The Stanford Mobile Approvals app is designed for authorized financial transaction approvers and FYI recipients as an optional method of reviewing and/or approving transactions from the ease of a mobile device. Enabling mobile approval as an additional option to using the Oracle Workflow Notifications desktop web interface can accelerate transaction processing for departments.
About
The Stanford Mobile Approvals app is being designed by University IT (UIT) with the goal of supporting all types of transaction approvals at the university, starting with financial transaction approvals.
Oracle Financials uses the account structure to identify authorized approvers based on the PTA account(s) included in the transaction. In addition to email notifications, Stanford Mobile Approvals app users receive instant push notifications on their mobile device when a transaction requires review and approval, or FYI. The mobile interface includes all necessary transaction details and attachments to take appropriate action by reviewing, approving or rejecting the transaction.
Financial transaction types are being released in phases. As of November 17, 2025, the mobile approval app can be used to review and approve the following transaction types:
- iProcurement purchase requisitions of all types (e.g., SmartMart Catalog Orders, Amazon Business, Non-Catalog Requests including change orders, and SmartMart Contracts)
- Purchase order PTA change requests initiated using the Requisition and Purchase Order Query tool
- Purchasing Card (PCard) verification transactions
To review the timeline for adding other financial transaction types, visit the University IT (UIT) Stanford Mobile Approvals website.
The Oracle Workflow Notifications desktop web interface can still be used to review and approve all types of financial transactions (e.g., iProcurement, Expense Requests System, PCard, iJournals, iBudgets, Labor Distribution Adjustments).
Access
Visit the University IT (UIT) Stanford Mobile Approvals website to learn more about:
- Installing the Stanford Mobile Approvals app on IOS/iPhone and Android devices
- Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- UIT resources and support
Note: Following installation, the Stanford Mobile Approvals app remains blank unless the user is an authorized transaction approver with pending notifications that require action.
For help installing the app, or to report a technical issue with the app, please submit a support request.
Learning
Prior to receiving purchase requisition, purchase order PTA change request, and PCard transaction approval notifications, approvers must:
- Be granted Financial System > Approvals > Requisitions authority in Authority Manager which includes authority to review and approve iProcurement, Expense Requests System, and PCard transactions. To view who can grant privileges in an organization, refer to the Authority Manager How Tos.
- Complete required training:
How tos
Step-by-step instructions:
| Category | How-to Instructions: |
| For financial transaction approvers | |
| For financial approvers delegating their approval notifications | |
| For financial approvers sharing their Oracle approval Worklist | |
| For delegatees acting on behalf of other approvers |
Resources
- Checklist: Expenditure Transaction Approval
- Workflow differs slightly among the Oracle Financials systems (iBudgets, iJournals, Expense Requests, iProcurement, Labor Schedules, Labor Distribution Adjustments, and PCard). For specific details, refer to Workflow Variations by Oracle Transaction Type.
- Common Oracle Browser Issues and Resolutions
Reporting
Use Oracle Financials Inquiry Tools (launch Oracle and open the SU Inquiry Tools and Forms folder) to:
- Search for authorized approvers by project, task or by award using the Oracle Financial Approval Authority Query.
- Monitor the history of vacation delegation and worklist sharing assignments using the Oracle Vacation Query.
- View all purchase requisitions, invoice payments, supplier and payee requests, PCard verifications and Expense Requests system transactions including TCard that are pending an action using the Oracle Pending Transactions inquiry tool.