Enable automatic reminders

Automatic reminders require an active Pro subscription (not available during the 30-day free trial).

The system sends in this order: WhatsApp (when the volunteer opted in and your organization has the channel on), then SMS if WhatsApp does not apply or fails, then email when an address is on file.

Before enabling reminders, confirm under Organization → Settings that the organization timezone matches the city where shifts happen. If it is wrong (for example Eastern when you serve on Pacific time), messages may go out hours early or late even though the shift still shows 8:00 AM on the schedule.

Open Organization → Reminders. Under General, turn on automatic reminders and choose how many hours before the shift (12, 24, or 48). Enable the WhatsApp and/or SMS channels you want to offer.

Volunteers opt in to WhatsApp and/or SMS on the public portal when booking. Consent is saved even if the channel is not active yet; sending starts when you enable the channel.

Pro includes 120 SMS per month (no rollover). WhatsApp does not use that SMS allowance. One SMS reminder = one credit. When SMS credits are exhausted, WhatsApp and email still work based on consent.

You can buy prepaid packs (+150, +500, +1500) from Organization → Reminders. They expire after 12 months.

In Operations → Bookings use “Send reminder now” for one shift, or let the scheduler send automatically based on your hours setting.

Usage examples with 120 SMS/month: small church with 12 ushers one Sunday per month (~12 SMS); weekly pantry with ~20 volunteers every Saturday (~80 SMS); center with Tue & Thu shifts (~120 SMS). Buy a prepaid pack if you need more.