Yes, this is a common workflow challenge in Business Central! By default, the Purchase Quote Approval Workflow will skip approvers whose approval limit is below the document amount (because it tries to go directly to someone who can approve it).
But you can absolutely configure it so that Bob must approve first, even if his limit is lower than the document amount, before it goes to Jason.
Solution: Use Approval User Setup + Chain Approvals
1. Configure Approval User Setup
Go to the Approval User Setup page and configure:
User
Approval Limit (LCY)
Approver ID
Unlimited Approval
Bob
100
Jason
No
(blank or large)
(Next approver or blank)
Yes (if he’s final approver)
Key things here:
Bob’s Approver ID = Jason — ensures that if Bob’s limit is exceeded, request is escalated to Jason.
Jason has Unlimited Approval (or high enough limit to cover max document amount).
2. Configure the Workflow
Use the built-in Purchase Quote Approval Workflow template as a starting point.
Make sure you have Workflow Response: Create Approval Request configured with First Qualified Approver set to Approver Chain (not direct approver).
> This forces BC to follow the chain, not skip users.
If necessary, add a Condition in the workflow to always send first to the Requester’s direct approver, regardless of amount.
Business Central has a setting called "Approval Type" in workflows — you want it to be "Approver Chain" and not "Direct Approver".
Steps:
Go to your workflow.
Edit the Create Approval Request response.
Set Approver Type = Approver Chain (instead of first qualified approver).
This forces BC to send to Bob first, even if his limit is insufficient.
If Bob approves, BC automatically escalates to Jason (next approver).
Example:
This satisfies your requirement of not skipping Bob.
Note:
If you leave Approver Type = First Qualified Approver, BC will indeed skip Bob.
Make sure Approval User Setup chain is correct (no missing approver IDs).
Test with multiple users to ensure no dead-end approvals (e.g., chain must end with someone with Unlimited Approval).
Purchase Quote = $150
Bob’s limit = $100
Result:
Request goes to Bob first.
Bob approves (even though he can’t fully release it).
Request escalates to Jason for final approval.
Jason approves → Quote is released.
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