---
id: ADR-PFM-NOT-017
title: Dispatch, Provider Delivery and Engagement Are Separate Facts
product_area: platform
module: notifications
revision: 1
status: proposed
design_intent: confirmed
source_sha:
  services-platform: ad3f6a6582843008ed0f5a17b131878d15829af1
  react-console: baf6dae382d6f41dce976c7f848667ccc37e076f
decision: Messages retain dispatch progress, provider delivery precedence and engagement separately; staff
  notices retain personal read state separately from delivery.
constrains:
- DOM-PFM-NOT-005
- DOM-PFM-NOT-003
- STATE-PFM-NOT-011
- STATE-PFM-NOT-012
- STATE-PFM-NOT-003
- STATE-PFM-NOT-004
- WF-PFM-NOT-013
origin: Andrew 2026-10-09 (open and click tracking on for transactional mail, with the signals caveat),
  services-platform:docs/communications/architecture.md#15. Decisions for Andrew
alternatives:
- option: One status per message
  why_not: One status would overwrite submission facts with later reports and confuse automated opens
    with a person’s reading.
consequences:
- A message can retain provider acceptance, delivery and an automated open as separate facts.
- Delivery precedence and earliest timestamps tolerate reordered reports.
- Engagement counts remain signals rather than proof that a person read the mail.
supersedes: []
evidence:
- 'services-platform at ad3f6a65: modules/communications/db/communication-messages.table.ts; services/feedback/process-ses-event.ts;
  modules/notifications/instance-status.ts.'
---
# Dispatch, Provider Delivery and Engagement Are Separate Facts

## Context

Asynchronous delivery reports and automated engagement signals cannot be represented honestly by one status.

## Decision

Messages retain dispatch progress, provider delivery precedence and engagement separately; staff notices retain personal read state separately from delivery.

## Alternatives Considered

One status would overwrite submission facts with later reports and confuse automated opens with a person’s reading.

## Consequences

A message can retain provider acceptance, delivery and an automated open as separate facts. Delivery precedence and earliest timestamps tolerate reordered reports. Engagement counts remain signals rather than proof that a person read the mail.