The SMS Settings section of the Local Delivery Drivers for WooCommerce Premium plugin allows you to configure automated text message notifications for both drivers and customers using the Twilio messaging service.
SMS notifications help improve communication and keep both customers and delivery drivers informed throughout the delivery process.
The plugin supports two SMS providers:
- PowerfulWP – Built-in SMS service with global coverage, automatic sender ID management, and credit-based pricing. No third-party account needed. (Free + Premium Plugins)
- Twilio – Third-party messaging service (Premium Plugin only).
SMS Provider: PowerfulWP
PowerfulWP provides a built-in SMS messaging service with global coverage, automatic sender ID management, and a simple credit-based pricing model. Everything is managed through the PowerfulWP Portal.
Step 1: Create or Log In to Your PowerfulWP Portal Account
If you already have a PowerfulWP / Freemius account:
- Go to https://api.powerfulwp.com/portal/login
- Log in with the same email address and password you use for your Freemius account
- Your account will be linked automatically – no registration needed
If you do not have an account:
- Go to https://api.powerfulwp.com/portal/register
- Enter your email address, password (minimum 8 characters), and name
- If you have a Freemius license, use the same email address so your accounts are linked automatically
- Accept the terms and click Register
- Check your email for a 6-digit verification code
- Enter the code on the verification page to activate your account
Step 2: Purchase SMS Credits
SMS messages are charged using credits. You need to purchase credits before sending messages.
- Log in to the PowerfulWP Portal at https://api.powerfulwp.com/portal
- Navigate to Credits from the sidebar
- Review the available credit packages and pricing per country
- Choose a credit package and complete the purchase
- Your credit balance will appear on the dashboard
Note: Each SMS costs a certain number of credits depending on the destination country and message length (number of segments). Messages longer than 160 characters (GSM-7 encoding) or 70 characters (Unicode) are split into multiple segments, and each segment is charged separately. You can view detailed per-country pricing on the Credits page.
Step 3: Create an API Token
The plugin needs an API Key and API Secret to authenticate with the PowerfulWP SMS service.
- In the PowerfulWP Portal, go to API Tokens from the sidebar
- Click Create Token
- Enter a name for the token (e.g., “My WooCommerce Store”)
- Click Create
- Copy and save both the Public Key (
pk_...) and Secret Key (sk_...)
Step 4: Set Up a Sender ID (Optional)
A Sender ID is the name that appears as the sender of your SMS messages (e.g., “MyBrand”) instead of a phone number.
There are two ways to set up a Sender ID:
Option A: Create from the Portal (Recommended)
- In the PowerfulWP Portal, go to Sender IDs (under SMS & Messaging in the sidebar)
- Click Create Sender ID
- Enter your desired Sender ID (alphanumeric, max 11 characters, e.g., “MyBrand”)
- Submit — the status will initially show as Pending until reviewed by an admin
Option B: Automatic Creation via Plugin
If you enter a Sender ID in the plugin settings (Step 5) and send an SMS without having registered that Sender ID in the portal first, the system will automatically create and approve it so your message is sent immediately. The Sender ID will be marked as needs review for admin verification, but it is usable right away.
Note: Both methods require an admin review. However, in both cases the Sender ID is immediately usable for sending SMS messages while the review is pending. Sender IDs must be alphanumeric (letters and numbers only) and a maximum of 11 characters. Some countries may require additional registration.
Phone Number Requirement for US and Canada (+1 Countries)
Countries with the +1 country code (United States, Canada, etc.) do not support alphanumeric Sender IDs. To send SMS to these countries, you must:
- Purchase a toll-free phone number – In the PowerfulWP Portal, go to Phone Numbers (under SMS & Messaging in the sidebar) and purchase a toll-free number. This is a monthly subscription that will be billed from your credit balance.
- Submit for toll-free verification – After purchasing, you must submit the number for toll-free verification. This is a carrier-level approval process required before you can send SMS messages from the number.
- Wait for approval – Toll-free verification is reviewed by carriers and may take several business days. You can check the verification status on the Phone Numbers page in the portal. The number must show a Verified status before it can be used to send SMS.
Once verified, the system will automatically use your toll-free number as the sender when sending SMS to +1 countries.
Note: Alphanumeric Sender IDs (e.g., “MyBrand”) cannot be used for +1 countries. A purchased and verified toll-free number is required. For all other supported countries, you can use an alphanumeric Sender ID as described in Step 4 above.
