Which Smartsheet feature helps to ensure that users are aware of updates in real-time?

The feature that helps ensure users are aware of updates in real-time is email notifications. This functionality allows users to receive immediate alerts about changes or updates made to their sheets or projects. Notifications can be tailored to inform users of specific actions such as changes to rows, comments added, or updates to attachments. The real-time aspect of email notifications is crucial for collaborative work environments, as it ensures that all involved parties are promptly informed about important developments without needing to constantly check the sheet themselves.

By contrast, system alerts tend to provide general information rather than specific real-time updates, while activity reports summarize changes over a set period rather than delivering immediate notifications. Dashboard widgets can display information and metrics visually, but they do not inherently send real-time updates to users; users need to access the dashboards to see the latest data. Therefore, email notifications remain the most effective tool for ensuring that users are kept informed of updates as they happen.