N24 SMS Sender - Getting Started

This page will help you configure the N24 SMS Sender extension in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Proper configuration of SMSAPI settings, templates, and permissions is essential for sending SMS messages from your Business Central environment.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

  • Appropriate permissions: The N24SMS Sender permission set must be assigned to your user account
  • SMSAPI account: You need an active account with SMSAPI.pl service

Step 1: Accessing the Setup

To begin configuration:

  1. Search for ⚙️ N24SMS | Start Here in the search bar

Note: Access to the setup pages requires the N24SMS Sender permission set.

Step 2: SMSAPI Service Configuration

Setting up your SMSAPI Account

  1. Create or access your SMSAPI account:

  2. Generate API Token:

    • In your SMSAPI dashboard, go to Settings → API Settings → API Tokens (OAuth)
    • Generate a new access token
    • Copy the token for use in Business Central

  3. Configure API Settings in Business Central:

    • In the N24SMS | Setup page, paste your API Token in the designated field
    • Enter your SMS Sender Name (this appears as the sender when recipients receive SMS messages)
    • If left blank, "Test" will be used as the default sender name
    • Must be registered and approved first in the SMSAPI panel Register and approve sender name in SMSAPI panel

Before sending SMS messages to real recipients, configure test mode:

Test Mode Options

  • Off: Messages are sent to actual recipients (production mode)
  • Test Number: All messages are redirected to a specified test phone number
  • Simulate: Messages are processed but not actually sent (for testing workflows)

Setting up Test Mode

  1. In the N24SMS | Setup page, locate the Test Mode section
  2. Select Test Number from the dropdown
  3. Enter your test phone number in the Test Number field
  4. This ensures all SMS messages go to your test number instead of actual recipients

Recommendation: Always start with Test Number mode to verify everything works correctly before switching to production.

Testing Your Configuration

After entering your API credentials and setting up the Test Mode:

  1. Use the Send Test Message action in the setup page
  2. This allows you to send a test SMS to verify your configuration
  3. Check the SMS History to view the delivery status

Step 4: Create SMS Templates

SMS templates allow you to automatically generate messages for different business scenarios:

Accessing Templates

  1. From the setup page, click SMS Templates action, or
  2. Search for N24SMS Templates in the search bar

Template Areas

Templates can be created for various business areas:

  • Customer - Customer-related communications
  • Vendor - Vendor notifications
  • Contact - Contact management
  • Sales Order - Sales order notifications
  • Sales Invoice - Invoice notifications
  • Posted Sales Invoice - Posted invoice confirmations
  • Sales Quote - Quote communications
  • Purchase Order - Purchase order notifications
  • Service Order - Service-related communications
  • Warehouse Shipment - Shipping notifications
  • Posted Sales Shipment - Shipment confirmations
  • Customer/Vendor Ledger Entry - Payment reminders

Creating Your First Template

  1. In the SMS Templates page, click New
  2. Enter a Code (unique identifier for the template)
  3. Select the appropriate Area (business context)
  4. Add a Description to identify the template's purpose (optional)
  5. Design your message content using the template design lines

Step 5: Enable SMS Functionality

Once configured, SMS sending functionality is automatically available throughout Business Central:

Sending SMS Messages

  1. Navigate to any supported Business Central page
  2. Select a record (customer, vendor, document, etc.)
  3. Use the Send SMS action under N24SMS group
  4. The SMS Creator dialog opens with:
    • Template selection (if applicable)
    • Recipient information (auto-populated from the record)
    • Message content (generated from template or manual entry)
    • Language selection
  5. Review and send the message

Step 6: Monitor SMS Activity

SMS History

Access SMS logs to monitor all SMS activity:

  1. Go to N24SMS | Setup → SMS History action

Information Available

The SMS log shows:

  • Date and time of each SMS
  • Recipient name and phone number
  • Message content
  • Delivery status (Sent, Failed, etc.)
  • Sender information (who sent the SMS)
  • Template used (if applicable)
  • Source document (if sent from a specific record)
  • Test mode status
  • Error details (if applicable)

Best Practices

  1. Start with Test Mode: Always test your configuration before going live
  2. Create Comprehensive Templates: Design templates for your common communication scenarios
  3. Monitor Delivery Status: Regularly check the SMS log for failed deliveries
  4. Manage Permissions: Ensure only authorized users have SMS sending permissions
  5. Keep API Token Secure: Treat your SMSAPI token as sensitive information
  6. Test Different Scenarios: Verify SMS functionality across various Business Central areas

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

  • Authentication Errors: Verify your API token is correct and active
  • Sending Failures: Check your SMSAPI account balance and service status
  • Permission Errors: Ensure users have the N24SMS Sender permission set
  • Template Issues: Verify template configuration and field mappings

See the detailed SMS Sender setup guide for more advanced configuration options.