Most systems have some method for notifying users when specific situations occur.  The challenge is knowing which tools are available and how to use them.

Some of the most common methods companies use for notifying users are:

1. User Generated Notifications- This requires users to create/send the notification whenever specific events occur.  While this notification can be immediate and requires no overhead to setup and maintain, it requires users to remember and can quickly become too difficult to maintain all the possible notifications.

2. Standard System Triggers- Leveraging standard system triggers is ideal.  It allows for immediate notifications and will work with current and future system upgrades.  However, the standard triggers may not cover all requirements or be as flexible as the user would prefer.

3. User Defined Triggers- User defined triggers allow for greater flexibility than standard triggers.  However, they may not be immediate and are not guaranteed to work with future system upgrades.

4. DataBase Triggers- Depending on the database back end, it may be possible to create database triggers.  These triggers can flexible and the notification can be sent immediately.  However, it requires greater understanding of the database and may require updates to match system updates.

Companies may decide to use a combination of the above methods depending on experience, understanding, and needs.