The short answer: ask alfred_, by text or in the app: “Which consultants on the Northgate Clinic project still owe us drawings or documents for Friday’s permit submission?” It reads what you requested and each reply, attachments included, and lists what’s arrived and what hasn’t. For a daily check until the deadline, make it a routine and turn it off afterwards. It sends nothing to consultants on its own.
Thursday night is not a plan
You’re the project architect on a small medical clinic. The permit set goes to the city on Friday. Two weeks ago you emailed the structural engineer for the stamped foundation plan, the MEP engineer for the updated mechanical and plumbing sheets, the civil engineer for the grading plan, and the energy consultant for the compliance forms.
Some came in. Some came in and then were revised. The civil engineer asked a question about the drainage easement that you answered on Tuesday. By Wednesday you’re not sure which of the four you’re still waiting on, and you find out Thursday night when you assemble the PDF.
The native ways, and where they stop
A submission checklist. A spreadsheet of sheets and consultants, updated as files arrive. Accurate the day someone updates it.
Project management software. If consultants upload to your project platform, it tracks submittals there. Many smaller consultants still email PDFs and answer questions in the thread.
Searching your inbox. Search by consultant or project name. You still open each thread to see what arrived and what was promised.
Ask, or make it a routine
- Connect the inbox you coordinate the project from. Sign in with Google or Microsoft; your password stays with them.
- Ask by text or in the app: “Which consultants on the Northgate Clinic project still owe us drawings or documents for Friday’s permit submission?”
- For a standing check, make a routine: “Every weekday at 8, email me what the Northgate Clinic consultants still owe us.” alfred_ shows you the routine before you turn it on. Turn it off after the submission, or ask: “stop the Northgate routine.” See Make your own.
What the answer looks like
Northgate Clinic, permit submission Friday: still outstanding (2)
- MEP engineer, Dana Price at Cedar Engineering: updated M and P sheets. Asked Oct 10. Dana replied Oct 17: “Revisions done Wednesday.” Nothing since.
- Energy consultant, Sam Ortiz: compliance forms. Asked Oct 10. No reply.
Arrived: stamped foundation plan from the structural engineer (Oct 20, Northgate-S1-S4-Stamped.pdf); grading plan from the civil engineer (Oct 22, after your Tuesday answer on the easement).
Illustrative example, not output from a real run. The project, firms and files are invented.
Where each step happens
- Desktop: make the routine on the Routines page; read the full threads in your inbox.
- Phone, on a site visit: ask “what does Northgate still need?” by text.
- Reminders: “remind Sam we need the energy forms by Thursday noon” writes the email; it goes when you say send.
The honest caveat
alfred_ reads the inboxes you connect, so a file that arrived through a share or a project platform with no email isn’t seen. It judges each thread from what it says, so check the list against your set before you submit. It doesn’t contact consultants on its own. alfred_ is a paid product, and routines run on the credits your plan includes; plans are on the pricing page.
