Nama ERP Notification System

Overview

The Nama ERP notification system is a comprehensive communication platform that automatically sends notifications to users when specific business events occur. This system can send messages through multiple channels including in-app notifications, emails, SMS, and WhatsApp messages.

What is the Notification System?

The notification system monitors business activities within Nama ERP and automatically triggers communication to relevant users based on predefined rules. It acts as a bridge between business processes and user communication, ensuring that stakeholders are informed about important changes or actions that require their attention.

Key Components

1. Notification Engine - The core system that monitors events and triggers notifications
2. Message Renderer - Converts templates into personalized messages
3. Delivery Channels - Various ways to send notifications (email, SMS, etc.)
4. Notification Definitions - Rules that determine when and to whom notifications are sent

How Notifications Work

1. Event Detection

The system automatically detects when business events occur, such as:

• Creating a new record (customer, invoice, employee, etc.)
• Updating existing records
• Deleting records
• Approval workflows (approve, reject, return)
• Status changes (draft, cancel, revise)
• Print operations
• System failures or processing errors

2. Rule Matching

When an event occurs, the system checks for notification rules that match:

• Entity Type: What kind of record was changed (e.g., SalesInvoice, Customer)
• Change Type: What happened (insert, update, delete, approval, etc.)
• Conditions: Additional criteria that must be met
• Priority: Rules are processed in priority order

3. Target Identification

The system identifies who should receive notifications based on:

• Field-based targeting: Send to users referenced in specific fields (e.g., salesperson, manager)
• Query-based targeting: Use database queries to find recipients
• Role-based targeting: Send to users with specific roles or positions
• Manual targeting: Explicitly defined recipients

4. Message Generation

Messages are created using dynamic templates that can include:

• Field values from the changed record
• Related record information
• User-specific content
• Links to relevant records
• Formatted tables and data

5. Multi-Channel Delivery

The system can deliver the same notification through multiple channels:

• In-App Notifications: Displayed within the ERP interface
• Email: Rich HTML emails with attachments and links
• SMS: Text messages to mobile phones
• WhatsApp: Messages through WhatsApp Business API
• FCM Notifications: Push notifications to mobile devices

Notification Types by Business Event

Document Lifecycle Notifications

• Creation: "New sales invoice SI-2024-001 was created by John Smith"
• Updates: "Customer ABC Corp contact information has been updated"
• Approval: "Purchase order PO-2024-123 requires your approval"
• Status Changes: "Invoice SI-2024-001 has been cancelled"

Workflow Notifications

• Approval Requests: Notify approvers when documents need approval
• Approval Decisions: Inform stakeholders about approval outcomes
• Escalations: Alert when approvals are overdue
• Returns: Notify when documents are returned for revision

System Notifications

• Process Failures: Alert administrators about system errors
• Replication Issues: Notify about data synchronization problems
• Scheduled Tasks: Results of automated processes

Custom Business Rules

• Threshold Alerts: Notify when values exceed limits
• Deadline Reminders: Alert about approaching due dates
• Compliance Notifications: Ensure regulatory requirements are met

Message Templates and Dynamic Content

Template Language (Tempo)

Notification messages use the Tempo templating language to create dynamic, personalized content. This allows messages to include:

Dear {customer.name1},

Your invoice {code} dated {valueDate} with amount {money.total} 
has been {translate(status)}.

You can view the invoice details here: {link($this)}

Best regards,
{$user.name1}

Dynamic Field Access

Templates can access any field from the record or related records:

• {code} - The record's code
• {customer.name1} - Customer's Arabic name
• {employee.contactInfo.email} - Employee's email address
• {details.item.item.name2} - Item name from document lines

Conditional Content

Show different content based on conditions:

{if(money.remaining)}
Outstanding amount: {money.remaining}
{else}
This invoice is fully paid
{endif}

Loops and Tables

Display repeated information like document lines:

{opentable}
{row}{cell}Item{cell}Quantity{cell}Price{endrow}
{loop(details)}
{row}{cell}{details.item.item.name2}{cell}{details.quantity}{cell}{details.price.unitPrice}{endrow}
{endloop}
{closetable}

Change History (Audit Trail)

Include detailed change information in notifications (for update notifications):

{changesAsHtmlAr}  {comment}Changes in HTML format (Arabic){endcomment}
{changesAsHtmlEn}  {comment}Changes in HTML format (English){endcomment}
{changesAsTextAr}  {comment}Changes in plain text (Arabic){endcomment}
{changesAsTextEn}  {comment}Changes in plain text (English){endcomment}

See the Tempo documentation for detailed examples and usage.

Notification Channels in Detail

In-App Notifications

• Appear in the user's notification panel within Nama ERP
• Include read/unread status tracking
• Can contain rich formatting and links
• Support action buttons (approve, reject, etc.)
• Automatically mark as read when related records are accessed

Email Notifications

• Support HTML formatting with embedded images
• Can include file attachments from the record
• Automatic email signatures and branding
• Reply-to addresses for two-way communication
• Delivery confirmation and bounce handling

SMS Notifications

• Plain text messages up to 160 characters
• Support for Unicode (Arabic) text
• Delivery status tracking
• Cost management and quotas
• Integration with multiple SMS providers

WhatsApp Business Messages

• Rich media support (images, documents)
• Template-based messaging for compliance
• Delivery and read receipts
• Integration with WhatsApp Business API
• Support for interactive buttons and quick replies

Advanced Features

Change History in Notifications

One of the most powerful features of the notification system is the ability to automatically include detailed change history in notifications. This is particularly useful for:

• Update notifications: Show what changed when a record is modified
• Approval workflows: Display changes that need approval
• Audit trails: Track modifications for compliance
• User awareness: Keep teams informed about changes

