To excel in marketing, one must stay updated with the latest trends, be responsive to changes, and ensure the content produced is unique, fresh, and up-to-date. Therefore, it necessitates a cohesive team effort to generate top-notch content.
To ensure uniqueness and high quality, multiple individuals should review and approve each new asset. The involvement of all stakeholders in providing input can be challenging when managing these feedback loops.
Online approval software can be useful in streamlining your process and replacing time-consuming email back and forth, eliminating the stress associated with it.
What is approval software?
Approval software is a kind of online tool used for proofing that aids managers and creative teams in overseeing and automating the final stage of content creation workflows.
In order for a new marketing asset to be released to your audience, it is necessary to obtain approval from various stakeholders, such as managers, colleagues, or clients.
To ensure that every text, design, or video you publish is on-brand and mistake-free, you can incorporate approval requests as a standardized step in the asset creation workflow.
The review and approval processes for new content are made simpler and more efficient by approval workflow software, which establishes a well-organized workflow.
What are the main features of approval software?
The purpose of approval software is to streamline and enhance approval processes for teams. This software simplifies the submission of work for creators, as it only necessitates file uploading to the cloud-based platform.
Features like review and approval tools enable seamless collaboration in work processes.
- A centralized platform to upload and access files
- A clear structure for housing files in projects and folders
- Multiple review steps for different reviewer groups
- The ability for users to leave and discuss comments and annotations directly on files
- A formal way for the reviewer to submit their decision
- An integrated to-do list
- A tool to assign due dates
- Automatic reminders for reviewers
- Clear file versioning
What are the benefits of using approval software?
On average, workers dedicate approximately 13 hours per week to checking their inbox and communicating through email, according to intriguing research conducted by The McKinsey Global Institute. This accounts for nearly 28% of their total work time.
Are you curious about why you should transition from your current email-based approval processes to online workflow software? Take a look at these six advantages of using approval management software.
- You can improve your quality control and ensure consistent and high-quality content
- It saves a lot of time as each asset will require fewer review rounds
- You can reduce misunderstandings as everyone’s comments are clear and transparent
- No feedback will get lost or overlooked.
- It provides teams with more transparency – not just at the final approval stage, but throughout the entire review and approval process
- If an individual is off work, colleagues can easily jump in.
By utilizing appropriate approval workflow software, it is possible to streamline and expedite even the most intricate approval processes.
10 approval software solutions to simplify your workflows
After understanding the reasons for the necessary updating of your email approval processes, we suggest considering the current selection of cloud-based approval workflow software. By referring to this compilation, you can conveniently find the appropriate approval workflow software that suits your business.
1. Filestage – best approval workflow software
Filestage makes it simple for all participants to review and approve content by streamlining the process. This online proofing software facilitates the sharing, discussion, and approval of various file types, including PDFs, videos, and images, with both colleagues and external partners.
The ability for all reviewers who have been invited to leave comments and annotations directly on the file and to discuss changes with one another in real time makes collaboration easy, quick, and free of stress.
Filestage simplifies project management by providing a centralized document approval platform. You can efficiently manage approval processes for each project by categorizing stakeholders into different groups, and simultaneously monitor the status of files. In this manner, Filestage streamlines approval processes, leading to time savings, increased transparency, and minimized misunderstandings.
2. ProofHub – online approval system
ProofHub is an online approval system that is meant to aid in the project management of creative workflows. This collaborative tool is designed for a diverse range of users and can be adjusted to fit the size of the business.
3. Approval Studio – artwork approval software
Approval Studio is a software tool that is specifically created for teams engaged in the creation of labels, graphics, and branded artwork. Its purpose is to aid in the organization of team workflows by assigning designated tasks to each team member, in accordance with the requirements specified in the review and approval request.
By utilizing this tool, teams can take advantage of the strengths and insights of each team member to generate innovative artwork.
With Approval Studio, the team can work collaboratively on the same document by making annotations and having discussions in real time. Furthermore, it provides approval tracking and version control tools to ensure effective management of creative workflows.
4. WebProof – workflow software and proofing tools
WebProof is a perfect software for projects with various contributors or editors from multiple departments, serving as an online proofing and approval tool.
The software functions as an online platform that allows contributors to upload their work in one place, and reviewers can conveniently add comments to specific project areas by dragging and dropping.
WebProof is suitable for graphic businesses and creative teams, as well as for more intricate documents created by magazines and newspapers.
When it comes to these publications, the process of obtaining approval can be particularly complex, necessitating a continuous sequence of assessments and modifications involving various parties involved.
