Integrating with BulkSMS (SMS)
BulkSMS.com is a leading international SMS provider that lets you send SMS text messages to a range of networks. Once you have integrated your BulkSMS account with ChurchSuite, authorised users can send messages directly from ChurchSuite. BulkSMS is particularly suited for South African churches - click here for further information. For full details of their UK services, click here.
Ensuring message acceptance and delivery...
When you compose an SMS message and click Preview SMS we send a test message to 1111111, which is BulkSMS' official test number. We do this to ensure that when a message is sent to its recipient, it will be accepted by BulkSMS and delivered correctly. This will appear as a failed message in the dashboard, and while this may appear as a duplicate SMS, it will not debit any credit from your BulkSMS account.
Completing the integration
Having first created an account with BulkSMS, continue with the ChurchSuite integration. From the Integrations section of your Account Settings, select BulkSMS.
Click Add account.
On the Add account pop-up, enter the Name for the BulkSMS account you are integrating - you can integrate multiple accounts if you wish, so choose a name that will help you distinguish the account in a list of accounts. Enter the API Key and API Secret from your BulkSMS account - see the next section for how to obtain these API details. You must also choose the authorised Users who have permission to use the "Send SMS" functionality to send SMSs through your BulkSMS account - users who are not authorised will be unable to send SMS messages. Click Save when you have entered all the details.
You can return to the integration page at any time in the future to Edit or Delete an integrated account, or to Add account if you wish to integrate further BulkSMS accounts or Reset the integration, which will delete all integrated accounts.
Obtaining the API details
Begin by logging into your BulkSMS account. Click here for the login page. Navigate to the Advanced section within the My Account area.
Click on the API Tokens option in the list.
To create a new API "token" enter a Token name (without spaces) e.g. 'KingsHopeChurch' and click Create Token.
The API Credentials are generated for that Token name - you'll need to copy and paste the Token ID and Token secret back into the respective boxes on the BulkSMS integration page. Be careful to select all the characters.
Once you have completed the integration you can click Back to list and Log Out of your BulkSMS account.