Alexa routines are powerful for automating daily tasks and for controlling smart home devices. However, the possibilities for triggering Alexa routines is 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 to have Alexa say something when a text on a website changes?

With this skill you can use regular websites and web-services 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.

When you activate the Virtual Routine Trigger in your Alexa app and search for new devices, the triggers you previously defined will show up a new smart home devices. You will be able to use these devices as triggers for virtually any routine.

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