Transactional SMS Service for Alerts That Reach Every Customer
Send order, payment, booking and account alerts through our transactional SMS service. Messages reach DND and non-DND numbers at any hour on direct operator routes, from ₹0.15 per SMS with live delivery reports.
A transactional SMS service sends information a customer needs about something they did, such as an order confirmation, payment receipt, booking or account alert. In India these messages use DLT templates with a -T or -S header suffix and can reach DND numbers 24×7. They must not carry offers or other promotional content.
Reaches DND numbers
Approved service and transactional templates deliver to every number, day or night.
Direct operator routes
Alerts travel on Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL connectivity with backup routes.
Webhook delivery reports
Your system gets each message's status as soon as the operator reports it.
Template writing help
We help draft DLT templates with {#var#} fields that match your real alerts.
What counts as transactional or service SMS
TRAI's DLT system splits non-promotional SMS into transactional and service categories. Customers see a -T or -S suffix on the header, such as VM-SHOPKR-S. Both can go out at any hour and to DND numbers, as long as the text matches an approved template and contains no offer.
- Order placed, shipped and out for delivery
- Payment received, invoice raised and refund processed
- Appointment, booking and check-in confirmations
- Low balance, renewal and due-date alerts
- Login alerts and password changes
Transactional SMS service rules worth knowing
The most common reason alerts get blocked is a template mismatch. If the approved template reads 'Your order {#var#} is shipped' and your system sends 'Your order 4521 has shipped', the operator rejects it. We check sample messages against your templates with you before go-live, so small wording changes do not stop delivery.
Keep marketing out of service templates. A line like 'Use code SAVE10 on your next order' turns an alert into a promotion and can get the template suspended. Links must be on your whitelisted domain, because public URL shorteners have been blocked since 1 October 2024.
Connecting alerts to your systems
Most transactional SMS are triggered by software, not typed by a person. Our REST and XML APIs accept single messages or batches, and delivery reports post back to your webhook. Integrations with WooCommerce, Shopify, Zoho and HubSpot, plus Zapier and Pabbly Connect, let a new order or invoice fire an SMS without custom code.
For a hospital, that could be a token number sent the moment a patient registers at the front desk. For a logistics firm, it is a delivery window sent when the van leaves the hub. For an NBFC, it is a receipt that lands seconds after the EMI is paid.
Industries that depend on transactional SMS
In each case the customer is waiting for the message, which is why these alerts get read quickly. A well-timed alert also cuts support calls, because people stop phoning to ask where their order or refund is.
Keep each alert to one part where you can. 160 characters is enough for an order ID, an amount, a date and a whitelisted link, and it keeps your bill predictable. If alerts come from more than one system, such as your website and a separate billing tool, use sub-accounts so each team sees its own reports.
- E-commerce: order confirmed, shipped, out for delivery and return picked up
- Banking and NBFCs: EMI received, cheque cleared and card used
- Healthcare: lab report ready, appointment token and discharge summary available
- Education: fee receipt, hall ticket released and results published
- Travel: booking confirmed, check-in time and cab driver details
What transactional SMS costs
Transactional and service messages are billed at the same per-SMS rates as the rest of our price list: ₹0.20 per SMS on Starter for up to 10,000 a month, ₹0.15 on Business for up to 1,00,000 a month, and custom rates on Enterprise. You pay only for delivered SMS, plus 18% GST, with no monthly platform fee. Enterprise plans add an SLA and 24/7 phone support for teams whose alerts cannot wait.
Sending outside India too?
We also send SMS and WhatsApp messages to customers abroad, with help on each country's sender ID and consent rules.
How it works
Register a service header
Set up your PE and a header for the -S or -T category with our help.
Submit alert templates
Write one template per alert type with {#var#} fields for order IDs, amounts and dates.
Connect your software
Call the API from your app, or use a ready integration for your store or CRM.
Monitor delivery
Receive delivery reports on your webhook and in the panel's MIS reports.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between transactional and promotional SMS?
Transactional and service SMS carry information about something the customer did, like an order, payment or booking. They reach DND numbers at any hour. Promotional SMS carry offers or announcements, use a -P header, and can only go to non-DND numbers or consenting customers between 10am and 9pm. Each type needs its own DLT template.
Can transactional SMS be sent at night?
Yes. Transactional and service SMS have no time restriction, so an order confirmation at 11pm or a login alert at 3am will go out normally. The message must match an approved DLT template. Only promotional SMS are limited to the 10am to 9pm window.
Can I include a link in a transactional SMS?
Yes, as long as the URL is whitelisted against your DLT registration. Since 1 October 2024, only whitelisted URLs, APKs, OTT links and call-back numbers are allowed in SMS, and public shorteners like bit.ly are blocked. Use your own domain, for example a tracking page on your website, and register it before you send.
What happens if my SMS does not match the DLT template?
The operator's scrubbing system rejects it, and the customer never receives it. Even a small difference in the fixed text, such as 'has shipped' instead of 'is shipped', can cause a failure. Only the {#var#} parts can change, and each variable can be up to 30 characters. Our team helps you test templates before you go live.
How much does transactional SMS cost?
Transactional SMS costs ₹0.20 per SMS on Starter, for up to 10,000 SMS a month, and ₹0.15 per SMS on Business, for up to 1,00,000 SMS a month. High-volume senders get custom Enterprise rates. Prices exclude 18% GST and you pay only for delivered messages, with no monthly fee.
Which header suffix will my customers see?
Since 6 May 2025, operators add a suffix to the 6-character header based on the message type. Service messages show -S, transactional messages show -T, promotional messages show -P and government messages show -G. So an order alert from ShopKart might appear as VM-SHOPKR-S on the customer's phone.
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DLT Registration
We register it with you
Read more →Send your first SMS today
From ₹0.15 per delivered SMS, credits valid for a year, and DLT help from a real person.