Basic concepts
Let's dive into the concepts and terms you'll encounter with Engagespot.
User
A user in your application is anyone who can receive any form of notification. Users can be created either through the Engagespot console or by utilizing the Users API. Users can also be created inline along with the workflow trigger.
User Profile
Each user has a profile that can store fundamental information such as their email ID, phone number, name, and more. Certain attributes are essential for users to receive notifications through specific channels. For instance, users without an email ID in their profile won't be able to receive email notifications.
Channel
A channel in Engagespot represents a communication channel, such as Email, SMS, In-App, etc. Currently, Engagespot supports In-App, Email, SMS, WhatsApp, Webpush, Mobilepush, Slack, Discord, Teams, and Webhook.
Provider
A provider is any service that facilitates communication over a channel. For instance, SendGrid is a provider for the email channel, and Twilio serves as an SMS provider.
Provider Instance
A provider instance is created when you enable a provider in your Engagespot account using the credentials obtained from that specific provider.
Notification
A notification is information that needs to be conveyed to a user. Examples include "A new friend request," "A new unrecognized login," or "A new task," all of which can be treated as notifications.
Message
A message, or notification message, signifies how a notification reaches the user through a specific channel. For instance, a friend request notification might be delivered to the user as an SMS message, an Email message, or an In-App toast message!
Workflows
Workflows enable you to design automated sequences that combine various functions, channels, and conditional logic to decide which users should be notified and through which channels. These workflows can be triggered by specific events or conditions, either through an API or directly from a console. This approach ensures that the right message reaches the right users at the right time, enhancing the overall efficiency and effectiveness of your communication strategy.
Workflow Channel Template
Each channel step you add to a workflow will have its own notification template. This template is what determines what the notifications sent to your user look like for a given channel.
Route
A route determines which provider instance should be selected for delivering a particular message. For instance, you might have a primary Twilio SMS provider and a Sinch SMS provider as a backup in case the first one fails. Multiple routes can be configured for a channel.
Entry Condition
An entry condition specifies how a route should be chosen for delivering a message to a user. For instance, in the SMS channel, you can set up two routes, each with different providers. Each route can have an entry condition that limits the selection of that route based on the user's profile data, such as their country. This allows you to establish rules for selecting a specific provider based on the user's country, for example.