Delivery SMS
Delivery SMS for couriers and online stores
Tell customers when their order ships, when the driver is on the way and how to collect it. Send automatically from your system through our SMS API, or upload a list each morning.
- Automatic by API
- Delivery PINs
- From 22c an SMS
Bloom Boutique: Your parcel is out for delivery today between 12:00 and 15:00. Please keep your phone nearby.
Bloom Boutique: Your driver Sipho is 15 minutes away. Please make sure someone is at the gate.
Bloom Boutique: Delivered and signed for by Thandi at 12:58. Thank you for shopping with us.
Delivery SMS
Delivery messages customers want
One message at each step, from the warehouse to the front door.
Bloom Boutique: Order 10482 has shipped and should arrive in 2 to 3 working days. We'll SMS you when it's out for delivery.
Bloom Boutique: Your parcel is out for delivery today between 12:00 and 15:00. Please keep your phone nearby.
Bloom Boutique: Your delivery PIN is 4829. Only give it to the driver once you have your parcel.
Bloom Boutique: Your driver Sipho is 15 minutes away. Please make sure someone is at the gate.
Bloom Boutique: Sorry we missed you today. Reply 1 to redeliver tomorrow or 2 to collect from our depot.
Bloom Boutique: Your parcel is ready at the collection point. Bring your ID and PIN 4829. We hold it for 7 days.
Why SMS
Why SMS works for deliveries
Automatic by API
Your store or dispatch system sends each update the moment the status changes.
Delivery windows
Give customers a time slot, so someone is home to receive the parcel.
Delivery and collection PINs
Send a PIN that the customer gives the driver or shows at the counter.
Two-way replies
Customers reply 1 or 2 to rebook a missed delivery, without phoning your call centre.
Delivery reports
See which updates reached the customer, matched to your order numbers.
Every network
Reach customers on Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom from one connection.
Getting started
Switch on delivery SMS in four steps
Pick your updates
Choose the moments that matter: shipped, out for delivery, delivered and missed.
Connect your system
Call our SMS API when an order changes status, or upload a list each morning.
Test with your team
Send test updates to your own phones and check the wording and timing.
Go live
Switch it on for customers and keep an eye on the delivery reports.
What delivery SMS costs
Here's a typical month for an online store that ships 4,000 orders.
| Message | How many | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Shipped | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Out for delivery | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Delivered | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Total a month | 12,000 |
A Plus pack and two Starter packs cover a month like this for R3,100, which is about 78c per order for three updates. Prices are final, with no VAT added.
SMS packsPer SMS · Pack
- 1,000 SMSR0.30R300
- 5,000 SMSR0.27R1,350
- 10,000 SMSR0.25R2,500
- 20,000 SMSR0.23R4,600
- 50,000 SMSR0.22R11,000
Final prices · No VAT added · No monthly fees
Rules for delivery messages
Delivery updates are service messages, not marketing. Customers expect them as part of their order, so you don't need separate marketing consent.
- Keep promotions out of delivery updates. Adding a special turns the message into marketing.
- Only send to the number the customer gave for the order.
- Leave full addresses and ID numbers out of the SMS.
- If you add a tracking link, use a short link from your own website.
Developers can find request examples and delivery report details on our SMS API page.
Generate a new PIN for each delivery, and never reuse it for a login or payment.
Questions
Questions couriers and online stores ask
Can my online store send delivery SMS automatically?
Yes. If your store or dispatch system can call an API, it can send each update automatically through our SMS API. If not, upload a list each morning.
Do customers need to opt in for delivery updates?
No. Delivery updates are part of the service the customer ordered. Keep promotions out of them, or they count as marketing.
Can I include a tracking link?
Yes. Links take up characters, so use a short link from your own website and keep the rest of the message brief.
Can customers reply to rebook a delivery?
Yes. Replies come back to your portal, or to your system through the API, so customers can answer 1 or 2.
How much does it cost per order?
Three updates per order cost from 66c on the Volume pack to 90c on the Starter pack, with no VAT added.
Can drivers send messages too?
Yes. A dispatcher can send updates from the portal on a phone, or your driver app can trigger an update through your own server, which calls the API.
More industries
Bulk SMS for other industries
Bulk SMS for schools
Hillview Primary: School closes at 12:00 on Friday for the staff meeting. Aftercare runs as normal.
Fee reminders, closures and sports updates to every parent.
See how it worksSMS reminders for medical practices
Smile Dental: Your check-up is tomorrow at 10:00. Reply YES to confirm or call us to move it.
Appointment reminders that patients confirm by reply.
See how it worksBulk SMS for churches and NGOs
Grace Community Church: This Sunday's service starts at 09:30. Bring a friend!
Service times, events and urgent notices for members.
See how it worksReady to automate your delivery updates?
WhatsApp us about your store or courier system. We'll send API access and help you test your first updates.