rejection
Cause: System delay or browser cache.Solution:
- Refresh the page
- Verify status shows Rejected
- Edit button should now appear
Rejection reason not visible
Rejection reason not visible
Cause: Approver didn’t add reason or viewing wrong section.Solution: Check Activity tab for full history including comments.
Amount over all approvers' limits
Amount over all approvers' limits
Cause: PO total exceeds highest approval limit.Solution: Contact Owner/Director or admin. May need limit increase or PO split.