Automate internal approvals, vendor onboarding, and cross-functional routing with AI-driven decision logic — replacing coordinator overhead with auditable, adaptive workflows.
The pipeline · 6 steps
3 free
STEP 1RRelay.appNew vendor request submitted via form — Route to appropriate reviewer based on vendor category, contract value, and requester department
STEP 2RRelay.appReviewer notified in Slack with full context and one-click decision
STEP 3
Why this works
A vendor request triggers Relay.app's visual approval flow, routing to the appropriate reviewer based on vendor category with SLA tracking and automated escalation. n8n handles the backend logic — checking compliance flags, generating onboarding checklists, creating ERP records on approval. Make syncs data across systems and generates weekly ops reports. Taskade manages recurring process work with AI-generated checklists. Activepieces handles sensitive data workflows on self-hosted infrastructure.
Setup time
1–2 days
Difficulty
low-code
Built for
operations manager, Chief of Staff, IT operations
FAQ
How do you handle employees who bypass the automated process and just email their manager?
Make the automated process easier than email — one-click approvals in Slack, mobile-friendly interfaces, and visible status tracking. Relay.app's Slack-integrated approvals are faster than writing an email response. Compliance requirements also help: off-system approvals have no audit trail.
Can this stack handle financial approval workflows with multiple tiers?
Yes. Relay.app supports sequential and parallel approval flows with conditional branching based on dollar amounts. n8n can add validation steps between tiers. For strict financial controls, configure Activepieces to run compliance checks on your own infrastructure.
What's the best starting process to automate?
Start with a high-volume, well-defined process currently running in email — purchase order approvals, time-off requests, IT access requests, or expense reports. These have clear inputs, clear decision points, and clear outputs. Avoid starting with ambiguous or exception-heavy processes.
N8N
Vendor approved — check compliance flags and generate onboarding checklist
Free
STEP 4MakeSync vendor status to multiple systems simultaneouslyFree
STEP 5TaskadeRecurring quarterly vendor review cycle — Generate work breakdown for each recurring process based on templateFree
STEP 6AActivepiecesCompliance-sensitive data workflow (PII, financial data)
R
STEP 1
Relay.app
New vendor request submitted via form — Route to appropriate reviewer based on vendor category, contract value, and requester department
R
STEP 2
Relay.app
Reviewer notified in Slack with full context and one-click decision
STEP 3
N8N
Vendor approved — check compliance flags and generate onboarding checklist
Free
STEP 4
Make
Sync vendor status to multiple systems simultaneously
Free
STEP 5
Taskade
Recurring quarterly vendor review cycle — Generate work breakdown for each recurring process based on template
Free
A
STEP 6
Activepieces
Compliance-sensitive data workflow (PII, financial data)