Workflow: Same approver approves at two different stages

[deboragallucci]

Hello,

In SAP Concur, I have an approval workflow where the same approver approves at two different stages (Cost object approval step and Budget approver step). Anyone knows how can I skip the step if the approver has already approved before?

The option Skip approval step if approver has already approved is already set as yes, however it is not working properly.

[PoojaKumatkar]

Hi @deboragallucci ,

This setting 'Skip approval step if approver has already approved' does not apply to budget approver and cost object approver step. Hence they need to approve it twice if person is same. Attaching similar articles for your further reference purpose. 

Regarding workaround, lets say in your case if all the budget approvers and cost object approvers are the same person then I would recommend not to include budget approver step in the workflow. Just give budget approver/viewer role to cost object approver with that whenever COA will get report in their queue for approval with the help of view budget/budget dashboard they can still view the budget and approve/send back the report. This means they need to approve it only once.

Suggesting this option because we have done the same thing in one of my project where budget approver and COA were the same person.

Note - if Budget approver and COA is different person (except few cases) then don't consider above workaround.  

If this answers your query then please mark solution as accepted.

[deboragallucci]

Hello Pooja, thank you for your reply.

In this case, the budget approver only approves when the budget limit is exceeded. Therefore, as I understand it, they would have to approve twice.

[PoojaKumatkar]

Hi @deboragallucci ,

If you could show me how your workflow is setup, the steps and conditions configured, then I will get some more idea.

Regarding your understanding, irrespective of limit is exceeded or not, report will go through budget approver step. So, if COA and budget approver is same then yes, they need to approve it twice.

so, your workflow will look like this:

Employee >> COA >> Budget Approver >> Processor

OR

Employee >> Budget Approver >> COA >> Processor

May I know whether all cost object approvers and budget approvers are same person, or they are different?

If they are the same person, then you can think of my below suggested solution that is removing budget approver step from the workflow and giving budget viewer/manager role to cost object approver.

Here, your workflow will look like this:

Employee >> COA (Budget approver - if same person) >> Processor

Hope you are getting what I'm trying to explain.

If this answers your query, then please mark solution as accepted.