Automatic SMS Replies and Email Alerts
Configure incoming-text replies and an email alert for each business number, including separate messages inside and outside business hours.
Your business number can reply automatically to incoming text messages and notify a mailbox when a new text arrives. These are separate settings configured for each number.
Open the number settings
- Go to Settings → Phone Numbers.
- Find the intended business number and open Settings in its actions.
- Select Text Messages (SMS).
Enable an incoming-text reply
- Under Auto-reply to text messages, turn on Enable Auto-Reply.
- In Text Message, enter the response for business hours.
- In Text Message Out of Business Hours, enter the response to use while closed.
- Use Configure Business Hours to check the applicable schedule. Review the number's hours and any business-wide schedule used when no number-specific hours are configured.
- Click Save.
The setting applies to incoming texts; do not treat it as a “first message only” welcome feature. Keep the response short and useful so repeated incoming messages do not create a confusing exchange.
Example: “[Business]: Thanks for your message. Our team will reply during business hours.” Adjust the response to your actual availability and do not promise a callback you cannot provide.
Enable email notifications
- In the same panel, turn on Enable Email notification.
- Enter the mailbox that should receive the alerts. Use a monitored team mailbox if several employees need access.
- Click Save and confirm the saved address.
Test and adjust
With permission, send one incoming test SMS from a phone you control. Check the reply in Conversations and the email alert, including the mailbox's spam folder. Test the after-hours response at a time covered by that schedule. If the result is missing, review the selected number, enabled settings and delivery status before repeating the test.
To pause either feature, turn off its toggle and save. These settings do not enable missed-call SMS replies, which have their own control in the same panel.
Need help?
Contact Zonitel Support with the relevant details.