SharePoint Alerts - Alternative Methods?

Question

With SharePoint Alerts now being retired, I'm looking for a simple alternative method of notifying SharePoint members when documents or folders are uploaded.

Ideally I need:

• A single scheduled email to be sent at a specified time each day (e.g. 2:30pm);
• The email to contain a summary of all files and folders uploaded since the previous notification;
• The email to be sent only if there have been new uploads;
• The ability to send the email to all site members or a specified group of users.

I understand that Power Automate is one of Microsoft's recommended alternatives to SharePoint Alerts, but it's complex to set up correctly without errors.

Can anyone recommend the simplest approach to achieve this? If Power Automate is the best option, does anyone have a template flow or instructions for creating a daily digest email showing newly uploaded documents and folders?

Any suggestions or examples would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Answer 1

Hi @Alexander Bell,

Thank you for taking the time to describe your requirements so clearly.

Based on what you've outlined, I do agree that Power Automate would likely be the most suitable solution for your scenario. A scheduled flow can be configured to run at a specific time each day, check for newly uploaded files and folders since the previous notification, generate a summary, and send an email only when new content is found.

That said, I completely understand your concern that it can be complex to set up correctly without errors. Building a reliable daily digest solution often involves several components, such as scheduling, filtering content based on timestamps, handling both files and folders, formatting email summaries, and managing recipient groups. While it is certainly achievable with Power Automate, it typically requires knowledge that goes beyond core SharePoint administration.

Because your current post is under the Microsoft 365 and Office | SharePoint category, I'm concerned that neither I nor many of the regular contributors here may have the specialized Power Automate expertise needed to provide detailed flow designs, templates, or implementation guidance for this specific requirement.

Since your question is primarily focused on creating an automated notification workflow rather than a native SharePoint feature, I'd recommend posting it in the Power Automate Community, where the discussion can be reviewed by users, MVPs, and specialists who regularly work with scheduled flows, digest emails, SharePoint integrations, and notification automation.

That community will be in a much better position to help with ready-made templates, sample flows, or step-by-step instructions tailored to the daily digest experience you're trying to achieve.

I apologize for redirecting you to another community, but my goal is simply to connect you with the right experts as quickly as possible, helping you make the best use of your valuable time and avoid unnecessary trial-and-error.

Thank you for your understanding, and I hope you're able to find a solution that closely matches the "SharePoint Alerts" experience you're looking for.

Wishing you a wonderful day ahead!

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