--- sourceDocument: Australia Sales Customer Relationship Management sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/order-management Release : - australia ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Australia Sales Customer Relationship Management ft:clusterId : - omgmt bundleId : - omgmt workflow : - Customer and Industry --- # Working with approval requests as a requester # Working with approval requests as a requester {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Australia Updated March 12, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Working with approval requests as a requester This guide explains how ServiceNow customers with the approval request writer role can manage approval requests effectively within the Sales Customer Relationship Management application. It covers submitting, recalling, resubmitting, adding approvers, and overriding approval steps, enabling requesters to control the approval lifecycle of business items such as customer quotes. Show full answer Show less ## Previewing and Submitting Approval Requests When a business item is ready for approval, requesters can preview the approval workflow---including conditions, steps, and approvers---before submitting the request. This ensures full visibility into the approval process prior to generation of the request. ## Recalling Approval Requests If changes are needed after submission, requesters can recall the approval request. This cancels any pending approvals and reverts the request to draft status for updates, preventing approvers from reviewing outdated information. ## Resubmitting Rejected or Recalled Requests Requesters can revise and resubmit requests that were either recalled or rejected. Upon resubmission, the approval engine reevaluates the request and runs approval steps based on configured rules. Smart reapproval can automatically approve unaffected steps, reducing redundant approvals while ensuring compliance. ## Adding Ad-Hoc Approvers Requesters may add additional approvers or approval groups to an approval chain when specialized input is required beyond the default approvers. These ad-hoc approvers can be assigned to the general chain or inserted into specific steps, providing flexibility to include relevant stakeholders. ## Overriding an Approval Step Requesters with the approval admin role can override or bypass pending approval steps to unblock requests when an approval is no longer necessary. This helps expedite processing in exceptional cases. ## Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers * Complete control over approval requests with options to preview, recall, and resubmit ensures accuracy and responsiveness. * Smart reapproval reduces unnecessary approval workload while maintaining compliance with business rules. * Adding ad-hoc approvers allows incorporating specialized knowledge into approval decisions. * Ability to override approval steps helps resolve bottlenecks quickly when approvals are no longer needed. By leveraging these capabilities, ServiceNow customers can streamline their approval workflows, improve collaboration between requesters and approvers, and maintain compliance with organizational policies. As a requester with the approval request writer role, when you submit your request for approval, you preview it, then request approval. You can also recall a request if you need to make changes or update a request if it was rejected, then resubmit it for approval. ## Previewing and submitting approval requests {#submitting-approval-requests__section_v11_cvx_m3c} When a business item such as a customer quote is ready for approval, you can submit an approval request from the Sales Customer Relationship Management application for the entity, for example Quote Management. When you select the Preview and Submit for approval option, a preview of your request and the approval workflow opens. You can see the approval conditions that will be used to evaluate your request, the approval steps in the process, and the approvers who review your request. After reviewing the approval workflow, select Request Approval to generate the request. Figure 1. Preview approval request ## Recalling approval requests {#submitting-approval-requests__section_dyg_ny4_k3c} If you need to change an approval request after you submit it for approval, you can recall the approval request using the Recall approval request option in the quote header. Recalling an approval request cancels any pending approval steps and returns the request to a draft state where it can be updated. Recalling a request helps prevent approvers from continuing to review outdated information while you address issues before resubmitting the request for approval. ## Resubmitting rejected or recalled approval requests {#submitting-approval-requests__section_enk_wy4_k3c} If you recalled an approval request or your request was rejected, you can revise it and resubmit the request for approval. For example, when you resubmit an approval request for a quote, the approval engine reevaluates the request and determines which approval steps must run again based on the configured rules and conditions. Approval steps that are unaffected by the changes might be automatically approved (smart reapprovals) depending on the reapproval conditions set by your approval admin. But approval steps affected by the changes are routed again to the appropriate approvers. This helps reduce unnecessary reapprovals while ensuring that all required conditions are met before the quote is approved. Once all required approval steps are approved, your business item, such as the quote that was approved, can proceed to the next stage of the sales process. ## Adding ad-hoc approvers to an approval request {#submitting-approval-requests__section_nbr_s1t_s3c} As a requester, you can add one or more approvers or approval groups to a chain when an approval request requires approval by others who are familiar with the rules or business guidelines relevant to the request, but outside of the original approvers. By default, ad-hoc approvers are added to the General chain, but you can add an ad-hoc approver to an existing approval chain and specify the order (step) to which the approver is added. For details on adding ad-hoc approvers, see [Add ad-hoc approvers to an approval request](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/jS2YCNyEtJGZo6uzn8KekQ "As a requester or an approver, add one or more ad-hoc approvers to an approval request in Advanced Approval Management."). ## Overriding an approval step {#submitting-approval-requests__section_zjg_sbt_s3c} There may be times when an approval is no longer required. If you're a requester who also has the approval admin role, you can override or bypass a pending approval request step to unblock an approval request when the approval is no longer required. For more information, see [Override an approver](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/nMj9zw9zJrZJxPM_berobw "Override the approver in an approval step if the approval is no longer required, to help prevent the approval workflow from being blocked."). **Related concepts** * [Configuring Advanced Approval Management](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/3rAH6V4ncAQIBmlZCYjnng "Install the Advanced Approval Management application to build workflows that automate the approval process for Sales Customer Relationship Management entities such as customer quotes.") * [Notifications in Advanced Approval Management](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/VJ4D_FBk4L57PmtGYFEE_w "In Advanced Approval Management, as an approval request moves through the approval process, notifications about the status of the approval request are sent automatically to approval requesters and approvers.") **Related tasks** * [Create an approval configuration](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/HKS5Ie6oKT559n3n7uNK2Q "Create an approval configuration for a Sales Customer Relationship Management entity, such as quotes.") **Related reference** * [Components installed with Advanced Approval Management](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/c3hpWM9FpMKBJNSTMNJscA "Several types of components are installed with activation of the Advanced Approval Management plugin, including tables, scheduled jobs, and user roles.")