Twilio is a 3rd Party service that will allow you to send text messages from the iMerchant system.
Texts can be sent in an automated fashion as a Customer notification when an order arrives in store. They can be sent to a list of customers with updates of things happening in store from sales to events. You can even send customers coupon codes to be used in store.
In order to get started with Texting, you will have to create an account through Twilio.
Twilio Sign Up
Click on the orange Sign up and start building button
Fill out the sign up information and click on the Get Started Button
This will set up a trial account for you to test the service.
You will be taken to an SMS Verification page
Enter in your mobile number and click on the Verify via SMS button.
Enter the Verification code sent to your mobile and click on the Submit button.
Enter your Project Name (i.e. you store name) and click on the Create Project button.
This will take you to the Twilio console where you will first get a Twilio Phone Number
Click on the Get a number button.
Twilio will try to automatically assign you a number.
If you're happy with the number click on the Choose this Number button
- You will then see a Congratulations! screen
- Click on the Done button
- You are taken back to the console to send a test message.
If you don't like the number provided you can click on Search for a different number to select a more appropriate number.
- in our set up, twilio tried to give us and (802) for VT, since we are based in NH I chose a number beginning with (603)
- if you have stores in different states it would be worth setting up multiple phone numbers to appear more local to your customers
- imerchant is currently working on providing the ability to assign a texting number by store, currently this option is unavailable
Send a test message and click on the Yes button if you had success.
imerchant note: you can only send a text to the verified number in your twilio account so long as you are using a test account. Once you have upgraded to a pay account with Twilio you text any number you like.
There's no need to pay attention to anything else on this page for the time being.
1. Within the console click on the home button
- This will bring you to the Dashboard where you find the information you need to add to iMerchant
- You'll receive an email from twilio welcoming you, that provides you a link to this page.
- Going directly to the Home > Dashboard will save you a little time in setting up.
2. Account SID - to be used in iMerchant
3. Auth Token - to be used in iMerchant
iMerchant Set Up
Security Settings:
If your Systems Options (Tools > Options) Security Model is set to Restricted Access, texting will not be allowed by default.
You will need to set permissions for Users and Groups
To do so go to Tools > Administration > Security > User Security (or Group Security)
- Find the User whose security you want to set
- Double-click on the user, this will bring up the User Properties window
- Click on the Permissions button, this will bring up the User Permission Properties
- Click on the Administration button
- Towards the bottom of the list you will find Send Text Messages
- Check the Box in the User column and the box in the Display column
- Click on the Close button and select Yes when prompted to Save
Now that you have a Twilio you will want to go over to iMerchant to enable texting and enter the Twilio SID / Token / Phone Number
To do so go to:
Tools > Options
In the Systems Options window under the General Tab, you will notice the Twilio Interface Options in the bottom right.
To enable texting:
Use Twilio for SMS Text Messaging = Checked
Twilio SID = Account SID back on the Twilio Console (2)
Twilio Auth Token = Auth Token back on the Twilio Console (3)
Our Twilio Phone Number = the phone number provided by Twilio
Click on the Save button on the Task Bar and log out of the system.
- Logging out of the system will force the change to take place
Log back in to iMerchant
Go Back to Tools > Options and click on the Send a Test Text button
The following window will pop up
Enter the Phone Number you want to send a Test text to and click on the Send button
If you don't receive the test text, try again, if it continues to fail contact support by emailing [email protected]
If you did receive the test text, congratulations you are set up to text customers.
Anywhere you see the Task Bar button Send Text Message you can send a text
- you can send to a selected list, or to all
You can also set up text notifications and save predetermined text verbiage for notifying customers.
For a more in depth article on new texting options within the system click here