> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/company-management/company-insights/company-insights-overview/configuring-usage-alerts.md).

# Configuring usage alerts

## Introduction

Usage alerts can be configured to send automated email notifications when your company's operations usage allowance reaches a given (percentage) threshold within a billing cycle.

## **Need to know**

* Usage alerts are based on a given 'allowance used' threshold - when this threshold is reached, email notifications are triggered.
* Usage is checked, and email notifications are triggered at 8 am each day. For example, if you reach your threshold at 10 am on Tuesday, users will be notified at 8 am on Wednesday.
* Email notifications for any given usage alert are sent ONCE in each billing cycle.
* Email notifications are sent to specified [notification groups](/product-documentation/general-settings/notification-groups.md).
* You can define any number of usage alerts. For example, you might add one alert to trigger notifications when usage exceeds a 50% threshold, another for 30%, and another for 10%.

## Who can create, manage & receive usage alerts?

The ability to create, manage, and receive alerts depends on the type of company profile - specifically, whether or not you manage or are managed by another company. Possible variations are summarised in the table below:

<table data-full-width="true"><thead><tr><th>Manages multiple company profiles<select><option value="fAGwD0syGH7U" label="yes" color="blue"></option><option value="kxBSTHBsRE8b" label="no" color="blue"></option></select></th><th>Is managed by another company<select><option value="3FFjJLRz9m4o" label="yes" color="blue"></option><option value="u3LBrzF2dRux" label="no" color="blue"></option><option value="HupvZG0UCvev" label="n/a" color="blue"></option></select></th><th>Managing company is a powered-by profile<select><option value="vjgZaC6UuK4w" label="yes" color="blue"></option><option value="TW44SwY5DkVZ" label="no" color="blue"></option><option value="hNMrbGmJQLg8" label="n/a" color="blue"></option></select></th><th>Is a powered-by profile<select><option value="EpO0yuq1LnbC" label="yes" color="blue"></option><option value="cKdAvEzuvYdo" label="no" color="blue"></option><option value="DS14X225qmkV" label="n/a" color="blue"></option></select></th><th>Can create &#x26; manage alerts<select><option value="hWbEgzT7l2px" label="yes" color="blue"></option><option value="sfr7oOAva2qb" label="no" color="blue"></option></select></th><th>Receives alerts for own usage<select><option value="pdtImnHQpdKB" label="yes" color="blue"></option><option value="uHInKrnG1kG2" label="no" color="blue"></option></select></th><th>Receives alerts for 'child' companies<select><option value="d3WNsFdnjtvX" label="yes" color="blue"></option><option value="B0MsOmzmSaHa" label="no" color="blue"></option><option value="MGw2KWMhaxjX" label="n/a" color="blue"></option></select></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><span data-option="kxBSTHBsRE8b">no</span></td><td><span data-option="u3LBrzF2dRux">no</span></td><td><span data-option="hNMrbGmJQLg8">n/a</span></td><td><span data-option="cKdAvEzuvYdo">no</span></td><td><span data-option="hWbEgzT7l2px">yes</span></td><td><span data-option="pdtImnHQpdKB">yes</span></td><td><span data-option="MGw2KWMhaxjX">n/a</span></td></tr><tr><td><span data-option="kxBSTHBsRE8b">no</span></td><td><span data-option="3FFjJLRz9m4o">yes</span></td><td><span data-option="TW44SwY5DkVZ">no</span></td><td><span data-option="DS14X225qmkV">n/a</span></td><td><span data-option="hWbEgzT7l2px">yes</span></td><td><span data-option="pdtImnHQpdKB">yes</span></td><td><span data-option="MGw2KWMhaxjX">n/a</span></td></tr><tr><td><span data-option="kxBSTHBsRE8b">no</span></td><td><span data-option="3FFjJLRz9m4o">yes</span></td><td><span data-option="vjgZaC6UuK4w">yes</span></td><td><span data-option="DS14X225qmkV">n/a</span></td><td><span data-option="sfr7oOAva2qb">no</span></td><td><span data-option="uHInKrnG1kG2">no</span></td><td><span data-option="MGw2KWMhaxjX">n/a</span></td></tr><tr><td><span data-option="fAGwD0syGH7U">yes</span></td><td><span data-option="HupvZG0UCvev">n/a</span></td><td><span data-option="hNMrbGmJQLg8">n/a</span></td><td><span data-option="cKdAvEzuvYdo">no</span></td><td><span data-option="hWbEgzT7l2px">yes</span></td><td><span data-option="pdtImnHQpdKB">yes</span></td><td><span data-option="B0MsOmzmSaHa">no</span></td></tr><tr><td><span data-option="fAGwD0syGH7U">yes</span></td><td><span data-option="HupvZG0UCvev">n/a</span></td><td><span data-option="hNMrbGmJQLg8">n/a</span></td><td><span data-option="EpO0yuq1LnbC">yes</span></td><td><span data-option="hWbEgzT7l2px">yes</span></td><td><span data-option="pdtImnHQpdKB">yes</span></td><td><span data-option="d3WNsFdnjtvX">yes</span></td></tr></tbody></table>

{% hint style="info" %}
Users with a `manager` role or above can create and manage usage alerts.
{% endhint %}

## **The steps**

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Review, add, or update notification groups**

Select `settings` ➤ `notification groups` and check that the required notification groups are in place - if not, create them. For detailed information, please see our [Notification groups](/product-documentation/general-settings/notification-groups.md#introduction) section.

{% hint style="info" %}
If you need multiple alerts with different recipients for different usage thresholds, you should define multiple notification groups.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Create a usage alert**

Select `settings` ➤ `alerts` ➤ `create alerts`:

<figure><img src="/files/bTkOTaPsrkzK4mACi1xL" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Create a usage alert**

Configure alert details:

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/qU6wFuCxeLr05i5fM4nF" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

Available fields are summarised below:

<table><thead><tr><th width="238.06640625">Field</th><th>Summary</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Name</td><td>Enter your preferred name for this alert.</td></tr><tr><td>Alert type</td><td>Set to <code>usage</code>.</td></tr><tr><td>Threshold</td><td>Enter a value between 1 and 100. This is the percentage of your operation allowance that must be used to trigger alert emails. For example, entering <code>50</code> will trigger the alert when 50% or more of your allowance has been used.</td></tr><tr><td>Notiication group</td><td>Use the dropdown list to select the required <a href="/pages/ul3TLNVYRLYUGugTOFLU">notification group</a>. You can select one notification group per alert.</td></tr></tbody></table>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Save changes**

Click the `save` button to confirm alert details:

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/cysI5SGrSrelOM7pgDZ4" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}