Configure SMS notifications in koha

You can send SMS notifications to your koha patrons through the "Email to SMS" service. Email to SMS allows you to send SMS from your Email application. For using this service you need a service provider domain. Some cellular operators provide an email to SMS gateway/domain to send SMS notifications.  You need to get the domain from the cellular operators to configure this service on koha.

By getting the cellular provider domain, you can send an SMS through Email. For example, if the user number is 9999XXXXXX and the service provider domain is "airtelmail.com" then an email sent to [email protected] will result to send an SMS to the phone number 9999XXXXXX

Koha SMS Driver Setting

Now we need to set the "SMSSendDriver" under patron preference to ‘Email’ in  Global system preference as shown in the below screenshot.

Koha Administration ➤ Global System preferences ➤ Patrons ➤ Notices and Notifications ➤ SMSSendDriver ➤ Set change "Email"

Now you will find that a new option  "SMS Cellular Providers" has been activated under the Additional Parameters on the Administration module. Here you need to add the email gateways of your service provider. 

Koha Administrator ➤ SMS cellular providers.

Add SMS gateway 

Click on New SMS provider and add the cellular providers that your patrons are using. You can add as many cellular providers as you need. 

You can visit the following websites in order to find the domain cellular operators:-

https://koha-community.org/manual/latest/en/html/administration.html?highlight=sms#sms-cellular-providers

https://freecarrierlookup.com

https://email2sms.info/

https://www.textmagic.com/free-tools/carrier-lookup

https://avtech.com/articles/138/list-of-email-to-sms-addresses

https://support-en.wd.com/app/answers/detailweb/a_id/44431/~/gateway-addresses-for-mobile-phone-carrier-text-message

Customize SMS content

Most of the libraries use E-mail alert services with open-source mail transfer agents like Postfix, Exim, or inbuilt SMTP in koha. In the same way, you need to customize the notice by clicking on the SMS under the Notices & slips menu in koha Tools. The body of the message needs to keep as plain text, not HTML as many SMS gateways do not allow sending SMS in the HTML  format.

Now go to the patron's detail page. Under the patron messaging preferences, tick on the SMS box which message you want to send, Enter the patron's phone number, and choose the SMS provider from the drop-down of your patron.

Now koha will send an SMS to the patrons along with the email which you have set.

Indian Scenario

In India, there are fewer options to send bulk SMS freely through email to SMS because of TRAI regulations. Although many companies in India provide SMS gateways on a chargeable basis. It may come to charge between 10-30 paise per SMS depending on the chosen package. You can pick the package as per your need. 

Under the TRAI regulations, bulk SMS can be sent in the following three ways in India

Promotional SMS

Translational SMS

OTP

Promotional  SMS can send to only Non-DND numbers and it has a time constraint of 9 AM to 9 PM. These SMSes can be sent to existing clients as well as to targeted users.

Transactional and OTP SMS can send to DND & Non-DND numbers which are used to send important information like alerts, confirmation, login ID, password, etc. These SMSes are sent to existing clients only and have no time constraints.

TRAI has made it mandatory for sending bulk SMS (Promotional or Transactional) You need to register as entities on any DLT platform, along with other details like SMS headers, templates, and consents.

After the DLT registration, you need to link all details with the SMS gateway provider with the guidelines of the provider's customer service. The same email which you set up in the koha email service is to be added to the SMS provider account setting. Get the domain from your SMS gateway provider and add it to the "SMS cellular provider" under the Additional Parameters on the Administration module of koha.

Some bulk SMS service providers are given below:-

https://mtalkz.com/

https://www.textlocal.in/

http://mevite.in/email2sms

You can allow patrons to change their messaging preferences from koha OPAC. Patrons can edit or add their Mobile number and cellular provider domain.

Koha Administration ➤System Preferences ➤ EnhancedMessagingPreferencesOPAC ➤Show

A New option will appear named "your messaging on" under the patron's account details in koha OPAC

Patrons can submit any changes in the Mobile number, SMS provider domain, and choose which  SMS notices they want to receive. 

References:-https://koha-community.org/manual/latest/en/html/administration.html#sms-cellular-providers