Autoreplies
The Autoreply application is an optional service offered by mms. It provides users with the capability to configure and manage autoreplies through a graphical user interface (GUI).
To enable this functionality, the associated transport code or sender ID must be configured for autoreplies. In the default configuration, all autoreplies are administered by mms.
Autoreply behavior is keyword-driven. This service is particularly beneficial for users requiring extensive keyword configurations or frequent updates, such as those associated with dynamic marketing campaigns.
Setup
Please contact your designated account manager to request that the Autoreply application be enabled for a specified transport code or sender ID. Upon routing inbound traffic to the Autoreply application, individual reply rules may be defined and maintained as required.
Configuration
There are 2 options to manage autoreply rules, individually via the UI editor or via bulk file upload.
1) For individual configuration, go to the autoreply tab on the main menu and click ADD NEW KEYWORD
This opens the keyword editor:
- Select the applicable transport code or sender ID.
- Enter the desired keyword or keywords, separating multiple entries with commas.
- Choose the preferred matching method: Starts with or Exact.
- Specify the reply message to be sent to the subscriber when a keyword match occurs.
- Click Save.
The refresh interval following additions or modifications in the production environment may be up to 30 seconds. Please take this into consideration when performing tests.
The keyword table displays all currently configured keywords. Graphical arrows indicate the type of rule applied, identifying whether it is open-ended or exact.
Use the special keyword _DEFAULT_ in place of an actual keyword to create a generic autoreply that responds to any message not matched by existing rules. By enclosing it between two underscores, the system distinguishes it from a standard keyword.
For changes and deletions, use the buttons in the main keyword table:
2) For bulk configuration
- Click ADD NEW KEYWORD
- Select your eligible transportcode/senderID
- Upload a file that contains a comma separated list of your keywords (.CSV file)
This is especially useful for a large number of keywords.
Parameters for bulk upload files are:
| No. | Column | Required | Format | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Transportcode | Yes | 4 – 15-digit number | Your sender ID (e.g. the short code or longcode for which you are configuring your replies |
| 02 | Keyword | Yes | alphanumeric | The keyword that triggers the desired action. The parameter DEFAULT may be used to create an autoreply for any message that does not match an existing keyword. |
| 03 | Message | Yes | alphanumeric | The message to be sent to the subscriber when the specified keyword matches the defined rule. |
| 04 | Option | Optional | START or MATCH | This optional parameter specifies whether the keyword is found at the beginning of message or must be an exact match. |
The file should contain a header and an entry for each keyword
Examples:
Basic compliance autoreplies:
Automated responses for STOP and HELP at the beginning of a message (when OPTION parameter is excluded, the keyword defaults to START)
| TRANSPORTCODE | KEYWORD | MESSAGE | <- file header |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18001231234 | HELP | Thank you for contacting us | |
| 18001231234 | STOP | You have been opted out |
Sample file with a default autoreply:
In this configuration, messages containing only the keyword HELP trigger the help response, messages prefixed with STOP trigger the opt-out response, and all other inbound messages return the default “not monitored” reply..
| TRANSPORTCODE | KEYWORD | MESSAGE | OPTION | <- file header |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18001231234 | HELP | Thank you for contacting us | MATCH | |
| 18001231234 | STOP | You have been opted out | START | |
| 18001231234 | _DEFAULT_ | This number is not monitored |