Benefits
Ability to send any number of text messages to all of your customers, or to a selective list of customer.
Description
AGRIS v22.2 introduced the ability to send SMS text messages (for Commodity Tickets and Invoices).
This enhancement provides the next feature of the SMS Texting service within the system.
The discussion below assumes that your integration with Twilio SMS texting service has already been set up under AGRIS > CFT > Communications > AGRIS Web Service > AGRIS Web Service Configuration > Twilio.
Once your integration with Twilio has been configured, you now have the ability to import SMS Notifications (text messages) to automatically send texts to your customers. You are able to specify which customers will subscribe to the text messages by configuring their cell phone numbers in the Name/Address System.
The layout for the csv file import format can be accessed under Maintenance > File Layouts For Imports:
Based on the information above, a csv file can be created to import SMS Notifications into the system. Once they are imported, then the texts will be sent to your customers. The A-J columns defined above can be setup in Excel and then save the file as csv output type.
A = Always “CFTN0”
B = The integration number for Twilio setup under CFT > Communications > AGRIS Web Service
C = Customer Name ID
D = The Contact Type for the Phone Number set up in the Name/Address System
E = Package (any package NAM, GRN, ACP, ACR, etc)
F = Location (optional)
G = Notification Type (any 5 characters that you make up yourself)
H = Notification Description (any 30 characters that you make up yourself)
I = Document Number (optional)
J = The text message
In the example import file above, each of the customers that actually have a TXT Phone Number setup in Name/Address will receive the text message. If they do not have a TXT phone number, then the import will reject that customer’s text from being imported. Column J allows you to provide the same message to be sent out to everyone or each customer can have a customized message (their outstanding A/R Balance as an example).
The csv file can be imported under Reports > Import Procedures.
Once they are imported, the Communication Inquiry in the Communications module allows you to view all texts messages that have been sent.
Navigation: CFT > Communications > AGRIS Web Service > Communication Inquiry
Select any line in the grid to view the information about each text:
Click the Details button to view the actual text that was sent. Example:
Enhancement #2: CFT Report to convert a csv file to the Text Notification Import Format
The SMS Notification import file can be generated and imported in the following steps:
A. Process the Name/Address Report to generate a csv file of all customers. Navigation: NAM > Report Manager > Name/Address Reports > Print Standard Reports > Name/Address Detail Spreadsheet.
B. Convert the csv file from the Name/Address format to create the Notification Import format. Navigation: CFT > Communication Reports > Print Standard Reports > Create SMS Text Import From NAME-IDS.CSV.
C. Edit the generated csv file to supply your own text message that will be sent.
D. Import the file. Navigation: Reports > Import Procedures.
Note: This standard report can be used as a template to create a user-defined report for your own needs. It can be modified to convert any csv file into the Text Notification Import format and supply your own text message within the report itself. In this way, you would not need to edit the csv file in Excel. The text message can be adjusted in the report itself.
Enhancement #3: CFT Report to create a Notification Import from your monthly statements
This enhancement allows you to automatically generate this type of text message toward the end of each month for each f your customers who have not yet fully paid last month’s statement balance:
The SMS Notification import file with the above texts for each customer can be generated and imported in the following steps:
A. Process the new CFT report to create the Notification Import file. Navigation: CFT > Communication Reports > Print Standard Reports > Create SMS Text Import From Statements.
B. Review the csv import in Excel.
C. Import the file. Navigation: Reports > Import Procedures.
Note: This standard report can be used as a template to create a user-defined report specifically for your own needs. It can be modified to retrieve information from your AGRIS database and supply your desired text message within the report itself. The data to be retrieved and the text message can be adjusted in the report itself. Please let us know what type of text messages you would like to send out on either a one-time or a periodic basis.
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