The Alerts feature gives you powerful, flexible control over when and how users are notified about important activity across the platform. Whether you’re tracking form compliance, medication updates, requirement status, or follow-ups, alerts ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
With alerts, you can:
Automatically notify the right people when something changes
Customize message content using merge fields
Add reminders on a schedule that works for your workflows
Create alerts globally or directly within form requests
This makes Alerts especially helpful for keeping users and guardians informed while reducing follow-up work.
Where to Find Alerts
Navigate to Settings
Select Instant Settings
Click the Alerts tab
Here, you’ll see both pre-built alerts and the option to create your own.
Understanding Default Alerts
You’ll notice some alerts are already toggled on.
These alerts existed prior to the new alerting system and were migrated automatically.
They’re enabled by default so you don’t lose existing functionality.
You can edit or disable any of these alerts if they no longer fit your needs.
You’ll also see new alerts that were added based on frequent customer requests. These can be turned on with a simple toggle, no setup required.
Editing an Existing Alert
If you’d like to customize a pre-built alert:
Click Edit on the alert
Toggle Send notification on
Customize the message text (optional)
Click Save
Once saved, the alert is active and will trigger automatically based on the event.
Tip: Default message language is provided to get you started, but you can always personalize it to better match your communication style.
Creating a New Alert
To create a custom alert from scratch:
In the Alerts tab, click Create Alert
Choose the Alert Type, such as:
Medication Inventory
Form Request
Form Request Follow-Up
Packet
Student Medication
Encounter
Requirement Set
Each alert type has its own set of triggering events.
Example: Alert for Form Requests Needing Review
Select Form Request as the alert type
Choose a triggering event (e.g. Form needs review)
Select who should be notified (such as the request creator)
Enter an Alert title (internal reference)
Customizing the Message
Toggle Send initial message
Edit the message title and description as needed
Use merge fields by typing
{to automatically insert:Instance name
Recipient name
Subject (student) name
This helps personalize messages without manual work.
Adding Reminders to Alerts
Reminders help ensure follow-up happens on time.
You can configure reminders to send:
Relative to a due date (e.g. 1 week before)
On a specific calendar date
On a recurring schedule, such as:
Daily
Weekly
Specific days of the week
Ending on a defined date or before a due date
Each reminder message can be customized separately.
Best Practice: Use recurring reminders sparingly to avoid notification fatigue. Weekly reminders tend to work well for families.
Creating Alerts Within a Form Request
Alerts aren’t limited to the Alerts page, you can also configure them directly when sending forms.
Go to Forms → Templates
Select a form and click Request Forms
You’ll see new options to:
Send an initial message
Add reminders
These reminder options are the same as those available when creating an alert globally but are embedded directly into the form request workflow.
This is ideal for scenarios like:
Trip forms
Medical authorization forms
Time-sensitive compliance requests
Tips & Things to Know
Alert options vary depending on the alert type you choose
Not all alerts require reminders, use them where follow-up is truly needed
You can mix and match global alerts and form-level alerts for maximum flexibility
Alerts help reduce manual outreach while improving response rates
Need Help?
We’re excited for you to start using the new Alerts feature to streamline communication and stay on top of critical tasks. If you have questions or need help configuring alerts, feel free to reach out to the August Schools Support Team.