The length of time before a request is escalated is set by your Ariba Buyer system administrator.

Ariba Buyer escalates approvals only when the delinquent approver is a single individual. It does not escalate approvals that are stalled with a role or group, such as Professional Buyer, because that role or group could have many individuals, each with different supervisors, assigned to it.

Ariba Buyer automatically escalates requests when necessary to ensure they continue to move through the approval process. For example, if an approver does not take action on a request within a specified time period, Ariba Buyer:

1. Sends an email message to the approver with whom the request is stalled, warning that the request will be escalated if no action is taken.
2. Waits for a specified period of time to allow the delinquent approver to act on the request.
3. If no action is taken, moves the request into the approval folder of the delinquent approver’s immediate supervisor, making the supervisor the current approver. The delinquent approver is removed from the approval flow and can no longer approve the request.
4. Sends email messages to the delinquent approver, the new current approver, and the preparer, notifying them of the escalation. Escalation details are also noted on the History tab of the request.
5. Continues with the approval flow.