Zenphi says its September platform release adds more flexible ways to automate Google Workspace access requests that depend on an employee’s role and organizational details. The no-code workflow platform can use directory information to route approvals, addressing requests that often arise after account setup and are still handled manually by IT teams.

Key takeaways

The update is designed to complement existing identity and service-desk tools, rather than replace them. Its main change is making selected employee details easier for workflows to use when deciding who should approve access.

• Workflows can route requests using department, cost center, manager, employee ID, and desk location.
• Potential uses include shared drive permissions, Google Group membership, and Gmail delegation.
• A Zenphi webinar poll found many participating IT teams still handle requests manually; the poll’s sample size was not stated.

What’s changing

Zenphi says it has added a Google Directory “Get User” action that returns selected user attributes as ready-to-use workflow fields. This can let an approval process branch according to a requester’s department, cost center, reporting line, or location without requiring teams to extract those details manually.

For example, a shared drive request could go to a local manager, a resource owner, or both, depending on the employee and the resource. A workflow could also add an extra approval step for requests associated with a particular cost center or business entity.

Where the workflows fit

The release focuses on access requests that happen after account provisioning. Identity systems commonly create accounts and apply standard groups or licenses based on a person’s role, but later requests—such as temporary elevated access or delegation while a colleague is away—may depend on circumstances that were not known when the account was set up.

Zenphi describes its platform as an execution layer alongside identity providers, service desks, and identity governance tools. It is not a dedicated access-control product. The workflows can support tasks involving shared drives, Groups, Gmail delegation, licenses, and connected applications, with approval checkpoints and an audit trail.

What the survey suggests

In a poll of IT leaders attending a Zenphi webinar, 60% said their organization had a ticketing system but IT still performed the work manually. Another 23% reported having no formal process, while 7% said the process was fully automated. One-third said their team handled more than 50 such requests manually each week. The figures reflect webinar attendees, not a representative survey of all organizations.

Practical considerations for smaller businesses

Automation can reduce repetitive routing, but it depends on accurate directory information and clearly defined approval rules. Businesses still need to keep user records, groups, shared drive permissions, and delegation settings in order. For small businesses without in-house IT, Email Workspace Administration provides hands-on Google Workspace setup and ongoing administration; workflow automation may complement that work, but does not remove the need for careful configuration and support.

• Google Workspace Gains Flexible Access Request Automation for the, The National Law Review.