Automatic Translation helps ensure residents receive alerts and messages in their preferred language, improving accessibility and communication during both everyday updates and emergencies.
For Automatic Translation to work, each recipient must have a language preference saved on their profile. Once that’s set, messages are automatically delivered in that language.
Important Note
Voice alerts should only be sent to the public during emergencies. Sending non-emergency voice calls may violate FCC guidance. For best practices around public alerting, please refer to our public alerting guidelines.
How Language Preferences are Set
Language preferences can be set in two main ways:
Residents choose their own language (most common):
When residents sign up through a public portal or sign-up form, they are prompted to select:
A preferred written language (for text-based messages), and/or
A preferred spoken language (for voice messages)
This selection is saved to their profile and used automatically for future communications.
Administrators update language preferences
If needed, administrators with the appropriate permissions can update a contact’s language preference directly within the system. This is typically used when:
Assisting residents who didn’t complete the sign-up themselves, or
Updating preferences on behalf of a resident
Once updated, the system will use that language for message delivery going forward.
Sending Messages with Automatic Translation
When sending an alert:
Complete the required fields in the alert form.
Enter your message as usual.
(Optional) If you want the voice message to differ from the written message, you can customize it specifically for voice delivery.
Click Send and confirm your alert.
Each recipient will receive the message automatically translated into the language saved on their profile.