Alarms & Alerts Guide

What you’ll learn

The difference between alarms and alerts
How to respond to each type correctly
What causes alarms to escalate
How alerts keep teams informed without interruption
The main categories of alarms and alerts in MetaFleet
How to clear, resolve, or manage them

Why it matters

Understanding alarms and alerts keeps your shop running smoothly. You’ll know what requires immediate action (alarms) and what’s just informational (alerts). Staying on top of both improves communication, reduces downtime, and keeps operations visible and efficient.

Before you start

Make sure you:

Have Dispatcher, Admin, or Technician access.
Know how to navigate the Notifications tab in MetaFleet.
Understand your team’s internal escalation process (who handles what).

Quick Summary (TL;DR)

Alarms = urgent, require action.
Alerts = informational, no escalation.
Resolve alarms to clear them; view alerts to dismiss them.
Alarms may escalate if ignored.
Alerts can sometimes upgrade to alarms if unresolved.
Adjust notification settings under your profile, but critical alarms stay on.

Step-by-Step: Managing Alarms & Alerts

1. Open the Notifications Tab

Access it from the left sidebar in MetaFleet. You’ll see all recent alarms and alerts with timestamps, priority levels, and source modules.

2. Identify Alarm vs. Alert

Alarms show in red or high-contrast indicators labeled Critical or High Priority.
Alerts appear in neutral colors like blue or gray and have Info or Update labels.

3. Review the Description

Each entry will include:

The source module (e.g., Service Order, Payments, Chat)
The reason (e.g., “Invoice Pending Approval”)
The time created and escalation status

4. Take Action on Alarms

Resolve alarms by completing the associated task, such as:

Submitting or approving a service order
Updating a technician’s repair status
Approving or retrying a failed payment

Once resolved, the alarm disappears automatically.

5. Dismiss Alerts

For alerts:

Click Acknowledge or open the related item (e.g., message, estimate, or technician assignment).
Once viewed, the alert clears automatically.

6. Watch for Escalations

Some alarms will:

Auto-escalate after a set time (e.g., from Medium → High after 5 minutes).
Notify your supervisor if unresolved beyond the escalation threshold.

7. Customize Notification Preferences

Go to Profile → Settings → Notifications to adjust:

Which updates trigger alerts
Which modules send push or email notifications

⚠️ Note: Critical alarms cannot be turned off for operational safety.

Alarm & Alert Categories

Category	Alarms	Alerts
Service Orders	Stale or overdue repairs, technician inaction	Status updates, new technician assignments
Estimates & Invoices	Rejected work items, pending approvals	Estimate sent or accepted
Chat & Communication	Unread critical messages	New chat messages
Payments & Billing	Failed or pending payments	Payment method updates, successful transactions

FAQs

1. How do I know if it’s an alarm or an alert?

Alarms have priority labels and may escalate. Alerts are informational and don’t escalate.

2. Can I dismiss alarms manually?

No. You must resolve the issue causing the alarm.

3. What happens if I ignore an alarm?

It may escalate to higher priority and notify a manager or team lead.

4. Who receives alarms and alerts?

It depends on your role. Dispatchers see service order alarms, admins see billing or payment alarms, and technicians see workflow-related ones.

5. Can alerts become alarms?

Yes — if ignored long enough or if the condition worsens (like a pending invoice aging out).

6. Can I turn off notifications entirely?

You can limit alerts, but critical alarms remain active for safety and accountability.