Before you can send SMS messages from within Grain Trader you need an account with a third-party provider. These companies provide an Internet-based Application Programming Interface (API) that applications programs like Grain Trader can use internally to create and send messages. They also commonly provide a desktop application that users can run that provides a generic computer-based SMS interface.

At the time of writing CDA Software only supports integration with the services offered by Red Oxygen. We offer to setup Red Oxygen accounts for our users and configure Grain Trader accordingly. For this and assistance and ongoing liaison with Red Oxygen we earn a small commission.

Please contact us for assistance in setting up SMS messaging for you.

One of the nice features about integrated SMS messaging is that much of the data needed is already stored in Grain Trader! So when for example a name, phone number or link to a map is needed the data can be pulled straight out of the database and inserted into the SMS process automatically The downside however is that if your data is bad (eg alphabetic text in phone number fields) or looks unprofessional (eg names all in lowercase or UPPER CASE), the result that your suppliers or clients receive will at best reflect that. It is therefore a good idea to review and polish your Contacts data, and ensure it's correct.

CDA has given you the opportunity to save location data (latitude/longitude) for Contacts and display this on a Google map for some time. We have migrated this functionality to the ability to insert a link to a Google map into SMS messages as well, and extended it to base a map link on a street address as well. We see this being of benefit to carriers in particular. Latitude/longitude coordinates might be somewhat more difficult to determine, but are useful for silos, sheds and the like that may not have a street address. For more information on how to determine coordinates see our Getting Map Coordinates tutorial. In support of this functionality we have also provided a new field to store a mobile phone number for trucks, which is carried through by default to the Load window where available, but can also be entered there.

When the Grain Trader v.3.3.23 upgrade is installed, Admin users are issued a prompt about SMS messages. The prompt has two functions:

• It raises the issue of consent to send unsolicited electronic messages. Under the SPAM Act 2003 you must have consent to send commercial SMS messages. Consent can be inferred by an existing business relationship where there is a reasonable expectation of receiving commercial electronic messages.

• New fields “Accepts SMS” and “Default for SMS” have been added to the Contacts window. If you answer “Yes” to the prompt:
  • All your contacts with mobile phone numbers will have the “Accepts SMS” field ticked, and
  • All accounts with only a single mobile phone number will have that set as the default for the account.

If you answer “Yes” to the prompt you signify that you believe you have inferred consent, and you are only updating the Contacts data as described above, in readiness for the time if and when you decide to use SMS messaging.

You can defer doing anything indefinitely, but the prompt will continue to be issued to Admin users until a definitive answer is given.

Further requirements of the SPAM Act are that message recipients can clearly identify the sender and must be given an easy method or contact details to “opt out” of future communications. Grain Trader provides default message header and footer text that complies with these requirements (see Configuring SMS Messaging). If a user is marked “Accepts SMS” but opts out (eg by replying STOP to a message) the sending user will be advised and must then remove the checkmark from the “Accepts SMS” checkbox for that Contact so as to avoid sending more messages to them. Red Oxygen will also automatically block further messages to that number.

Next: Where Can I Send SMS Messages From? →