Overview

This article answers frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to SMS in Meritto, including sender IDs, content templates, consent templates, message categories, and troubleshooting SMS failures.

Common Questions & Answers

1. What is a Sender ID?

• The SMS sender ID is the text display name that you see at the top of your phone’s screen and is used to identify who sent the message. This is composed of 6 characters. It is now mandatory to register your relevant senderIDs with the DLT platform before you start using them, as per the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). Sender ID is also known as Header. By using a Sender ID, your customers will immediately recognize who the SMS text message is from.

2. What is the length of the Sender ID?

• Sender id should be of 6 alphabetic characters for any Service Implicit message.  This is only for Alerts Panel (Transactional and OTP SMSs).

• When creating a promotional Sender ID from the DLT platform, these will be visible in the "Type" drop-down menu.

• The sender ID for Promotional accounts is 6 numeric characters, with the first 2 digits representing the category of the message. 

• You may choose the characters that make up the Sender ID so that your customers may be able to relate this with your company's name. 

3. Is content template registration mandatory on the DLT platform?

• Yes, Content Template Registration is mandatory, and passing an approved Template Id along with the SMS is a mandatory parameter. Also, all kinds of SMS content i.e. OTPs, Transactional, and Promotional have to be registered on your respective DLT platform.

4. What is a consent template?

• The consent template is an essential part of the DLT process set up by the TRAI to curb unsolicited messages being sent out within India. It is mandatory to register the consent template on the DLT platform to acquire consent from new subscribers prior to transmission of commercial communication.

5. What is the difference between Transactional and Promotional messaging?

6. What kind of SMS can be sent through the Transactional channel?

• Through the transactional channel, we can send the message only to the subscribed users and the content of the message should be only transactional/informative. 

• For Eg:-  Any transactions made by the user, updates in his/her account, and critical alerts are all sent in Transactional SMS.

7. What is the format of a variable while applying a Content Template on the DLT platform?

• Variables in content templates should be written as {#var#}. Any other format will result in SMS delivery issues.

8. What is the character limit for a variable {#var#} while sending SMS?

• The variable can contain a maximum of 30 characters, for both English and Unicode messages.

9. How many variables are allowed in a single Content Template?

• A maximum of 4-5 variables is allowed per content template.

10. How many Headers (Sender IDs) can be associated with a Content Template?

• Multiple Sender IDs can be mapped to a single Content Template, but this varies based on the DLT platform.

11. How to decide between Service Implicit and Service Explicit categories?

• If unsure, register the Content Template twice – once under Service Implicit and once under Service Explicit. If both are approved, use Service Implicit for sending messages.

12. Can a variable be placed at the end of a Content Template?

• No, a variable cannot be the last word in a Content Template.

13. How long does Content Template approval take on the DLT platform?

• Approval typically takes 2-4 business days, but delays may occur due to a high number of requests.

14. Is adding a Brand Name compulsory for all content templates?

• Yes, adding the Brand Name in the SMS body is mandatory for all types of SMS (Promotional, Transactional, OTPs).

15. Why was my Content Template rejected with "Wrong Content Type Selected" error?

• Your SMS content should be applied under Service Implicit (for transactional messages) or Service Explicit (for promotional messages).

16. Why was my Content Template rejected with "Brand Name Not Added" error?

• Your Brand Name must be explicitly mentioned in the SMS body. Example:

• Correct Format:

Dear {#var#}

Please register for Webinar by clicking on {#var#} The date for Webinar is {#var#} and the time is {#var#}.

XYZ University

17. Why was my Content Template rejected with "No Header Associated with the Brand Name" error?

• This error occurs when the Sender ID (Header) is not registered for the brand in your DLT account.

• Example: If the brand name is "North University", you should have a corresponding Sender ID (e.g., NRTUNV) in your DLT account.

Note: You cannot apply for a template with a customer’s brand name under your DLT account. A separate entity registration is required for the customer.

18. Why is my SMS failing?

• SMS might fail due to several reasons, please refer to this link to know more.

Conclusion

SMS communication in Meritto follows TRAI regulations, requiring Sender ID, Content Template, and Consent Template registration on the DLT platform. To prevent SMS failures, ensure proper template approval, correct variable usage, and adherence to messaging rules.