While using the Approval Workflow feature, when the Approval Workflow Type is set to Multi-Step Approval, if any one person in the "chain of approvers" isn't available, then the entries cannot be completely processed. This is a problem for us (and I would think it would also be a problem for anyone who uses this feature).
I would like the ability to add alternatives at every level of the "chain of approvers" for Multi-Step Approval. So, instead of just having a "single-link" chain:
A → B → C
We could have:
[A or X] → [B or Y] → [C or Z]
This way, when an entry is submitted, both A and X get a notification email. If either one of them approves the entry, then B and Y are notified, and so on.
For the sake of flexibility and completeness, there should be an option to require unanimous approval at any level of the Multi-Step Approval chain.
[A and X] → [B and Y] → [C or Z]
Of course, this brings back the problem I was just complaining about: If a single key person is missing, entries cannot be processed. This is also a problem for Single-Step Approval when the "unanimous" approval option is chosen. To solve this, an "override" approval feature should be added, allowing full Machform administrators and designated users with form access privileges to "force" approval of a form without having to go in and edit the list of approvers.