Big Idea or Enduring Question:
How do you set up dynamic approval routing?
In Salesforce, a user can use an Approval process to get approval from managers or higher authority. Approval processes route a record to one or more approvers, specifying the steps necessary for a record to be approved, and who must approve it at each step.
In a normal approval process, i.e., Static approval process, the approvers at each step are explicitly specified in each step approval process, or you can have the submitter choose the approver manually, as shown in the following screenshot: 
Whereas dynamic approval routing allows us to specify the approvers for each record using User lookup fields on the record requiring approval. These fields can be populated using Process Builder or Apex, using data from a special custom object/setting that contains all the information needed to route the record. Dynamic approval routing provides the flexibility to route the approval request to different people based on Account Type or some other criteria related to the record. Let’s start with a business use case.
Objectives:
After reading this blog post, the reader will be able to:
- Use Before-save Record-Triggered Flow to route approval requests to designated approvers
- Use a Decision element to find – record variable or record collection variable contains a record or not
- Use an Assignment element to assign default approver to opportunity
Business Use case
Steven Greene is working as a System administrator in Universal Container. He has received a requirement from the management to route opportunity approval requests to designated approvers based on the opportunity’s Lead Source and the opportunity’s account Type.
Automation Champion Approach (I-do):
Let’s begin building this automation process.
Guided Practice (We-do):
There are 5 steps to solve Steven’s business requirement using Salesforce Flow. We must:
- Create a custom lookup (with User object) field on the object being approved
- Create a custom object that will be used as an approval matrix
- Populate the approval matrix, i.e., create a few records in a custom object
- Create an approval process
- Salesforce Flow Steps:
- Define flow properties for record-triggered flow
- Add a get records element to find opportunity owner
- Add a decision element to check the record collection variable (from step 5.2)
- Add an assignment element – assign dynamic approver
- Add an assignment element – assign default approver
Step 1: Creating a Custom lookup (user)
On the Opportunity object, create a lookup field called Opportunity Approver as mentioned in the steps below.
- Click Setup.
- In the Object Manager, type Opportunity.
- Select Fields & Relationships, then click New.
- Select Lookup Relationship as Data Type, then click Next.
- Select the User object for the Related To option, then click Next.
- Enter Field Label and click the Next button. The API Name will populate.
- As a best practice, always input a description.
- Set the Field-level Security for the profiles, make sure to set this field as read-only.
- Add this field to Page Layout.
- Click Save.
Step 2: Create a Custom Object
The next step is to create a custom object Approver Matrix and a few custom fields to store related information which will use in approval routing.
- Click Setup.
- In the Object Manager, click Create | Custom Object.
- Now create a custom object Approver Matrix and fields as shown in the screenshot below:
- Click Save.
| Field Name | Values |
| Lead Source | Web Phone Inquiry Partner Referral |
| Type | Existing Customer – Downgrade Existing Customer – Replacement Existing Customer – Upgrade New Customer |
Step 3: Create Approval Matrix Records
The next step is to create approval matrix records that associate the Lead Source and Type to the appropriate Opportunity Approver. For example, if Lead Source = Web and Type = Existing Customer – Upgrade, then one might route the records to Adam Smith as Opportunity Approver. It will look like the following screenshot: 
Step 4: Create an Approval Process
- Click Setup.
- In the Quick Find box, type Approval Processes.
- Clicks on the Create New Approval Process | Use Standard Setup Wizard button.
- Select the Opportunity object for Manage Approval Processes For drop-down.
- Now create an approval process, as shown in the following screenshot:
Make sure to modify the approver step (Step 3), and select related user Opportunity approver, as shown in the preceding screenshot.
Step 5.1: Salesforce Flow – Define Flow Properties
- Click Setup.
- In the Quick Find box, type Flows.
- Select Flows then click on the New Flow.
- Select the Record-Triggered Flow option and click on Next and configure the flow as follows:
- How do you want to start building: Freeform
- Trigger the Flow When: A record is created or Updated
- Run Flow: Before the record is saved
- Object: Opportunity
- Select Any Condition Is Met (OR).
