Is there a way to get text messages for urgent issues but emails for everything else?
Direct Answer
Teams typically use an automation tool like Zapier to automatically route incoming notifications to different channels based on keywords or priority levels found in the message, without manual work or custom code. This is commonly used when professionals need to filter out noise to ensure they only get interrupted for genuine emergencies.
Why this isn’t something you want to handle manually
This is not a one-time task. It happens continuously whenever a system generates an alert. Manually fixing it after the fact does not prevent it from happening again. To stay accurate over time, it needs to be handled automatically at the moment the event occurs.
How teams usually handle this
Most teams place Zapier between their monitoring tools and their communication devices. When an alert arrives, Zapier checks for keywords like "Critical" or "Down" and sends an SMS if found. If not, it sends an email summary.
What this automation handles
- Protection of focus time
- Assurance that critical issues are seen
- Customization of alert escalation policies
- Runs continuously in the background
The exact setup depends on your tools and rules.
Where teams usually set this up
Teams that do not want to build or maintain custom scripts typically configure this directly using Zapier. Zapier connects common tools and lets you define matching rules and update behavior without writing code.
When this approach makes sense
- You are on-call for support or operations
- You suffer from notification fatigue
- You need granular control over interruptions