Approvals That Reach People Where They Already Work

Approvals are where most QMS systems break down — slow email chains, lost requests, approvers on vacation, signatures collected on paper. Synesis QMS solves it with three-channel approvals: every request creates a task in the in-app Approvals Inbox, sends a magic-link email with one-click Approve/Reject buttons, and posts a Microsoft Teams Approval card in the approver's Teams. The first response from any channel wins, and the other two channels stay live but become idempotent — a second click is a safe no-op.

Each approval workflow is visualized as an interactive diagram with pan, zoom, and drag — Document Control, CAPA, NCR, Change Control, Audits, Quality Events, Complaints, and SCARs each have their own canvas with decision diamonds, approved arrows, and rejection loopback paths. Click any node to see the records currently in that state. Every approval is logged with user, timestamp, channel, and decision rationale. Audit trails are complete, electronic signatures are validated, and configuration is point-and-click.

Synesis QMS Approval Workflows page showing Document Control workflow with decision points
Approval Workflows — interactive diagrams with pan, zoom, and drag. Click any node to see records in that state.

Workflow Capabilities

Three-Channel Approvals

In-App, Email, Teams

Every approval request reaches the approver via the in-app Approvals Inbox, a magic-link email with Approve/Reject buttons, and a Microsoft Teams Approval card. Approver responds in any channel — the others stay synced.

Visual Workflow Diagrams

Pan, Zoom, Drag

Each module's approval workflow is rendered as an interactive SVG diagram with decision diamonds, approved paths (green), rejection loopback paths (red dashed), and node counts showing records currently in each state.

First Response Wins

Idempotent by Design

First approver response is committed. Subsequent clicks in any other channel are safe no-ops. No double-approvals, no race conditions, no surprises.

Magic-Link Email Approvals

Approve from Anywhere

Approval emails contain HMAC-signed magic links that expire after 14 days and become invalid after first use. Approve or reject from any device, no login required.

Microsoft Teams Integration

Native Approval Cards

Native Microsoft Teams Approval cards. Approver decides in Teams, response syncs back to the QMS in seconds via Graph API webhooks. Polling fallback for restricted environments.

Multi-Stage Routing

Reviewer + Approver

Configure separate Reviewer and Approver roles per record type. Reviewer approves moves to Pending Approval; Approver approval marks Effective. Either can reject with comments.

Configurable Per Module

Point-and-Click Setup

Document Control, CAPA, NCR, Change Control, Audits, Quality Events, Complaints, SCAR each have configurable approval paths. Add/remove stages, change approvers, set escalation timers.

Complete Audit Trail

Who, When, How, Why

Every approval action logged: approver, timestamp, channel (in-app/email/Teams), decision (approve/reject), comments, and digital signature. Audit-ready electronic signature compliance.

Approvals That Hold Up to Audit

FDA 21 CFR Part 11

Electronic signatures with user authentication, audit trail, and decision history. Validated workflow with controlled access and immutable records.

ISO 9001 §7.5.3

Controlled documented information. Approval workflow ensures only authorized changes are made and effective. Complete review and approval evidence.

EU GMP Annex 11

Computerised systems for regulated environments. User access controls, audit trail, and electronic signatures meeting EU pharmaceutical requirements.

SOC 2 / ISO 27001

Information security and access controls. Approval workflows enforce separation of duties, least-privilege access, and complete activity logging.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is quality approval workflow software?

Quality approval workflow software routes quality records such as documents, CAPAs, nonconformances, and change controls through defined review and approval steps, with the right people notified at each stage. Synesis QMS quality approval workflow software lets manufacturers configure multi-step approval chains per module, capture electronic approvals, and visualize each process as an interactive workflow diagram. The result is consistent, enforceable approvals instead of ad-hoc email sign-offs.

How does approval workflow software support ISO 9001 compliance?

ISO 9001 requires controlled review and approval of documented information and corrective actions, with clear evidence of who authorized what. Quality approval workflow software enforces those gates automatically, recording each reviewer and approver decision with a time-stamped audit trail. The same engine drives approvals for document control, CAPA, audits, and change control, so manufacturers in ISO 9001, ISO 13485, IATF 16949, and AS9100 environments get repeatable, audit-ready processes.

Can approval workflows be customized for each quality process?

Yes. The quality approval workflow software supports configurable multi-step chains with decision gates, rejection loops, and escalation, tuned separately for each module such as documents, CAPA, nonconformances, complaints, and change control. Rejections route the record back to the owner with comments rather than dropping it, and every step is tracked. This lets manufacturers model their real approval policies instead of forcing every process into one rigid flow.

Does the approval workflow software work with Microsoft 365 and SAP Business One?

Yes. The quality approval workflow software integrates with Microsoft 365, Teams, and Outlook so approvals and notifications reach reviewers where they already work, and as an SAP Gold Partner Synesis also offers native SAP Business One integration. Because workflows connect to the rest of the Synesis QMS platform, an approved CAPA or document update can trigger linked actions for full closed-loop traceability, deployed in the cloud or on-premise.

Streamline Your Approvals

Show us your current approval bottleneck and we'll map it onto a Synesis QMS workflow on the spot.

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