The 'Approve on behalf of' feature allows Mesh power users (i.e., users with Admin or Pro profiles) to approve or decline requests on behalf of other users. With this feature, Mesh offers a flexible and efficient solution to common challenges associated with approval workflows, helping to eliminate bottlenecks and ensuring that the approval process continues to run smoothly.

A Mesh power user can step in and handle an approval round on behalf of a designated approver who can not take action (e.g., on vacation or unavailable for any other reason). This ensures that important requests and workflows are not delayed, even when the original approver is unavailable.

Follow the steps below to 'Approve on behalf of':

1. Log into the Mesh platform as a power user.

2. Navigate to the 'Pending My Approval' page and click on one of the options (i.e., Budegts, Trips, or Expenses).  

3. Click on one of the listed requests. 

4. Click on the ellipsis icon in the upper right-hand corner and click 'Approve on behalf of'. 

Note: In addition to 'Approve on behalf of', you can 'Decline on behalf of' or 'Reassign' the step.

5. Click on the relevant button at the bottom right-hand side of the page, enter a multi-factor authentication code, and confirm your selection to complete the procedure. As an approval round may involve multiple approvers, the individual 'approving on behalf of' must designate the person they are substituting for.

Notes:

• This feature is available for budget/card and trip requests. 
• The 'approve on behalf of' action can be completed for the current approval round. In other words, if power users need to approve on behalf of a person or role that appears later in the approval flow, they need to wait for that round to occur or take place.
• Power users may 'approve on behalf of' several approving rounds.
• If the workflow includes two 'Admin/Pro' steps, the first Admin/Pro can 'approve on behalf of', but another Admin/Pro will be needed for the final step. 
• The actions taken are documented in the approval flow audit trail. The approver's name appears with relevant text detailing the action taken. Once the card is created, this will also appear on the card's history. 

Note: you can also reassign a step.