Automations: automatic emails and texts to homeowners

Preconditions

• You are the owner (members can view but not change automations)
• An owner account with all automations off and no time zone set, so each switch can be shown.

Steps

• 1. Open AutomationsDo: Go to Settings and click the "Automations" tab (or open /settings?activeTab=automations).Expect: Heading "Automations" with "Messages sent to the homeowner automatically. Each one is off until you switch it on." Two status pills: "Email" and "Text messages".Actual:
• 2. Read the readiness pillsDo: Read the Email pill ("Ready" or "Not set up") and the Text messages pill ("Ready" or "Coming soon: texts are skipped until texting is connected").Expect: Email is ready once the platform's email service is configured, which it is on the hosted service. Text readiness depends on the platform's texting connection.Actual:
• 3. Set the time zoneDo: In "Time zone for appointment times" pick your company's zone, or click "Use <your zone>".Expect: Until a zone is set, switching on an appointment rule shows "Choose your time zone first."Actual:
• 4. Switch on the appointment messagesDo: In the "Appointments" group, switch on "Appointment confirmation" (Email + Text, includes a calendar invite), "Appointment reminder (day before)" (Text) and "Appointment canceled" (Email + Text).Expect: Each row shows its channels as chips and the switch turns on.Actual:
• 5. Switch on the stage messagesDo: In "When a job moves stage", switch on the ones you want: Inspection done (→ Inspected, Email), Thank you for signing (→ Signed, Email + Text), Materials ordered (Text), Install underway (→ In production, Text), Thank you + review request (→ Paid, Email).Expect: Each is sent once per job and stage, on forward moves only, and never for lost jobs.Actual:

Known pitfalls to probe

Trigger each situation deliberately and check the app behaves, or guides the user, as described.

• A stage message did not go out when I dragged the job.What should happen or be shown: Check that the move was forwards, the job is not lost, the rule is on, and the job has an email (or phone for texts). Look for "Automatic message … failed" in the job Activity.