Client Update: Task Acknowledgment and ETA

Before you send

• Read the full request, including attachments and any earlier messages on the topic
• Check the Client Workflow Record: is there a task card for this?
• Check today's priorities: can you meet a realistic time?
• Note the client's time zone for the ETA
• Respond within the Communication Standard window (see Narqix Standards)

The flow

1. Acknowledge and restate

You: Got it, (CLIENT FIRST NAME). You need a list of 30 roofing contractors in (CITY) with phone, website and licence status.

Why it works: restating proves you understood and catches misunderstandings before you start.

2. Commit to a time, with the zone

You: I will have it to you by 3:00 PM ET today.

Why it works: a named time and zone replaces worry with a plan.

3. Ask only what blocks you, with your suggestion

You: One question: should I include companies that only do residential? My suggestion is commercial only, since the job is a warehouse. Reply "yes" if that works.

Why it works: one question with a suggested answer lets the client reply in one word.

If the task will take longer than the client expects

You: Got it. A full list of 100 will take until tomorrow 12:00 PM ET. I can send the first 30 today by 4:00 PM ET so you can start calling. Does that work?

Offer a partial delivery first. Never accept a deadline you know you will miss.

If the task conflicts with another priority

You: Happy to do this. It would push the invoice batch from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM ET. Which should go first?

Let the client choose the order. Never quietly drop one task for another.

If the task is outside scope or risky

You: Thanks for sending this. Because it involves changing payment details, I will confirm with you by phone first, as we agreed for any payment changes.

Out of scope requests go to your Narqix lead. Risky requests (money, deletion, mass sending) get a read back before action.

4. Update before the deadline if anything changes

You: Quick update: 22 of 30 done. Two sources are slow to load, so the full list will be at 3:30 PM ET instead of 3:00. The first 22 are in the sheet now.

Why it works: an early update is professional; a missed deadline with no warning breaks trust.

Tricky replies

Client says	You reply
"Can you just do it now?"	"Yes, starting now. You will have it by (TIME AND ZONE)." (Then reshuffle and tell them what moves.)
"Why so long?"	"It is 30 contractors with licence checks, about 6 minutes each. I can send the first 10 within the hour if that helps."
No reply to your question	Proceed with your stated suggestion and say so: "No reply yet, so I went with commercial only, as suggested."

After you send

• Create the task in the task tracker: title, ETA with zone, link to the request.
• Add it to your start of day priorities or end of day report.
• Set a reminder 30 minutes before the ETA to check you are on track.

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