Send SMS action

  • Release version: Xanadu
  • Updated August 1, 2024
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Send SMS Action

    The Send SMS action allows you to send SMS text messages to specified users or groups via your instance's email server. Recipients must have an SMS device configured to receive messages. This action is part of Workflow Studio in ServiceNow and is available to users with the flowdesigner or admin role.

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    Key Features

    • Recipient Specification: Select users or groups by dragging from the data panel; hard-coded addresses are not supported.
    • Message Content: Directly enter text or use the data panel to drag and drop dynamic content.
    • Input Management: Provide required values for inputs, with support for dynamic values through pill dragging.
    • Outputs: Email record generated for the SMS message is available for use in other parts of your flow.

    Key Outcomes

    While using this action, note that the email-to-text gateway is deprecated, and it is advised to use the Notify feature for SMS notifications through third-party integrations like Twilio. This allows for enhanced SMS functionality and workflow integration.

    Common error messages include missing recipients or message content, support for only active users/groups, and disabled email sending properties. Addressing these issues is essential for successful SMS dispatch.

    Send an email-based SMS text message to specified users or groups using your instance email server. Recipients must have an SMS device configured to receive the message.

    Roles and availability

    Available as a Workflow Studio ServiceNow core action. Users with the flow_designer or admin role can add an action to a flow and define configuration details.

    Deprecation of email-to-text gateway

    Email-to-text service is now deprecated and no longer supported by service providers such as AT&T and Verizon. It is recommended to use Notify for sending SMS notifications.

    Notify provides support for sending SMS notifications through integration of third-party services, such as Twilio, and requires configuration of supporting workflows. For more information, see How to setup a SMS email notification in ServiceNow [KB0712569] knowledge base article.

    Fields

    Field Description
    Recipients Recipients of the SMS text message. Specify a user or group by dragging a pill from the data panel.
    Note:
    Hard-coded addresses are not supported.
    Message Content of the SMS text message. You can enter text directly or drag a pill from the data panel.

    Inputs

    Provide a value for each input that your flow needs. To add dynamic values, you can also drag and drop pills from the Data panel or select them from the pill picker.

    Recipients
    Data type: String

    Recipients of the SMS text message. Specify a user or group by dragging a pill from the data panel.

    Message
    Data type: String

    Content of the SMS text message. You can enter text directly or drag a pill from the data panel.

    Outputs

    These outputs appear in the Data panel. You can use them as inputs elsewhere in your flow.

    Email
    Data type: Record

    The Email record created for the SMS message.

    Error messages

    Error Description
    Recipients are required to send SMS Appears when no user or group is entered in the recipients field.
    Message is required to send SMS Appears when no message is entered in the message field.
    While parsing the recipients, found hardcoded addresses: %s which were ignored as they are not supported Appears when hard-coded address is entered in the recipients field.
    While parsing the recipients, no active users or groups were found for sys_id(s): %s Appears when one or more inactive users or groups are entered in the recipients field.
    No active SMS device was found for users(s) with sys_id(s): %s Appears when no SMS device is configured and found for one or more recipients.
    Email sending is currently disabled. Please enable it via the property to send SMS using email gateway Appears when email sending is disabled.