Notifications for when something DOES NOT happen

Lindsey Michelle

Hello,

We have an important task to do daily at my workplace, and I would like to set up a notification system if the task does not get completed. The idea is that an employee completes the task and then submits the form. If one form is not submitted for the day, an email goes out at X time to notify the supervisor.

I haven't found a way to do this directly, but I was trying to think of working in the "TODAY" function - as it will update IF a form is added. I thought I might be able to use that to set up a change that will be triggered by the workflow, but can't quite figure it out. Does anyone have any ideas? Please let me know. Thanks!

Paul Newcome

I have a few ideas, but need to do some testing. I'll get back to you once the testing is complete.

Andrée Starå

Hi Lindsey,

Is it one employee per sheet or multiple?

Can you describe your process in more detail and maybe share the sheet(s) or some screenshots? (Delete/replace any confidential/sensitive information before sharing) That would make it easier to help. (share too, andree@getdone.se)

Hope that helps!

Have a fantastic day!

Best,

Andrée Starå

Workflow Consultant / CEO @ WORK BOLD

Paul Newcome

Andree,

 

I am curious what your thoughts are. I was hoping that my testing would provide some good news, but alas... It did not. I was hoping that an automation triggering daily (I tried a few different combinations) would be enough to activate a sheet to update the TODAY function, but the only way that works is with update requests. Alerts and Reminders being sent in and of themselves are not enough to update the TODAY function.

 

The form entry would update the TODAY function, but if no form is entered (meaning the task didn't get completed) then comparing TODAY to the latest form entry won't really be effective.

 

Maybe a daily trigger from Zapier to update TODAY at say 0100, then set the Automation to run daily at whatever time if a checkbox is unchecked meaning a from entry was not completed for the date?

Andrée Starå

Zapier was my idea as well!

I'm experimenting with another solution as well but too early to share anything.

I'll get back to this you and this post if that works out.