Find out why automated work is waiting for approval

Look at waiting time separately

An automation can generate drafts quickly while the work still sits in a review queue. Measure time waiting for approval separately from time spent reviewing. The solution may be a clearer decision packet or a backup reviewer rather than a faster AI model.

Sample a small set of decisions

For each item, record when it became ready, assigned reviewer, first review time, decision time and reason for return. In an illustrative purchasing queue, repeated returns for missing supplier quotes reveal an intake problem. Do not interpret an absent reviewer’s delay as poor performance without context.

Fix one cause at a time

Try requiring the missing attachment, clarifying approval limits or assigning an agreed backup. Keep the decision with an authorized person. Confirm your approval tool exposes timestamps and reassignment history. Test a reviewer absence and a rejected item that is corrected, so the same request does not appear as two separate approvals.

Power Automate provides approval steps. Confirm connectors and licensing for your implementation. Microsoft: approval workflow setup

Compare the whole turnaround

Track median wait, long delays, review minutes and returned items before and after the change. Faster approval is not useful if decisions become less accurate. Include process mapping, setup, software and reviewer costs. Exovara can help instrument the queue and improve the packet so existing staff spend less time chasing context.

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This guide applies across Canada. We provide remote AI consulting for businesses in Charlottetown; it does not describe a local client or a staffed office.

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