Using Change History Fields

Every entity in Nama ERP provides four built-in fields for displaying change history:

Example: Update Notification with Changes

Notification Template for Document Updates:

{subject}تحديث: {entityType.$arabic} رقم {code}{endsubject}

<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
  <h2>تم تعديل {entityType.$arabic} رقم {code}</h2>

  <div style="background-color: #f5f5f5; padding: 15px; border-radius: 5px;">
    <h3>التغييرات التي تم إجراؤها:</h3>
    {$changesAsHtmlAr}
  </div>

  <p><strong>تم التعديل بواسطة:</strong> {$user.name1}</p>
  <p><strong>تاريخ ووقت التعديل:</strong> {$now}</p>

  <a href="{link($this)}" style="background-color: #4CAF50; color: white; padding: 10px 20px; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 5px;">
    عرض المستند
  </a>
</div>

Example: Approval Request with Change Summary

Template for Approval Notifications:

{subject}طلب اعتماد {entityType.$arabic}: {code}{endsubject}

<h2>السيد المحترم {currentApprovalCase.lastStep.actualResponsible.name1}</h2>

<p>يرجى مراجعة واعتماد {entityType.$arabic} التالي:</p>

<div style="border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; margin: 10px 0;">
  <strong>رقم المستند:</strong> {code}<br/>
  <strong>التاريخ:</strong> {valueDate}<br/>
  <strong>القيمة:</strong> {money.total}
</div>

<div style="background-color: #fff3cd; padding: 15px; border-left: 4px solid #ffc107;">
  <h3>التغييرات المطلوب اعتمادها:</h3>
  {$changesAsHtmlAr}
</div>

<div style="margin-top: 20px;">
  {approvelink} | {rejectlink} | {returnlink}
</div>

Example: Multi-Language Change Notification

Template Supporting Both Arabic and English:

{subject}Document Update / تحديث المستند: {code}{endsubject}

<div style="direction: rtl; text-align: right; margin-bottom: 30px;">
  <h2>تحديث المستند رقم {code}</h2>
  <h3>التغييرات:</h3>
  {$changesAsHtmlAr}
</div>

<hr style="margin: 30px 0;"/>

<div style="direction: ltr; text-align: left;">
  <h2>Document {code} Updated</h2>
  <h3>Changes:</h3>
  {$changesAsHtmlEn}
</div>

<p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 30px;">
  <a href="{link($this)}">View Document / عرض المستند</a>
</p>

Example: SMS Notification with Text Changes

Template for SMS Notifications:

تحديث: {code}
{$changesAsTextAr}
للعرض: {link($this, plainLink=true)}

What Information is Displayed

The change history automatically includes:

1. Header Field Changes

   • Field name (translated to selected language)
   • Previous value
   • New value

2. Detail Line Changes

   • Added lines with all field values
   • Removed lines with all field values
   • Modified lines showing only changed fields

3. Change Metadata

   • User who made the change
   • Date and time of modification

Best Practices

{if($changesAsTextAr)}
  <div class="changes-section">
    <h3>التغييرات</h3>
    {$changesAsHtmlAr}
  </div>
{else}
  <p>لا توجد تغييرات مسجلة</p>
{endif}

Multi-Message Support

A single notification template can generate multiple messages:

{openmsg}
{sendto}{customer.email}{endsendto}
{subject}Invoice {code} - Customer Copy{endsubject}
Dear Customer, your invoice is ready...
{closemsg}

{openmsg}
{sendto}{salesperson.email}{endsendto}
{subject}Invoice {code} - Sales Copy{endsubject}
Dear Sales Team, invoice {code} was sent to customer...
{closemsg}

Conditional Sending

Control when notifications are sent based on:

• Field values and conditions
• User roles and permissions
• Time-based rules
• Business logic criteria

Priority and Escalation

• High-priority notifications for urgent matters
• Automatic escalation if no response within timeframe
• Fallback recipients when primary recipients are unavailable
• Different notification methods based on urgency

Approval Integration

Special support for approval workflows:

• Approval request notifications with action buttons
• Automatic routing to next approver
• Escalation to supervisors for overdue approvals
• Notification of approval decisions to stakeholders

Configuration and Administration

Notification Definitions

Administrators can create and manage notification rules through the ERP interface:

• Define trigger conditions
• Specify target recipients
• Create message templates
• Configure delivery channels
• Set priority and timing rules

Template Management

• Visual template editor with syntax highlighting
• Template testing and preview capabilities
• Version control and change tracking
• Template libraries for common patterns
• Validation and error checking

Delivery Settings

• Configure email servers and authentication
• Set up SMS provider connections
• WhatsApp Business API integration
• Delivery retry policies and failure handling
• Performance monitoring and logging

User Preferences

Individual users can control their notification preferences:

• Choose preferred delivery channels
• Set quiet hours and vacation modes
• Filter notification types
• Group similar notifications
• Mobile app push notification settings

Best Practices

Template Design

• Keep messages concise and actionable
• Use clear, professional language
• Include relevant context and links
• Test templates with sample data
• Consider mobile device formatting

Performance Optimization

• Use efficient database queries for targeting
• Avoid sending duplicate notifications
• Implement proper retry mechanisms
• Monitor delivery success rates
• Archive old notifications regularly

Security Considerations

• Validate all template inputs
• Sanitize dynamic content
• Protect sensitive information
• Use secure delivery channels
• Audit notification access

User Experience

• Provide clear notification summaries
• Group related notifications
• Offer easy unsubscribe options
• Include help and contact information
• Maintain consistent branding

The Nama ERP notification system is a powerful tool that enhances business communication, improves process efficiency, and ensures that important information reaches the right people at the right time. By leveraging dynamic templates, multiple delivery channels, and intelligent targeting, organizations can create a responsive and effective communication infrastructure that supports their business operations.