Messaging¶
[Draft — pending review]
Ordinate includes built-in messaging for communicating with event attendees by email and text message (via the native app or SMS). Messages can be sent manually by users, or triggered automatically by the system.
Types of Messages¶
There are three broad categories:
- User-sent messages — emails and text messages sent by administrators or coordinators to one or more people. These can be written from scratch or based on a template.
- System notifications — messages sent automatically when something happens in the system, such as a meeting being approved, a guest checking in, or a password being reset. These are configured with trigger points and templates.
- Calendar synchronisation — meeting schedules pushed to staff calendars via Outlook or other calendar applications. This is covered separately in Calendar Integration.
Methods¶
| Method | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Detailed messages, pre-event communications, ICS calendar attachments | Full formatting with rich text editor, header/footer branding | |
| Text message (App) | On-site communications, quick updates | Delivered to the Ordinate native app. Recommended over SMS |
| Text message (SMS) | Reaching people without the app installed | Delivered via SMS gateway. Length limitations apply |
When sending a text message, the sender simply writes the message — the recipient's own preferences determine whether it is delivered via the app or SMS.
Tip
App messages are recommended over SMS wherever possible. They support longer messages, show the sender's name, and allow threaded replies. SMS has length restrictions, no sender identification, and per-message costs.
In This Section¶
- Sending Messages — how to send emails and text messages to individuals or groups
- Message Templates — creating reusable templates with merge fields and branding
- Merge Fields — inserting dynamic content (names, dates, meeting details) into templates
- Scriban Template Reference — full reference of all available merge fields, formatting, conditionals, and loops
- Notifications & Triggers — setting up automatic messages triggered by system events
- Trigger Point Reference — complete list of all available trigger points
- Calendar Integration — pushing meeting schedules to Outlook and other calendars
- Replies & Shared Inbox — handling incoming replies from attendees