The Orders module of the "iSend SMS for WooCommerce" plugin sends an SMS to the customer every time their order changes status. Each of the seven WooCommerce statuses has its own switch and its own text with variables, such as the order number and the order total. The Shipping module adds the SMS with the courier tracking number and a tracking link, which goes out automatically as soon as a voucher is issued. There is also a notification to the administrator for every new order and a manual SMS from the order page.
The seven statuses and what is sent
You enable as many as you want on the iSend SMS, Orders page. If you leave the text empty, the plugin uses the default, which is in English. Write your own text for each status you enable.
| WooCommerce status | When it changes | Example text |
|---|---|---|
| Pending payment | Order with bank transfer or a failed card | We received order #{order_id}. Amount {order_total} EUR. We will prepare it as soon as we receive the payment. |
| Processing | Payment completed or cash on delivery selected | Order #{order_id} is confirmed and being prepared. We will notify you about the shipment. {shop_name} |
| On hold | Manual hold by the store | Order #{order_id} is on hold. We will contact you at {shop_phone}. |
| Completed | Delivered or picked up | Order #{order_id} is complete. Thank you! {shop_name} |
| Cancelled | Cancellation by the customer or the store | Order #{order_id} has been cancelled. For questions call {shop_phone}. |
| Refunded | Refund completed | The refund for order #{order_id} is complete. Amount {order_total} EUR. |
| Failed | Card payment failed | The payment for order #{order_id} was not completed. Try again: {payment_url} |
The SMS goes out the moment the order enters the status. If an order passes through the same status twice, the SMS is sent twice. After each send, a note is written inside the order, "SMS notification sent" or "SMS send failed" with the reason, so that there is a trace in WooCommerce as well.
The shipping SMS with the courier tracking number
The Shipping module sends a message with the tracking number and a tracking link, in three ways:
- Automatically from a voucher. When your courier plugin, ACS, Speedex, Geniki Taxydromiki, ELTA Courier, EasyMail, Courier Center, Box Now and others, saves a voucher to the order, iSend detects it and sends the SMS. Once per voucher, again only if the number changes.
- From the tracking field on the order page: you type the number, select the courier from a list of 15 companies and press Update or Send Tracking SMS.
- On custom statuses "Shipped" and "Delivered", if your site uses them through another plugin, with separate texts.
The tracking link is built automatically for the well-known Greek couriers. There is also an optional delivery reminder a few days after shipping, for example "Did you receive your order?", which is not sent if in the meantime the order was completed or cancelled.
Example text:
Order #{order_id} has been handed to {carrier}. Tracking number {tracking_number}. Track it: {tracking_url}
The variables you can use
They can be written in lowercase or uppercase, it makes no difference. Any variable that cannot be filled in is removed from the message.
| Group | Variables |
|---|---|
| Order | {order_id}, {order_total}, {order_subtotal}, {order_shipping}, {order_status}, {order_date}, {order_url}, {order_items}, {product_names} |
| Customer | {customer_name}, {customer_first_name}, {customer_last_name}, {customer_phone}, {customer_email} |
| Address | {billing_address}, {billing_city}, {shipping_address}, {shipping_city}, {shipping_postcode} |
| Payment and shipping | {payment_method}, {payment_url}, {shipping_method}, {tracking_number}, {tracking_url}, {carrier} only in the Shipping module |
| Store | {shop_name}, {shop_url}, {shop_phone}, {shop_email}, {date}, {time} |
The plugin has the full list in the settings of each module.
Conditions: cash on delivery and notes
- Cash on delivery only. The switch "Status SMS only for cash on delivery orders" limits the status messages to orders paid on delivery, where the confirmation has the greatest value. It does not affect the administrator SMS.
- Text for cash on delivery only. Inside any template, the section between
{if_cod}and{endif_cod}appears only in cash on delivery orders, and{if_not_cod}...{endif_not_cod}in all the others. Example:Order #{order_id} is being prepared.{if_cod} Cash on delivery payment of {order_total} EUR to the courier.{endif_cod} - Customer notes. With the switch "SMS when a customer note is added", every note you write on the order as a note to the customer also goes out as an SMS, with the
{note}variable. Private notes are not sent.
Administrator notification and manual SMS
With "SMS to admin for new order" you receive a message for every new order, on one or more mobile numbers, for example New order #{order_id}, {order_total} EUR, {customer_name}. Administrator messages are not subject to the cash on delivery filter.
On every order page there is the iSend SMS box: the customer's mobile number, a free message field, a list of ready-made templates and a Send SMS button. Below it, the five most recent SMS of the order are shown with their delivery status. Useful for "your order will be delayed by one day" or "the courier will come tomorrow between 10 and 12".
When no SMS is sent
- The order has no mobile number. The billing phone is used first, then the shipping phone.
- The number is a landline. For Greece, only numbers starting with 69 are accepted.
- The customer has asked not to receive SMS from the store.
- The plugin does not have an active license or API Token.
No sending error stops the processing of the order. The error is recorded in the order note and in the SMS Log.
The length of the messages
The 0/160 counter next to each template is indicative for Latin characters. Greek text is sent in uppercase without accents and follows the platform's limits, 155 characters per part, as explained in the article on characters per SMS. Variables count with their actual value, so a long product name in {product_names} can make the message two parts.
Frequently asked questions
Do the order messages get the STOP link?
No. They are transactional messages and are delivered even to customers who have opted out of the promotional lists. That is why they must not contain offers. For promotional messages use campaigns from the platform, which automatically get the opt-out link.
Can I send an SMS for a status that is not on the list?
The seven core WooCommerce statuses and the custom "Shipped" and "Delivered" ones are covered. For another custom status, use the manual SMS from the order or send us the status so we can see whether it can be added.
Where do I see whether the SMS was delivered?
In the plugin's SMS Log, with filters and CSV export, and in the iSend SMS box inside the order for the five most recent ones. The same statuses also appear in the platform's Reports, as explained in the article on delivery statuses.