Travel approval process

The procedure for approving a trip by responsible parties before booking. It typically routes a travel request to a manager or budget owner who confirms the trip is necessary and within budget before it's booked. The complexity of this process varies by company, from a simple one-click approval to a multi-step sign-off for higher-cost trips.

Approval processes differ in how many steps they involve and when they are triggered. Some companies require approval for every trip, while others approve only international travel, trips above a certain cost or bookings outside policy. Approvals may be sequential — first the line manager, then the budget owner — or based on rules, such as sending trips over a set amount to a department head. Clear rules on who approves what, and within what time frame, prevent delays.

Approval speed matters more than it might seem. Because fares and hotel rates change constantly, a trip waiting days for sign-off can become significantly more expensive. Long email chains also frustrate travellers and managers alike. Digital approval workflows, where approvers can review the trip details and confirm with one click on any device, keep control in place while reducing delays. Backup approvers ensure that trips do not get stuck when a manager is on leave.

Tumodo supports approval flows that match the company's structure — from simple one-step approval to multi-level flows with more than one approver. A backup manager can be appointed for times when decision-makers are on leave, so nothing gets stuck. Travellers send a trip for approval in one click, and managers can approve it just as quickly, replacing long email threads with a clear, recorded process.