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Configure an SMS-to-email trigger using Zapier

Emily R

By Emily R
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Emily R

Emily R

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What is this?

While KAZOO does not yet support SMS messages directly to your account, there is a solution that coverts incoming SMS messages to a user’s email. This is available using zaps, an application connection tool developed by Zapier, and KAZOO’s Webhooks application.

NOTES:

  • This process is using Zapier tools that were available in late 2020. The Zapier “zaps” and user interface steps may change without our knowledge.

  • This outlines steps to convert incoming texts only to an email in your account. Outgoing text to email is a more involved process with multiple Zap configurations.

Before you start

 

Make sure your numbers have SMS enabled.

SmartPBX_x512.png

  1. Go to SmartPBX and select the Numbers tab
  2. Find your number and look for the SMS icon.
  3. If not displaying select settings gear, drop down SMS and enable

sms icon showing near number2.png   sms enable messaging dropdown.png

NOTE: Enabling SMS will incur additional charges to your account.
Make sure you confirm with your administrator this is approved.

Set up a Zapier Account

  1. Go to www.zapier.com and create a Zapier account
  2. Keep your credentials handy!

Webhooks_x512.png    Add a Webhook for Zapier to connect with 

Open the Webhooks Application from your KAZOO dashboard, .

sms2email webhooks app.png

If it is not displayed under your Apps, you may need to enable it from the App Exchange. Ask an adMinistrator to help with this.

If this is your first Webhook, your screen will look like this. Select New Webhook.

Webhooks home screen.png

Assign a Name and a Trigger

  1. Add a Hook name you will recognize.
  2. Select SMS as your Trigger Event.
  3. Enter GET as your request type.

sms create new webhook kazoo.png

 

zapier.png
The next step is to set up your zaplet in Zapier.  

 

  1. Log in to your Zapier account In a new window
  2. Select “Make a Zap”
  3. Choose Webhooks by Zapier as your trigger.

    sms zapier choose webhooks trigger.png


     
  4. Select “Catch Hook” as your Trigger Event

    sms zapier catch hook.png

     
  5. Click on Continue
    This will generate a Custom Webhook URL to paste into the KAZOO Webhooks application. Select Copy to copy the URL

    sms zapier webhooks catch URL.png

     
  6. Webhooks_x512.pngReturn to the KAZOO Webhooks window and paste the URL into the field shown below.


    sms to email paste zapier URL.png

     
  7. Select the green Create Webhook button at the bottom of the page.
    The Webhooks app should then display your webhook in its list, and should also show it toggled on.

    sms webhook created.png

    NOTE: The icons to the right of the toggle allow you to
    1. Edit the settings
    2. View your webhook request log - a list of attempts on the webhook. 
      (this is useful for debugging).
    3. Delete your webhook

  8. Return to Zapier to Test your Webhook
    Once you have your URL saved in the KAZOO webhooks side, return to the Zapier window and select Continue

    • Send a text message to your newly configured KAZOO SMA number

  9. Look for a confirmation in Zapier something like below

    sms zapier found request.png

  10. Next, define an ACTION that you want Zapier to take once it has found the hook. You can choose any of the actions Zapier provides; for this email example however, choose email, and select “Send an Outbound email.”

    sms zapier action choose email.png
     

  11. Here you can enter the email you want to send it to, and also a variety of other default fields.

    sms zapier customize email.png

    In each field add a data source from the drop down menu that was captured during your test.

  • If you skipped that test, you will not see options

  • If your test worked properly you can add any field, or more than one field if you separate them by a colon.

  • Below is an example showing the from: , to: and subject: field applied

    sms sample fields pulled from zap.png

 

And an example showing fields filled in:

sms example email fields .png


Once you have filled in all the fields you want, select Test & Continue at the bottom of the page.
You should see a sample email generated based on your entries.

sms test zap and continue.png

If all looks correct, select Turn on ZAP.
 

sms Turn on Zap.png

Make a final test from a phone to SMS phone number
NOTE: Make sure your JUNK mail filter will recognize your “From:” entry in your zaplet!
If you don’t see an email in your inbox, check your Junk mail filter.

 


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esoare

esoare

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Jack Noe said:

Thanks for this clear documentation.

 

Can I reply to a text thru email as well ?

Or this is just for receiving text messages ?

I did a zapier integration with Google sheets, and I could reply sms through that... (Just thought I would post that, since I want to read the article on company time ;)

esoare

  • 2 months later...
nurango

nurango

Posted
Posted

If we wanted to build this (or other) notification into the open source version am I correct that other than the template, it would require modifying the notify_listener code defaults as well ? Or is it enough to just add a notify document and template?

Thank you

esoare

esoare

Posted
Posted
On 11/27/2020 at 6:10 AM, Jack Noe said:

Thank you!

Can you explain a little more, what you did ?

How can i set that up ?

Sorry about not getting back to this @Jack Noe . In the middle of a cutover (not sure why I am typing this them :D... 
Remind me next week, and I'll see about doing a write up on it. 

esoare

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