SMS automation

The SMS AUTOMATION service, combined with an SMS long number or SMS short code, allows you to automatically manage a series of activities in relation to the messages received.

By using rules and filters, SMS AUTOMATION allows you to set which actions the system will have to perform each time an SMS is received on the reception number.

The actions that can be performed automatically fall into 3 main categories:

1. Saving / deleting the mobile number from the contact address book
2. Forwarding the message
3. Auto reply

RULES SETTING

In order for the system to perform a certain action upon receipt of a message, a specific rule must be created.

Create a New Rule

By clicking on the ‘New Rule‘ button you can create a new rule.

You will be required to associate a name to the rule, which must be unique, such as ‘Save in address book’ and then choosing it’s position.

Position

The position is key for the correct functioning of the SMS AUTOMATION. It represents, the order of priority associated with the rules, so that the system can take into account which rules must be applied first, second, third etc to each received message. For example, in the event that two rules apply to the received message, the highest position rule will be applied first, and any further rules that apply, that don’t conflict with the rule, will be applied afterwards.

However, if two rules conflict with each other e.g. “Save to address book” and “Delete from address book”. The position value in this case will help the system to identify which of the two conflicting rules should be applied. The rule with the highest position will be applied and ignore any further conflicting rules in a lower position.

For any rules not applicable to the received message, the system will continue to scroll through all rules, until it encounters one which is applicable.

Please note: The position must always be specified, for all rules.

Actions

From this field it is possible to choose three different types of rules to be executed. From the drop-down menu rule it is possible to select “Automatic reply” , “SMS forwarding received” and “Save settings” .

1. Automatic reply

The automatic reply rule allows you to set a reply message that will be sent automatically if the received SMS contains the necessary conditions. You will be asked to set:

• A threshold (daily, weekly, monthly or total) which represents the maximum number of automatic text messages that the system can send in the specified time period.
• The content for automatic text message (e.g. “Thank you for subscribing! You will receive blog updates from now on!”).
• Any numeric or alphanumeric sender ID information.

Please note: If you wish to give recipients the opportunity to reply to the automatic reply message again, you must use your assigned SMS long number or short code as the sender telephone number.

2. SMS forwarding received

The received SMS forwarding rule allows you to forward the received SMS to the number dedicated to the reception service. You can choose whether to forward messages to:

• An EMAIL address , specifying the e-mail address (example: hello@mediaburst.co.uk) in the appropriate field.
• a URL by calling Get HTTP or Post HTTP.

3. Save Settings

By selecting the save settings rule, the new line “sender number” will appear on the side, where you can one of the following actions:

• Do not save in the address book : the sender of the received message will not be saved in the address book.
• Save to phonebook in group : will allow you to save the sender’s number in a specific group (you can select the group in the next box).
• Delete number from group : if this was already present in a given group.
• Delete completely from phonebook : to permanently delete the number from your phonebook.

Filters

For each rule it is possible to set one or more optional filters, through which the conditions of application of the rules themselves can be customised further.
It is possible to indicate a string of characters (e.g. HELLO ) and select from the following 5 conditions:

1. Message “Starts with”
2. Message “Ends with”
3. Message “has length equal to …”
4. Message “has a length less than or equal to …”
5. Message “has length greater than or equal to …”

You can also set filters using regular expressions.

More than one filter can be added for each rule.

Please note: Filters are case-sensitive, which means that the system distinguishes between uppercase and lowercase letters (E.g. Word, WORD and Word are all treated as separate terms).