Definition
A Delegated Approver is a user who has been designated to approve or reject approval requests on behalf of another user who is away or unavailable. The delegated approver acts with the same authority as the original approver for a specified period during an absence.
Real-World Example
an admin at Redwood Financial recently implemented Delegated Approver to ensure the Salesforce org runs smoothly and securely. They configure Delegated Approver during a scheduled maintenance window, test it in a sandbox first, and then deploy to production. The result is tighter security and a more streamlined experience for all 200 users in the org.
Why Delegated Approver Matters
A Delegated Approver is a user designated to approve or reject approval requests on behalf of another user during a temporary absence. When the original approver sets a delegated approver in their personal settings (or an admin sets it on their behalf), incoming approval requests can be routed to the delegate or visible to both. The delegate acts with the same authority as the original approver, so the approval process keeps moving even when the primary approver is unavailable.
Delegated approvers solve a common problem in approval-heavy organizations: a single approver going on vacation can stall every approval that requires their signoff. By designating a delegate ahead of time, the team avoids bottlenecks and ensures timely processing of approvals. This is especially important for high-volume or time-sensitive approvals like deal discounts, contract approvals, and expense reports. Most orgs configure delegation as a self-service setting users update before going on PTO, with some orgs adding admin-driven delegation for unexpected absences.
How Organizations Use Delegated Approver
- •Cobalt Ventures — Trains sales managers to set up delegated approvers before going on vacation. Discount approval requests still flow through the normal process, just routed to the delegate while the manager is away.
- •Vertex Global — Built a reminder workflow that prompts approvers to check their delegation settings whenever they request PTO. The reminder reduced the number of stalled approvals significantly.
- •Skyline Consulting — Configures delegated approvers for executives during the holiday season as a standard part of their year-end checklist.