What are notifications?  My definition is small, timely, useful and usually actionable pieces of information that interest or enrich a receiver’s experience.

Because my definition centres on the person receiving them, there are other attributes of notifications that are important.  For example the recipient needs to have full control.  They need to be able to customise where the information is sent and to turn it on or off as required.

How would you feel towards the company that you'd booked a flight or a holiday with if they informed you via a notification of a traffic problem on route to the airport, or a flight delay in time for you to take action?

Notifications are an excellent and relatively 'cheap' way to vastly improve a customer’s experience, and increase the value that any company delivers.