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Managing visitors
Learn how to manage visit requests and access requests.
Inviting visitors
To invite one or more guests for a site visit or event, use the self-service portal. Using a self-service portal with area managers specified simplifies the approval process, and avoids interrupting a chain of people who might or might not be the correct approvers.
Customizing SMS alerts
In Genetec ClearID™, SMS alerts are automatically sent to visit hosts to inform them when visitors check in. Site owners can customize SMS alerts to give hosts information about where visitors have checked in and the email address used to contact them.

About ClearID
Learn about the ClearID self-service physical access management solution.
What's new
Check out what's new in the latest update to ClearID.
Deployment preparation
Check your compatibility and deployment requirements.
ClearID plugin
Learn how to download and install the plugin.
Managing identities and users
Learn how to manage identities and users.
Credential synchronization
Managing sites
Learn how to manage sites.
Managing visitors
Learn how to manage visit requests and access requests.
- About visit request workflow
  A visit request workflow is a series of activities performed by the system or authorized people during the life cycle of a visit request. The activities can change the state and properties of visit requests, affect other entities in the system, or wait for conditions to be met.
- About visit request watchlist workflow
  A watchlist workflow is a series of activities performed by the system or authorized people during the life cycle of a visit request if watchlists are enabled. The activities can change the state and properties of watchlists, affect other entities in the system, or wait for conditions to be met.
- Inviting visitors
  To invite one or more guests for a site visit or event, use the self-service portal. Using a self-service portal with area managers specified simplifies the approval process, and avoids interrupting a chain of people who might or might not be the correct approvers.
  - Inviting visitors manually
    If you have fewer than five visitors to invite to your event, you can add your visitors manually.
  - Inviting visitors using a CSV import
    If you have more than five visitors to invite to your event, you can use a CSV file import to populate your visitor list.
  - SMS alerts
    In Genetec ClearID™, SMS alerts are used in the visit event wizard to automatically send notifications to visitor hosts to inform them when visitors check-in.
  - Customizing SMS alerts
    In Genetec ClearID™, SMS alerts are automatically sent to visit hosts to inform them when visitors check in. Site owners can customize SMS alerts to give hosts information about where visitors have checked in and the email address used to contact them.
- Reviewing visit events
  Area owners, security, and reception can review current or upcoming visits or events for their areas. Visits can be requested for hosting other site employees, maintenance contractors, appointments, meetings, interviews, customer visits, business partner conferences, and so on.
- About visit event logs
  In Genetec ClearID™, Account administrators, Site owners, requesters, and hosts can use visit event logs to audit events and identify absentees. These logs show detailed records of operator and visitor actions on check-in devices, as well as invited guests who didn’t check in.
- Viewing visit event logs
  To audit operator and visitor actions on check-in devices during visit events, and review lists of absent attendees, you can export the logs of each event from the Genetec ClearID™ portal.
- Copying a visit event
  You can copy a visit event to take advantage of reusable information in a recurring visit or visit events that include a large number of participants.
- Modifying visit events
  From time to time, you might want to modify a visit event to change the event details, or to add or remove visitors or hosts. Updating the visit event details ensures that your visitors are always kept up to date following any changes to an upcoming event.
- Approving visit event requests
  To modify or approve visit requests, Visit event approvers must review the pending approvals and then decide which requests to approve.
- Adding visit events to your calendar
  Hosts and visitors can keep track of events and simplify the check-in process by adding visits to their calendars. To add a Genetec ClearID™ visit event to your calendar, open the visit confirmation email and download the attached ICS file.
- About visitors report
  In Genetec ClearID™, a visitors report is a list of current or upcoming visits, or visits that occurred in the past for a specific site. The report includes information about visitor name, event requester, event name, expected arrival, check-in, check-out, and watchlist status.
- Viewing a visitors report
  You can view a visitors report for any current or upcoming visits, or visits that occurred in the past. The report results are specific to a site, and can be filtered using event requester, expected arrival, and watchlist status.
- QR codes as a credential for visitors
  Genetec ClearID™ can use QR codes as a credential for visitors to simplify access to parking entrance barriers, turnstiles, or gated facilities.
Managing areas
Learn how to manage areas.
Managing visitor watchlists
Learn how to manage visitor access using watchlists.
Role-based access control
Learn about role-based access control.
Connecting to other systems
Learn how to connect ClearID to other systems.
Visitor management devices
Learn about the ClearID Self-Service Kiosk mobile app that simplifies visitor management and check-in.
Troubleshooting
Troubleshoot common issues that can occur.
Additional resources
Need tech support or product information? Check out these resources.
Glossary

Customizing SMS alerts

2025-11-13

In Genetec ClearID™, SMS alerts are automatically sent to visit hosts to inform them when visitors check in. Site owners can customize SMS alerts to give hosts information about where visitors have checked in and the email address used to contact them.

What you should know

ClearID uses a default message when there isn't a custom SMS alert:
- {VisitorFirstname} {VisitorLastname} has arrived for {VisitEventName}. {VisitorEmail}
Custom SMS alerts can contain up to 250 characters.

Procedure

Click Organization > Sites
Search for and select a site, then click the Notifications tab.
In the Visitor check-in SMS section, type a message for the SMS alert.

Select a tag to insert the corresponding field in the text of the alert. Fields pull information from visit events. For example, Device name inserts the name of the kiosk the visitor used to check in.
Best Practice:
In buildings with Self-Service Kiosks placed in multiple locations, name your devices according to where they're located.
Click Save.
(Optional) Click Restore default.