- Set Conditions
- Row 1
- Field: Opportunity | Type
- Operator: Does Not Equal
- Value: {!$GlobalConstant.EmptyString}
- Row 1
- Click Add Condition
- Row 2
- Field: Opportunity | Lead Source
- Operator: Does Not Equal
- Value: {!$GlobalConstant.EmptyString}
- Row 2
- Choose the Option to Every time a record is updated and meets the condition requirements.
- Click Done.
Step 5.2: Salesforce Flow – Adding a Get Record Element
The next step is to get the Opportunity Approver. We will use the Get Records element. To do this drag-and-drop Get Records element onto the canvas and map the fields according to the details below:
- Under Toolbox, select Element.
- Drag-and-drop Get Records element onto the Flow designer.
- Enter a name in the Label field; the API Name will auto-populate.
- Select the Approver Matrix object from the dropdown list.
- Select All Conditions Are Met (AND).
- Set Filter Conditions
- Row 1:
- Field: Type
- Operator: Equals
- Value: {!$Record.Type}
- Row 2:
- Field: Lead Source
- Operator: Equals
- Value: {!$Record.LeadSource}
- Row 1:
- How Many Records to Store:
- select Only the first record
- How to Store Record Data:
- Choose the option to Automatically store all fields.
- Click Done.
Step 5.3: Salesforce Flow – Using Decision Element to Check Record Variable Size
Now we will use the Decision element to check the Record Variable from step 5.2 size. If the Text Variable is not equal to null, then we will go ahead and update Approver on the opportunity record. Otherwise, we will update it with a default approver.
- Under Toolbox, select Element.
- Drag-and-drop Decision element onto the Flow designer.
- Enter a name in the Label field; the API Name will auto-populate.
- Under Outcome Details, enter the Label the API Name will auto-populate.
- Condition Requirements to Execute Outcome: All Conditions Are Met (AND)
- Row 1:
- Resource: {!Opportunity_Approver}
- Operator: Is Null
- Value: {!$GlobalConstant.False}
- Row 1:
- When to Execute Outcome: If the condition requirements are met
- Click Done.
Step 5.4: Salesforce Flow – Using Assignment Element to Update Opportunity Approver
The next step is to update an Opportunity record. We will use the Assignment element, as we are using before-save flow.
- Under Toolbox, select Element.
- Drag-and-drop Assignment element onto the Flow designer.
- Enter a name in the Label field; the API Name will auto-populate.
- Set Variable Values
- Row 1:
- Field: {!$Record.Opportunity_Approver__c}
- Operator: Equals
- Value: {!Opportunity_Approver.Opportunity_Approver__c} (Record variable from step 5.2)
- Row 1:
- Click Done.
Step 5.5: Salesforce Flow – Using Assignment Element to Update Default Approver
In case there aren’t any approvers that exist in the Approver Matrix for the current opportunity, then we will update Opportunity Approver to Logged-In user’s manager. We will use the Assignment element, as we are using before-save flow.
- Under Toolbox, select Element.
- Drag-and-drop Assignment element onto the Flow designer.
- Enter a name in the Label field; the API Name will auto-populate.
- Set Variable Values
- Row 1:
- Field: {!$Record.Opportunity_Approver__c}
- Operator: Equals
- Value: {!$User.ManagerId}
- Row 1:
- Click Done.
In the end, Steven’s Flow will look like the following screenshot:
Once everything looks good, perform the steps below:
- Click Save.
- Enter Flow Label the API Name will auto-populate.
- Click Show Advanced.
- Type: Record-Triggered Flow
- API Version for Running the Flow: 50
- Interview Label: Dynamic Approval Routing {!$Flow.CurrentDateTime}
- Click Save.
Almost there! Once everything looks good, click the Activate button.
Proof of Concept
Now onwards, if a business user updates the Lead Source and Type, Process Builder will automatically populate the Opportunity Approver field.
- Currently, Opportunity Approver on opportunity West Mountain Sign is Patrick Trevenen (which is correct based on our matrix which we set up in step 3)as shown in the following screenshot:
- Now we update the Type to Existing Customer – Upgrade and Lead Source to Web.
Finally, submit an Opportunity record for approval.
Formative Assessment:
I want to hear from you!
What is one thing you learned from this post? How do you envision applying this new knowledge in the real world?
Let me know by Tweeting me at @automationchamp, or find me on LinkedIn.
