We’re back with the sixth installment of PulseCheck, a new way for us to check in regularly with you and the broader THWACK community. Every two weeks, we’ll post a question on a topic that matters to IT pros. Sometimes serious, sometimes light, but always focused on capturing your perspective.
If you’re new to PulseCheck, here’s how it works. Each poll is open for just under two weeks. Once it wraps, we’ll post the results, share some of the themes from the discussion, and introduce the next question. You’ll earn 150 THWACK points just for voting, and if you leave a comment that sparks conversation, you could be awarded an additional 300 points. If you participate in eight or more PulseChecks, you’ll unlock a limited-edition achievement badge.
"Imagine this: You start your day, coffee in hand, looking at the tickets, and on top is this one message: "Help." It's unlikely that a hostage-taking situation would occur, but it can mean many things. I would place a bet on a printer problem. We all know printers and databases require an exorcism. Tell us about the weirdest stuff that appeared this year so far, or before. We're in this together!"
@saschg
Last time, we asked if email alerts were a relic of the past, and the community's response shows the inbox is certainly not going anywhere, even if it has some competition. The results proved that email is still a dominant force in IT notifications, with a combined 92% of respondents still relying on it. Over half (51%) confirmed email is still their primary go-to, while another substantial group (41%) uses a hybrid or "combo" approach, pairing email with other tools. Only a small minority (8%) has moved entirely past email for alerts.
This enduring relevance is due to email's strengths: users emphasized that it remains "king" because it allows more content to be included, making it more traceable and searchable than other methods. However, the data also highlighted that IT alerts are evolving. For those using a combo approach, alternatives like Teams Channel Notifications and integrations via Telegram and webhooks are common, showing a clear move toward real-time communication channels.
While many noted they avoid email "whenever possible," it was acknowledged as a "long journey" to shift established workflows. Conversely, one alternative that received a firm thumbs-down was SMS, with multiple people noting that it never seemed to work in time. Clearly, the inbox remains the critical, and often preferred, place for important, detailed, and traceable notifications, even as new channels emerge.
