Virtual Routine Trigger

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Alexa routines are powerful for automating daily tasks and for controlling smart home devices. However, the actions that can trigger Alexa routines are currently rather limited. Have you ever wanted to start a smart home device when an information on a website changes? Have you ever wanted to stop your smart home irrigation system when rain is forecast? Have you ever wanted Alexa to say something when a text on a website changes?

With this skill you can use regular websites and web-service APIs (e.g., RESTful APIs) as triggers for your routines. First, go to http://www.virtualsmarthome.xyz/ and set up your triggers. Simply provide a URL and a few details on which content will activate the trigger.

After activating the Virtual Routine Trigger in your Alexa app, the triggers you previously defined will be discovered as new smart home devices. You will be able to use these devices as triggers for virtually any Alexa routine you want to set up.

You don't have to be a software developer for using this skill. However, if you are one, you will appreciate the true power of this skill. You can use virtually any REST API or similar web-based resource for triggering your Alexa routines.


Please follow this step by step guide in order to use this skill:

1. Go to https://www.virtualsmarthome.xyz/virtual_routine_trigger/ and log in using your Amazon account.

2. Define one or more triggers on the website: First provide a URL. The URL will be loaded regularly and checked against the criteria you provide. If the criteria are met (e.g., the website contains a certain text) your trigger will be activated.

3. Install the Virtual Routine Trigger skill and log in with you Amazon account. When Alexa starts discovering new devices, the triggers you previously defined will be found. They will show up as doorbells.

4. Now, you can use these doorbells are triggers for your Alexa routines. When setting up a new routine, choose "When this happens", select "Smart Home" and pick one of your triggers. When the criteria you defined on the website are met, the trigger is actived and the doorbell is pressed. If the criteria you defined are not met, nothing will happen.

Have fun with your new, powerful Alexa routines!


Virtual Routine Trigger is free for now. Enjoy using it!