Final answer:
To set up an automated approval process in SharePoint, one can use Microsoft Power Automate to create a workflow that triggers when a file is added to a SharePoint library. This involves creating a new automation using the 'When a file is created' trigger, adding an 'Start and wait for an approval' action, and customizing the approval details.
Step-by-step explanation:
To start an approval process when a file is added to a SharePoint library, you can utilize Microsoft Power Automate (previously known as Microsoft Flow). Power Automate is integrated with SharePoint and offers a way to create automated workflows between your favorite apps and services to get notifications, synchronize files, collect data, and more. Here are the general steps you would follow: Go to Microsoft Power Automate and sign in with your Microsoft account. Choose 'Create' and then 'Automated cloud flow'.
Name your flow and select the trigger 'When a file is created (properties only)' for SharePoint. Choose the SharePoint site and library where files will be uploaded. Add a new step to introduce an 'Start and wait for an approval' action. Configure the approval details, such as the Title, Assigned To, and Details of the approval request. Following the approval action, you can add additional steps to handle the outcome of the approval. Save and test your flow by uploading a file to the specified library in SharePoint. Through this process, every time a file is uploaded to the specified SharePoint library, the approval workflow will be triggered, sending an approval request to the designated reviewers.