5. Integrify – low-code approval process solution
Integrify, a flexible approval management software, provides a low-code tool that can be utilized for various business processes. By capturing and preserving the historical data of past approval workflows, this software generates an audit containing comprehensive information about the approval process.
Integrify is utilized for managing workflows in various business domains, including Information Technology, Human Resources, Finance, Sales, Marketing, and other service sectors.
6. Kissflow – end-to-end workflow software
Kissflow is an online approval platform that operates without the need for coding, enabling teams to automate their processes, establish project boards, handle their workflow, and work collectively on the approval process.
The tool provides businesses with the opportunity to create highly efficient apps, processes, or case boards that are seamlessly integrated and adaptable. This implies that businesses can develop personalized apps or utilize pre-made apps to enhance, automate, and digitalize their operations with minimal coding required.
7. Frevvo – visualized forms and workflows
Frevvo’s approval workflows allow users to create visually appealing approval forms and workflows that are automated. This software operates by merging ready-made workflow designs with user-friendly point-and-click wizard tools.
By using Frevvo, businesses are able to efficiently automate their daily approval processes. This assists in empowering employees, expediting the implementation of business processes and initiatives, and exceeding customer service expectations.
8. Process.st – a one-click approval workflow
With Process.st, it is possible to generate personalized, automated approval workflow templates to establish uniform approval processes. Users are able to easily grant approvals with a single click, design tailored task management lists, and establish approval checklists for each individual workflow.
By encouraging teams to create workflow templates, run multiple instances of the same workflow, and track progress and collaborate on approvals, they provide the most straightforward method for managing recurring workflows.
9. Approval Donkey – approval management software
Approval Donkey enables users to submit and endorse requests that have been submitted via email, apps, or online approval forms. Subsequently, these approval requests can be collected and transformed into digital, automated workflows via this centralized platform.
Approval Donkey allows users to enhance their teamwork, expedite the process of online approvals, and automate their accounting procedures.
10. ApprovalMax – create bill and purchase order approvals
ApprovalMax is a tool created for small and medium-sized businesses that operates in the cloud. It allows users to generate approval workflow solutions for their accounting and business finance requirements.
In addition to establishing approval workflows and expediting approvals for their financial documents, users have the opportunity to receive automated audit trails and configure customizable reports suitable for their business.
ProofHub is a software that is created to enhance communication between teams and stakeholders. It offers users an integrated group chat feature, automated online workflows, and discussion boards. Additionally, it allows users to create their own boards for every project. Moreover, it is suitable for remote workers as it can be accessed on any device with an Android or iOS operating system.
Other Approval Automation Software Platforms
admation
adMation is an all-inclusive tool designed to assist agencies in overseeing intricate workflows. The platform is specifically created to handle all aspects of campaign production, from project initiation and configuration to resource management, storage of digital assets, online proofing, and even dealing with challenging client approvals.
Admation, which was created by agency insiders, enables users to monitor all their projects through a unified dashboard. The software incorporates a section for monitoring approvals, in addition to functionalities such as templates, capacity planning, calendars, automated reminders, and task assignments.
Gain
Designed for agencies, Gain is a different approval workflow software platform that combines content creators and their clients’ internal processes into one. First, agencies can upload various content for their clients, such as digital and print ads, videos, branding assets, email newsletters, and social media posts. Clients are then able to review the content and provide thorough feedback within the same platform, ensuring all communication is consolidated.
On Gain, it is possible to automate approval workflows completely, and the platform will even send reminders on behalf of the agency if a client has not responded.
Screendragon
Screendragon is a software platform for approval workflows that enables teams to have visual task management that is easy to customize. It allows every user to configure a framework according to their preferences, making it easy to create detailed processes without the need for coding.
What’s great about it is that Screendragon allows teams to easily change priorities, update timelines, and effectively handle assignees all in one place. Designed with approvals in consideration, Screendragon records all comments and decisions in a single location, making it possible to implement feedback promptly. In the platform, users can annotate documents, graphics, and video files with notes, enabling everyone to provide feedback with greater accuracy.
Make your approval processes even more efficient with approval workflow automation
The approval workflow software with automations incorporated is the best choice for enhancing your team’s productivity.
Now, let’s examine a few examples.
- Remind reviewers to give feedback – When you share a file for feedback, add a due date. This will trigger an approval workflow automation as the due date creeps closer. Your reviewers will then get a quick reminder to add feedback, helping to keep your project moving forward.
- Change the status of a file – Set up automated approval workflows based on your stakeholders’ review or approval decision. If everyone requests changes, you can automatically change the file’s status to “Needs changes”. Or, if everyone is happy in your internal or marketing review step, you can automatically start the next step in your approval process.
