What is the approval routing process?

What is the meaning of approval routing?

Creative projects usually have an asset (or sometimes many assets) that needs to be approved before the project moves forward. Approval routing sends creative content through a series of checkpoints, each with a different stakeholder who reviews and provides feedback. This methodical approach ensures that every creative asset meets the necessary standards for quality and compliance before it’s approved for the next step.
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A structured approval system keeps projects on track and cuts back on redundant back-and-forth exchanges that can delay project timelines. In a marketing agency setting, ensuring compliance with branding guidelines, legal requirements, and client expectations can make or break a campaign. By implementing a strong approval process, agencies and marketing teams maintain control over creative assets and align all deliverables with their standards.

How approval routing ensures compliance and quality

Adding approval routing to your creative projects helps safeguard quality and compliance with brand and legal standards. Different teams can be involved in the approval process depending on the scope of your project. Some content may even require legal teams to give their sign-off before the project moves further. This not only protects the agency from potential legal pitfalls but also builds the brand’s level of professionalism and reliability.

How StreamWork facilitates effective approval routing

Ultimately, the approval routing process is about ensuring that creative work gets the necessary sign-offs effectively and efficiently. With StreamWork, you can streamline creative projects from start to finish. Teams can assign approvers for each asset, set deadlines and track feedback all in one place. StreamWork also supports a wide variety of file types of images, videos and even documents like PDF and PowerPoint, letting you take control of managing your creative assets. Not only does this speed up the routing process but also provides teams with a clear view of project status.
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Through customizable workflows and integration with other project management tools like Asana and Monday.com, StreamWork provides flexibility and the capability to handle complex projects effortlessly. By leveraging tools like StreamWork, marketing teams and creative agencies can maintain high standards of quality and compliance, all while keeping projects on track and in sync with overarching business goals.

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What are the steps of the approval process?

Every creative project needs to meet quality and compliance guidelines. The approval process can help you reach those standards by setting up a structured path to take your project from inception to completion. By understanding and implementing these steps within a team's workflow, your creative projects can move forward without costly delays.

Key stages: submission, review, feedback and final approval

The approval process kicks off with the submission stage, where creative assets are flagged for review. During the review stage, designated approvers and stakeholders examine each asset, making sure they match brand guidelines and alignment with project goals. Most importantly, reviewers will also provide feedback if there’s room for improvement.
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After feedback is given, the project enters a cycle of revisions and resubmissions until all feedback is incorporated. The last step is the final approval, where the project is approved for execution or publication.

Setting up a multi-stage approval in StreamWork

StreamWork empowers teams to customize the approval workflow for both detailed and high-level oversight. Teams can set up and tailor different stages or phases to their unique project needs, like choosing between sequential and parallel reviews, allowing them to manage a multi-stage approval process. Combining StreamWork’s high-powered capabilities for task assignments, deadlines and automated routing with the flexibility of custom approval workflows cuts down on the hassle of managing manual approvals.

Benefits of a structured approach to approvals

When you follow a structured approach to approvals, your teams can reach a greater level of accountability and transparency. StreamWork's system provides clear documentation of each step, keeping everyone in the loop on the project's current status and needed changes.
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The well-defined stages help minimize risks by ensuring that brand and compliance guidelines are consistently applied for every creative project. Ultimately, this approach leads to higher quality results, satisfied reviewers, and a smoother workflow.

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What is the routing decision process?

Building an approval routing workflow can be complex, especially when there’s multiple stakeholders. This is when the routing decision process comes into play. This determines how a creative asset moves through the different stages of approval and who needs to be involved. Laying out these decisions early in a project’s lifespan can have a great effect on running efficient approvals.

Identifying decision points in the approval routing process

In any approval routing workflow, there are key decision points that show an asset’s path through reviews, feedback, and revisions. Think of these decision points as checkpoints to keep everything running smoothly.
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The earlier you can identify decision points for a project, the easier it will be to streamline the approval process. Decision points vary based on factors like the nature of the project, complexity of each asset and the level of oversight required at each stage. Tackling these decisions early in a project’s kickoff is also useful when selecting templates and standardized workflows tailored to specific project types.

Customizing routing paths based on project needs in StreamWork

Every creative project has its unique requirements when it comes to approvals. By customizing these routing paths, teams can optimize their workflows, reduce unnecessary back-and-forth and keep everyone aligned.
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With StreamWork, project managers can take advantage of extensive customization capabilities, creating routing paths to fit their project’s needs. Teams have the flexibility to define specific actions for each approval stage and decide on the final decision makers, ensuring clarity and accountability throughout the process. This customization ensures that every necessary stakeholder gets involved at precisely the right moment, whether it's a straightforward one-step approval or a complex multi-stage process.

Managing complexity in creative project approvals

No two stakeholders are alike–each has different levels of input and influence on the final product. Managing a complex creative project requires a robust system to handle the many approvals without overwhelming team members. StreamWork automates many aspects of the approval process, such as notifications and reminders, to ensure everyone stays informed and on task.
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Additionally, StreamWork integrates with other project management tools, like Asana and Monday.com, for a more efficient approval process. By managing the routing decision process effectively and leveraging technology, marketing teams and creative agencies can reduce delays and miscommunication, ultimately leading to more successful projects.

Leveraging StreamWork for effective approval routing

StreamWork caters to all levels of your project’s approval needs. With features like customizable approval paths and real-time feedback integration, marketing teams can tailor their workflows to unique project requirements. By centralizing the approval routing process onto one platform, StreamWork helps teams deliver projects on time and exceed client expectations.
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StreamWork is redefining how approvals are managed, turning manual routing and miscommunications into a seamlessly automated process. Experience enhanced approval routing and elevate your creative projects to new heights. Sign up for a no-obligation 14-day trial today and discover effortless project management.

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