Lost & found notification system

Purpose

1. The lost & found notification system automates guest communication regarding lost items in an aquarium, facilitating prompt contact between guests and staff, ensuring reunification with belongings, reducing operational delays, enhancing guest satisfaction, and minimizing manual error by utilizing digital channels for real-time updates, claims, verifications, and confirmations.

Trigger Conditions

1. Staff log a lost item into the aquarium’s lost & found database.
2. Guest submits a lost item report via website, kiosk, or mobile app.
3. Item status changes (identified, claimed, or matched).
4. Guest contact data (email/phone) exists and matches item report.
5. Defined timer/interval reaches (e.g., item unclaimed after 24 hours).

Platform Variants

3.1. Twilio SMS
– Feature/Setting: Use Messaging API; Configure webhook for sending SMS to guest when item status updates.
3.2. SendGrid
– Feature/Setting: Use Transactional Email API; Send item update emails upon log or claim.
3.3. Slack
– Feature/Setting: Incoming Webhooks; Notify staff channels immediately after an item match.
3.4. Microsoft Teams
– Feature/Setting: Utilize Teams Connector webhook; Post notifications to facility operation channels.
3.5. Telegram Bot
– Feature/Setting: Bot API, sendMessage method; Alert guest or staff of found items.
3.6. Facebook Messenger
– Feature/Setting: Messenger Platform Send API; Automated messaging to users who reported items.
3.7. WhatsApp Business API
– Feature/Setting: Send Template Message; Immediate alerts to guests regarding lost item status.
3.8. Mailgun
– Feature/Setting: Send email via Messages API; Email confirmations for lost & found events.
3.9. Google Chat
– Feature/Setting: Webhook Integration; Post administrative alerts to designated chat rooms.
3.10. Salesforce Service Cloud
– Feature/Setting: Case Management, Workflow Rule; Auto-update guest case and send notification email.
3.11. Zendesk
– Feature/Setting: Ticket Triggers; Notify guests and staff, update ticket status automatically.
3.12. HubSpot
– Feature/Setting: Workflow Automation; Send notifications and maintain contact records.
3.13. Zoho CRM
– Feature/Setting: Automation Rules; Notify guest and flag item as found/claimed.
3.14. Freshdesk
– Feature/Setting: Automations; Trigger notifications to both guests and lost & found team.
3.15. Intercom
– Feature/Setting: Inbox Bot, Outbound Messages; Real-time updates to guest via widget/chat.
3.16. Pipedrive
– Feature/Setting: Workflow Automation; Send notification email/SMS to contacts.
3.17. ActiveCampaign
– Feature/Setting: Automation workflow; Guest receives updates as item progresses.
3.18. Airtable
– Feature/Setting: Automations & Webhooks; Change in record triggers guest notification.
3.19. Monday.com
– Feature/Setting: Automation Recipes; Item status change triggers third-party alerts.
3.20. Google Sheets
– Feature/Setting: Apps Script/Triggers; On data change, send alerts via integrated email/SMS provider.
3.21. AWS SNS
– Feature/Setting: Publish API; Send multi-channel alerts (SMS/email) to guests and staff.
3.22. PagerDuty
– Feature/Setting: Incident Webhooks; Critical escalations for urgent lost items.
3.23. Discord
– Feature/Setting: Webhooks; Push status notifications to private staff channels.

Benefits

1. Dramatically reduces delay in guest communication about lost property.
2. Eliminates manual errors and missed follow-ups by staff.
3. Supports omnichannel guest communication for accessibility.
4. Automatically matches found items with guest reports for fast resolution.
5. Improves guest satisfaction and overall experience in the aquarium environment.
6. Centralizes lost & found handling with audit trails for operations.