2 Cents from six50: One Automation That Saves 12 Hours a Week

TL;DR

Automating internal approvals (quotes, discounts, invoices, POs) saves 8–15 hours/week and reduces delays by 30–50% — with minimal tech changes.

The Take

Approvals are invisible time sinks.

Every “Can you take a look at this?” email adds friction, delay, and frustration — especially when approvals live in inboxes or Slack threads.

The Numbers

Across multiple clients:

• 8–15 hours/week lost waiting on approvals
• 30–50% delay in deal or invoice cycles
• 3–5 people involved per approval
• 0 audit trail when questions arise

This is low-hanging fruit.

What This Means for Operators

Faster approvals mean:

• Faster revenue recognition
• Fewer internal bottlenecks
• Less context switching for leaders

And no — this doesn’t require complex workflow software.

Our 2 Cents

Start simple:

• Define approval thresholds
• Route decisions automatically
• Capture a timestamped decision trail

If approvals aren’t tracked, they’re broken.

Figures in this article are illustrative estimates for discussion, not guarantees or audited results. Outcomes vary by business. This article is general information, not accounting, tax, or legal advice.