Introduction


iBex SMS Messaging allows operators to send text messages to their guests, in conjunction with email messages.



PMS Options
Access to this feature will be controlled through a new PMS option. The option is labelled “SMS Messaging” if you need help accessing it please contact Seekom support.


User Permissions
A new permission will be added, so operators can control which users have access to the system.


Billing
Charging of SMS:
All SMS messages will be logged for billing purposes. The amount charged will be in your normal monthly invoice for SMS charges incurred during the previous period.  For those on quarterly on annual billing cycles, you will receive a separate monthly invoice for SMS charges.


Send Plan Only
The ability to reply to a text message requires a dedicated number from the service.
Without a dedicated number, an account can send a message but cannot receive a direct reply.
The send plan allows an operator to send a text message to one or more customers. Replies are not kept.



Sending Messages


Via Individual Bookings


Similar to how a specific email can be sent from a booking, a specific text message can as well.




Country Code  - Country code will default to your property account set up. You will then have the ability to select a country which will automatically add the country code


Mobile Number - this field will pre populate to the number which is set in the lead guest page of the booking. The field will also validate the passed in number and display an error if the number isn't correct.


SMS Template -  Where you can select a template you’ve customised which will automatically pull the details from your property and booking 


Message - a text area for writing the body of the sms. As you type a progress bar will appear at the bottom of the text box indicating how much space you have left in your message.


This will also display the number of characters used and the number of characters left.


As you type over the number of characters left the message gets split into two messages. The number of characters left resets (to 140 - only the first message is 160 all proceeding messages will have 140 characters).
The number of messages that it will take to send the message then appears between characters typed and characters left.


The more messages that you require to send a message will reset the progress bar back (but it depends on how many messages you're using) As you hit two messages you'll go back half way, as you hit 3 messages you'll go back to two thirds etc.


Clear - button will clear the text you've typed in the message text area


Send - this button is disabled by default. Only once you have a valid phone number and some valid txt in the message text area will the button enable you to send.


Overview Screen


In the logs section of the overview sidebar there is a link "SMS Log". Clicking on this will open a dialog with a log of the sms messages that are set against the booking.



SMS Log



This is a table of sms messages sent against the booking. The table will display:

  • The date / time the message was sent

  • The phone number the message was sent to

  • The body of the message (truncated, however hover will display the full message)

  • The status of the message

The dialog that the log appears in will also have a link to send a new sms.



SMS Message Report


Report Options & Filters


To open the SMS Message report, select it from the Reports submenu. You have the ability to create multiple filters, set a default and save them by clicking on the “Save Filter” button.


Dates - This is where you have the ability to select your ‘to” and “from” date or click on the setting symbol to use the advance date search options



SMS Status - see table below on what each status means


Delivered
The message has been received to the customers handset
Sent
The message has been sent to the customers carrier provider (eg Spark, Vodafone ect.) and the provider is awaiting for confirmation of message delivery form the carrier
Undelivered
The provider has tried to send the message for a period of time. The carrier has failed to deliver the message to the customers handset
Invalid Number
The provider can not recognise the customers number.  This may be caused if the number is not in the correct international format or was entered incorrectly.
Rejected
Message has been refused by the provider
Expired
SMS has tried to send the message to the customer, however the customers number was unavailable
No Credits
No Credit available to send messages
Accepted
Message has been accepted at the carriers end
Deleted
Message has been deleted by the provider
Enroute
The message is currently being delivered  but waiting for the carrier for confirmation
Failed
Message could not be sent from iBex
Unknown
This is when the provider can not recognise the status from iBex
Draft
Message has been typed in iBex but not sent


Booking Reference - When searching a booking reference number it will ignore the date picker


Exporting Report


The report has an export button which if clicked will create an export file via the following formats:


  • Excel Spreadsheet (xlsx)

  • Excel Spreadsheet (xls)

  • Comma Delimited (csv)


            
            NOTE

  • Searched filters and fields will show in the export

  • Exporting the report will show ALL columns in the spreadsheet/file



Important note:


To use any SMS functions, the SMS Messaging option needs to be activated in your iBex plan.


To activate this setting, you need to be in the Account Details screen which can be selected from the Account Details menu option in the Settings / Account menu group. Click on the Plan Details & Support Contact link at the top of the screen as shown: 



This will open a pop up window with your account plan details



Under Functionality Subplan, ensure SMS Messaging is ticked. Save the plan once complete.