HOW MANY FILES ARE STILL WAITING FOR APPROVAL?

That same day, Aïcha receives an offer from another bank, with an answer promised within a week.

The real problem isn't the number of files

In a bank, a file often passes through several approvals: manager, compliance, risk, legal, final approval. Each step is necessary. But each is also an opportunity for delay. Most often, the problem isn't that teams are working slowly. It's that no one can see where files are piling up:

• ⚠No overall view — each department knows its own pile, but no one knows the total.
• ⚠Forgotten files — sitting in an inbox, under a stack of papers, or with an employee who's out.
• ⚠Invisible bottlenecks — one step blocks the whole process without anyone noticing.
• ⚠Blind follow-ups — calling everyone, because no one knows who's actually holding things up.

The result shows up in the numbers: lead times stretch out, clients leave, and teams are worn out by follow-ups that could have been avoided.

The same month, with M-Files

A full picture at a glance. Opening M-Files, the manager immediately sees the "Pending approvals" view: 23 files, each showing its current step, who it's assigned to, and the date.

Bottlenecks surface. He immediately spots Aïcha's SME credit file: it's at "Final approval", assigned to Jean K., and has been waiting longer than the others. He also notices several files stuck at the same step.

Automated workflows. Each file moves on its own from one step to the next. Approvers are notified at the right time and get automatic reminders when a file is running late. If someone is away, their files can be reassigned in a few clicks.

Targeted action. The manager follows up with Jean K., who approves Aïcha's file from his phone within the hour.

The next day, Aïcha receives approval for her work vehicle. She politely turns down the other bank's offer. And by the end of the month, the manager no longer needs two days of digging: he presents a clear report, with lead times that have dropped significantly.

What this changes in practice

Full visibility — you instantly identify pending files: how many, where, with whom, and since when.

Automated workflows — the right people are engaged at the right time, with no manual follow-up, and files never sit without an owner.

Faster approvals — you cut lead times and avoid delays. Approvers sign off in a few clicks, from their computer or phone.

Improved performance — you speed up your processes and gain efficiency. Decision-makers steer with facts, not impressions.

What about you?

Ask yourself the question in this article's title, and try to answer it in under a minute:

"How many files are waiting for approval in our bank right now? And which one has been waiting the longest?"

If you can't answer without making several phone calls, your clients are probably waiting longer than you think.