Configuring Texting

The top of the SmartStatus Configuration window contains the texting settings. These settings affect how text messaging works between your shop and your customers.

The texting configuration settings.

To Enter the Main Texting Settings

There are many texting settings on the SmartStatus Configuration window. You can configure each setting as needed.

The following instructions describe what you need to complete to make sure that you can text customers from R.O. Writer DVI Suite. After these steps are complete, you can configure the rest of the texting settings on this window to customize texting in your shop.

To Configure Texting

Complete these steps:

Click SmartStatus in the General Settings column.
In the Phone Field for Text Messaging dropdown list, select the customer phone field.
This is the field of customer records that contains their cell phone number. This is the default texting number for the customer.
Leave the SMS Server field blank to use the default R.O. Writer SMS server.
- Do not type in this field unless instructed by R.O. Writer Support.
In the SMS Phone Number dropdown list, select your shop’s texting number.
- This is the number your shop sends texts from. The customer sees this number when they receive the text.
Click Save at the top of the window.
- Basic texting is now configured. The Texting Settings table below describes the rest of the texting configuration settings.

NOTE: R.O. Writer recommends sending test messages internally to verify that texting works as configured.

To Configure Texting Authorizations From Customers

According to United States texting regulations, you must obtain express written consent from customers before sending them the first text. Failure to do so can result in fines.

R.O. Writer DVI Suite includes texting authorization settings that enable you to authorize texting with each customer, which assists in complying with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (TCPA).

To Register Your Business for Texting

All businesses are required to register their texting phone numbers before texting customers.

Texting Settings in SmartStatus Configuration

After you configure the customer phone field, the SMS Server, and the SMS Phone Number, you can customize your shop’s texts in the rest of the settings on this window.

The following table describes the settings for SmartStatus messaging.
Setting	Description
Phone Field for Text Messages (Required)	Select the phone field to use for all customers. When you text a customer, R.O. Writer defaults to the phone number in the phone field selected here. The phone numbers are pulled from the customer record in R.O. Writer. If you select Phone 1/Cell, R.O. Writer DVI Command texts the number entered into the Phone 1/Cell field of the customer. Make sure that you select a phone field that contains cell phone numbers.
Text Message Subject	Enter the text of the subject line for every message. The subject line appears at the beginning of the message. R.O. Writer recommends entering your shop’s name in this field.
Text Message Opt Out Message	The opt-out message appears as the last line of every text message. This message tells the customer how to opt out of receiving texts from your shop. Leave this field blank to send the following text as the last line of every message: “Reply STOP to cancel msgs.” If you type in a message, you must provide users with a way to opt out of receiving future messages from your shop.
Message When Texting Estimate	If you enter text here, the text is inserted into the message automatically when you text an estimate to a customer. A link to a PDF of the estimate appears below this message.
Message When Texting Repair Order	If you enter text here, the text is inserted into the message automatically when you text a repair order to a customer.
Message When Texting Checklist	If you enter text here, the text is inserted into the message automatically when you text a checklist to a customer.
Message When Texting Video	If you enter text here, the text is inserted automatically when you text a video to a customer.
SMS Server (Required)	The server used by R.O. Writer DVI Command to send text messages to customers. To use the default SMS Server, leave this field blank. Do not enter another server address unless instructed to by the R.O. Writer Support.
SMS Phone Number (Required)	Select your shop’s texting number from the list. The list contains only the phone numbers that were added to your R.O. Writer software license. This is the number that your shop will be texting from. When customers receive texts, this is the number they will see and reply to.