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Quickstart: Creating and Delegating Decisions

This guide walks you through the core workflow in Aptly:
1. Create a Decision → 2. Delegate it to the appropriate users.
🛠️ Aptly enables structured delegation of authority at scale — all via API or integrated provisioning.

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🔁 Authority Flow in Aptly

Here’s how authority typically flows in Aptly:

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🟦 Step 1: Create a Decision

Define a specific authority type — such as approving spend, signing contracts, or hiring.

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🟩 Step 2: Delegate to People or Positions

Assign that decision to individuals or position titles. Configure it with limits, timeframes, and conditions.

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🟨 Step 3: Optional: Approvals & Cascading

Route delegations through approval workflows or allow cascading if permitted.
You can delegate to multiple individuals or positions, but not directly to a Role or Team.

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⚙️ Before You Start

Before creating decisions or delegations, you need to configure your organization’s structure in Aptly. You’ll need to:
Your configuration determines how authority can flow. Setting it up first ensures your delegations are valid, compliant, and scoped correctly.

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📘 Step 1: Create a Decision

A Decision defines a specific type of authority in your org — like approving capital expenditures or signing contracts. Use the API to create a decision: 
POST /decision/v1/decisions

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Example payload:

{
  "name": "Approve Capital Expenditures",
  "category": "Finance",
  "section": "Capital Budget",
  "description": "Authority to approve capital expenses up to defined limits",
  "guidance": "Refer to CAPEX policy section 3.1",
  "requiresApproval": true
}
🔗 View full API reference for creating a decision

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🔄 Step 2: Delegate the Decision

Once a decision exists, you can assign it to individuals or positions — with limits, durations, and delegation controls. 
POST /decision/v1/delegations

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Example payload:

{
  "decisionId": "DEC-123456",
  "userId": "USR-7890",
  "groupId": "GRP-4567",
  "limitAmount": 100000,
  "currency": "USD",
  "startDate": "2025-04-01",
  "endDate": "2025-12-31",
  "delegable": true,
  "notes": "Temporary delegation for Q2 budget management"
}
🧠 Delegations in Aptly are limit-bound, time-based, and can be configured to cascade or require approval based on your policies.

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🎯 What’s Next?

Once you’ve issued your first delegation, you might:
Need help? Reach out to [email protected]