EQ can send text messages (SMS) to customers and resources if you have specified a mobile phone number.
Before you can send messages you need to purchase some credits. For setup instructions see Postcodes & Text Settings. Sending 1 text message (160 characters) costs 1 credit.
You can:
Send texts to 1 recipient
- Open the Customer List from the main toolbar.
- Use Find or Filter or scroll down to select the customer you wish to email
- Click the Text (SMS) icon the left:
- The mobile number of your customer will already be filled in (if it was entered on the Customer General tab). Otherwise enter the number next to the To.. box.
- Enter the body of the text message you want to send. This is plain text only. No formatting is supported with SMS messages.
You can use templates to send pre-configured messages. See the article Email & Text Templates.
Depending on the length of message you may use more than 1 credit per message (1 standard message is 160 characters long). - Click the Send button.
The message will be sent and a record saved in the Communications tab.
If you entered a valid mobile number into your Text Settings this is where any text message reply will be received. Otherwise if you entered a brand name no reply is possible.
Send texts in bulk
You can send texts to multiple contacts at the same time, in bulk, using a filtered list. The Projects screen Sales Opportunities, Quotations, Sales Orders and Communications can all be filtered and a text message template can be used.
You could text all customers with orders scheduled for delivery next week as a reminder of their delivery date. Or you could text all booked resources about the fitting jobs they have for tomorrow.
- Open your chosen Projects screen. This example uses Projects > Sales Orders.
- Click the Filter List button on the left:
- Use any criteria here to filter your selected orders.
For example select delivery dates, or an outstanding milestone. - Click Apply Filter.
The list of orders now changes to show only the matching orders. - Click the Orders menu on the top menubar and select Text [SMS] All...
- You can pick Customer to text your customers or Sales Person to text the sales person associated with that sales order (for example as a reminder).
- Now select a Text Template from the drop down list:
(If you have not yet setup at least 1 template see Email & Text Templates)
If a mobile number is missing or invalid the Results column will inform you. Only contacts with valid numbers can be selected. - Your template can reference fields of data, e.g. delivery date, customer post code etc.
Additional Info: Select whether the data is pulled from the customer contact details or whether you want to reference the information for the last communication entry of a certain type.
For example if you select "last action type = Appointment" then your text message could contain information about that appointment such as the date, time or location.
Tick Preview before sending if you want to see each individual message before it is sent. - Click Send.
Your text messages are sent (Each 160 character message is charged at 1 credit).
The messages are saved into each customer's Communication tab.
If you entered a valid mobile number into your Text Settings this is where any text message reply will be received. Otherwise if you entered a brand name no reply is possible.