Chase your customers via SMS.
Last updated: August 23, 2024
On average people receive more than 50% fewer SMS per day than they do emails, this results in higher open rates and quicker opening times. This makes it a great option for customers that aren't very responsive to emails or one that needs an extra step in escalation.
Add SMS templates
By default, we have added some example templates that can be used within your SMS messages, these can be edited to suit your needs.
SMS templates can be configured on a single or multi basis. The template used will be determined by the same invoice grouping rules as email reminders. See more on multi-grouping here.
If you are using our Payment Portal, remember to add your Payment Portal link to your SMS templates.
SMS templates are restricted to 320 characters. This limitation has been imposed to ensure best practice and better deliverability and user experience for those receiving the SMS. Short SMS' will be easier for recipients to digest and therefore, more powerful.
Some placeholders, for example the invoice multi-table are not available on SMS templates due to formatting and size limitations, it would not be possible to guarantee a message delivery with certain placeholders included.
Add SMS into your schedules
Once you have confirmed/updated the templates to your liking, these can be added to your schedules. For SMS templates, there is no option to select the normal or escalated recipient.
All emails and SMS reminders will be sent at your scheduled chase time.
Escalated senders and recipients are not available for SMS chases as we are currently only able to pull the mobile number for the primary contact from accounting systems that we integrate with so there is no escalation point for the SMS messages at this time and the SMS is sent from a generic number, rather than a specific senders mobile number.
SMS recipients
The SMS will be sent to the mobile number of the primary contact on the organization. If there is no valid mobile number, the SMS will not be sent.
Invalid mobile numbers
Chaser will warn you if an invoice is due to be chase by SMS but the customers mobile number is invalid. These warnings will appear in the Next Chase section of Chasefeed, and in your Forewarn emails if you have these enabled.
The mobile number must include a country code in order to be valid. These will need to be included in the mobile number within your accounting software.
Valid format examples:
UK: +44 7911123456
US: +1 5555551234
AU: +61412345678
NZ: +64 21345687
If you use Xero, you can easily update all of your contacts in bulk by using their import functionally.
See here the details on billing and costs for SMS payment reminders.
Telephone number
Chaser uses an automation service to send messages, which means numbers used will differ. For some regions (eg. UK, USA), local mobile numbers will be used to send the SMS.
| Destination | Number |
| United States | +1 910 727 4362 |
| United Kingdom | +44 7361 597043, +44 7380 277062, +44 7723 462036, +44 7897 034108 |
| Rest of World | +1 910 727 4362 |
SMS replies
SMS replies are currently not supported. We recommend sending these messages with a note on who to contact, or indicating not to reply to the message. We will be monitoring this and may look to support it in the future.
Opt-out
Debtors can opt out of receiving SMS by replying with the word STOP. That will stop the user from receiving SMS' from that particular mobile number.