Automated announcement broadcasts (email/SMS)

Purpose

1.1. To instantly inform students, instructors, or staff of critical classroom updates, schedule changes, assignment reminders, new course materials, or emergency notifications via email and SMS for accelerated responsiveness and improved communication flow in an accounting educational setting.

Trigger Conditions

2.1. Manually initiated broadcasts by admin/teacher for urgent or scheduled updates.
2.2. Automated triggers on calendar events, assignment uploads, grade postings, or attendance thresholds.
2.3. Scheduled recurring reminders for deadlines, payments, or class sessions.
2.4. Integration triggers from SIS/LMS (Student Information System/Learning Management System) events.

Platform Variants

3.1. Twilio SMS
• Feature/Setting: Messaging API with alphanumeric sender ID and template messaging; configure webhook on schedule event or admin action.
3.2. SendGrid
• Feature/Setting: Templates and Dynamic Templates with Transactional Email API; trigger via HTTP POST with student list.
3.3. Amazon SES
• Feature/Setting: SendBulkTemplatedEmail for batch announcement blasts; configure IAM permissions and event-based triggers.
3.4. Plivo
• Feature/Setting: SMS API with template support and bulk messaging; configure sender pool and scheduled batch send.
3.5. Mailgun
• Feature/Setting: Batch message sending with recipient variables and predefined templates; initiate via webhook integration.
3.6. Nexmo (Vonage API)
• Feature/Setting: SMS API, Unicode and long message support; trigger via POST using LMS hook.
3.7. Microsoft Graph
• Feature/Setting: SendMail endpoint in Microsoft 365 accounts; initiate with school email accounts and group mailboxes.
3.8. Slack
• Feature/Setting: chat.postMessage API for group channels announcements; schedule via bot integration.
3.9. Discord
• Feature/Setting: Webhook for message broadcasting in class channels; automate on event trigger.
3.10. WhatsApp Business API
• Feature/Setting: Template messages with media attachments; bulk send using registered templates.
3.11. Google Workspace (Gmail API)
• Feature/Setting: messages.send with batch requests to student groups; invoke based on calendar or assignment triggers.
3.12. Pusher Beams
• Feature/Setting: Publish to segments for mobile push; configure segments for student cohorts.
3.13. Firebase Cloud Messaging
• Feature/Setting: Send targeted notifications to device groups; link trigger with classroom events.
3.14. OneSignal
• Feature/Setting: Segment User Push; bulk push/email for course-related triggers.
3.15. Clickatell
• Feature/Setting: One API for SMS; predefined templates for batch delivery to class list.
3.16. Infobip
• Feature/Setting: SMS/email API, integrated scheduling; map student segments for comm dispatch.
3.17. Mailjet
• Feature/Setting: Send transactional/marketing emails via Send API; configure contact lists and templates.
3.18. ActiveCampaign
• Feature/Setting: Email campaigns with API-triggered sends; dynamic contact lists based on attendance/status.
3.19. MessageBird
• Feature/Setting: SMS/email flows with API triggers; segment students by course/batch.
3.20. HubSpot
• Feature/Setting: Workflows for engagement emails and reminders; configure trigger links to class management apps.

Benefits

4.1. Real-time, reliable communication ensures all stakeholders receive updates without delay.
4.2. Standardizes announcements for error-free dissemination and compliance.
4.3. Frees staff from manual notifications, improving efficiency and scalability.
4.4. Enables audit trails for sent communications, supporting institutional accountability.
4.5. Multi-channel reach ensures inclusivity for students with different contact preferences.