Overview
Parallel approval allows multiple approvers to review and approve a request at the same time within a single workflow step. The request progresses only when all approvers in the parallel step have approved. If any approver rejects, the request is immediately returned to the requester.
Prerequisites
Admin mode access is required
The workflow must already exist or you can create a new one
Steps
1. In Admin mode, go to Approvals → Workflows.
2. Click on the workflow you want to configure, or create a new one.
3. Under the Approval Levels screen, locate the level you want to configure or click Add Level to add a new one.
4. Enter a name in the Level Name field.
5. Click the Workflow Type dropdown and select Parallel approval.
6. Click Add Condition to open the conditions modal.
7. In the modal, add each approver by selecting their name from the User dropdown. Add a new row for each additional approver who needs to approve in parallel.
8. Click Save Changes to save the approvers.
9. Click Submit to save the workflow.
Things to keep in mind
All approvers in a parallel step must approve for the workflow to progress to the next step
If any approver rejects, the request is immediately returned to the requester
On resubmission, all approvers must approve again - previous approvals are not carried forward
FAQ
Q: Where do I configure parallel approval workflows in ProcureDesk?
Go to Admin mode, then Approvals → Workflows. Open an existing workflow or create a new one. Under Approval Levels, set the Workflow Type to Parallel approval for the relevant level.
Q: How do I add multiple approvers to a parallel approval step?
After selecting Parallel approval as the Workflow Type, click Add Condition. In the modal that appears, add each approver by selecting their name from the User dropdown. Each row represents one approver in the parallel step.
Q: Does every approver in a parallel step need to approve for the request to move forward?
Yes. All approvers in a parallel step must approve before the workflow progresses to the next step.
Q: What happens if one approver in a parallel step rejects the request?
If any approver rejects, the request is immediately returned to the requester without waiting for the other approvers.
Q: If a request is rejected and resubmitted, do previous approvals carry forward?
No. On resubmission, all approvers in the parallel step must approve again from scratch. Previous approvals are not carried forward.
Q: Can I combine parallel and sequential steps in the same workflow?
Yes. You can add multiple levels to a workflow using the Add Level button, and set each level to a different Workflow Type — for example, one level as Individual user and another as Parallel approval.
Q: What is the difference between Parallel approval and Group approval?
Both allow multiple approvers, but they work differently. With Parallel approval, all approvers must approve for the workflow to progress. Group approval behaviour should be confirmed with your ProcureDesk account manager as the exact logic may differ.