Send SMS action
Summarize
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. Users need to have an SMS device configured to receive these messages. This feature is available in Workflow Studio for users with the flowdesigner or admin roles, who can add the action to a flow and set up its details.
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Key Features
- Recipients: Specify users or groups to receive SMS messages by dragging from the data panel; hard-coded addresses are not supported.
- Message: Enter the SMS text directly or drag from the data panel.
- Inputs: Provide values for required inputs, using dynamic values through pills from the Data panel.
- Outputs: The Email record created for the SMS message can be used as input in other flows.
Key Outcomes
As the email-to-text gateway is deprecated, it is advised to use the Notify feature for SMS notifications, which integrates with services like Twilio. Proper configuration of workflows is necessary to use Notify effectively.
Be aware of common error messages that may arise, such as missing recipients or messages, inactive users or groups, and issues with SMS device configuration. Ensure that email sending is enabled to use this feature successfully.
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.
- 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. |