Step 5: Configure the Plugin
- In your WordPress admin, go to Delivery Drivers > Settings > SMS Settings
- Set SMS Provider to PowerfulWP
- Fill in the following fields:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| API Key | Your Public Key from Step 3 (starts with pk_) |
| API Secret | Your Secret Key from Step 3 (starts with sk_) |
| Sender ID | Your Sender ID (e.g., “MyBrand”) — alphanumeric, max 11 characters |
- Click Save Changes
Step 6: Enable SMS Notifications
After saving your API credentials, scroll down to the SMS notification options and enable the notifications you want:
- SMS to Driver — Sends a message to the driver when they are assigned a new order
- SMS to Customer (Out for Delivery) — Notifies the customer when the order status changes to Out for Delivery
- SMS to Customer (Start Delivery) — Notifies the customer when the driver starts delivery and tracking is available
Each notification has a customizable message template that supports dynamic shortcodes (see the SMS Templates and Shortcodes section below).
Monitoring and Logs
You can monitor all sent SMS messages, delivery statuses, and costs in the PowerfulWP Portal:
- Messaging Logs — https://api.powerfulwp.com/portal/messaging — View all sent messages with delivery status (sent, delivered, failed), cost breakdown, and detailed journey logs
- Credit History — https://api.powerfulwp.com/portal/credits/history — View credit usage and transaction history
- Dashboard — https://api.powerfulwp.com/portal/overview — Overview of your account, credit balance, and messaging activity
Supported Countries
PowerfulWP SMS supports sending messages to multiple countries worldwide. You can check which countries are available and their pricing on the Sender IDs page under Country Coverage in the portal.
PowerfulWP Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| SMS not sending | Verify your API Key and API Secret are correct and the token has not expired |
| “Insufficient credits” error | Purchase more credits in the PowerfulWP Portal under Credits |
| Sender ID not working | Make sure the Sender ID is alphanumeric, max 11 characters. Check status in the portal under Sender IDs |
| Message shows as “failed” | Check the message details in Messaging Logs for the specific error. Common issues include invalid phone number format or unsupported destination country |
| Account not linking to Freemius | Make sure you are using the same email address as your Freemius/PowerfulWP license account |
SMS Provider: Twilio
To send SMS messages, the plugin integrates with Twilio. You will need a Twilio account and active API credentials.
How to Set Up Twilio
- Visit https://www.twilio.com/try-twilio to create a free or paid account
- Complete the signup and email verification steps
- In the Twilio Console, obtain the following credentials:
- Account SID
- Auth Token
- Twilio Phone Number (required to send SMS)
Twilio provides a trial phone number that can be used during testing. You must use this phone number while on the Twilio trial plan.
API Credentials
These fields must be filled in the plugin’s SMS settings:
- API SID
Your Twilio Account SID, available from the Twilio Console - API Auth Token
Your Twilio Auth Token, also available in your Twilio Console - SMS Phone Number
The phone number used to send SMS messages
Format:+followed by country code, area code, and phone number
Example:+15024658206
Note: The phone number must be registered in your Twilio account. Trial accounts can only send from the assigned trial number.
SMS Notifications
You can enable SMS notifications for key delivery events:
- SMS to Driver
Sends a message to the driver when they are assigned a new order - SMS to Customer (Out for Delivery)
Notifies the customer when their order status is changed to Out for Delivery - SMS to Customer (Start Delivery)
Notifies the customer when the driver has started delivery and tracking is available
Each SMS has a default message template that you can customize. Templates support dynamic tags, known as SMS Shortcodes.
SMS Templates and Shortcodes
Each SMS notification can be customized using dynamic shortcodes, which will be replaced with real order and driver data when the message is sent.
You can edit the SMS templates in the plugin settings to match your communication style and customer expectations.
Available Shortcodes:
| Tag | Description |
|---|---|
[driver_first_name] | Delivery Driver First Name |
[driver_last_name] | Delivery Driver Last Name |
[driver_page_url] | Link to the Driver Panel |
[store_name] | Your WooCommerce Store Name |
[order_id] | WooCommerce Order ID |
[order_date] | Order Creation Date |
[order_status] | Current Order Status |
[order_total] | Order Total Amount |
[order_currency] | Currency of the Order |
[shipping_method] | Shipping Method Used |
[payment_method] | Payment Method Selected |
[billing_first_name] | Billing First Name |
[billing_last_name] | Billing Last Name |
[billing_company] | Billing Company Name |
[billing_address_1] | Billing Address Line 1 |
[billing_address_2] | Billing Address Line 2 |
[billing_city] | Billing City |
[billing_state] | Billing State or Province |
[billing_postcode] | Billing Postal Code |
[billing_country] | Billing Country |
[billing_phone] | Billing Phone Number |
[shipping_first_name] | Shipping First Name |
[shipping_last_name] | Shipping Last Name |
[shipping_company] | Shipping Company Name |
[shipping_address_1] | Shipping Address Line 1 |
[shipping_address_2] | Shipping Address Line 2 |
[shipping_city] | Shipping City |
[shipping_state] | Shipping State or Province |
[shipping_postcode] | Shipping Postal Code |
[shipping_country] | Shipping Country |
[eta] | Estimated Time of Arrival |
[tracking_url] | Link to the Live Tracking Page |
Tips:
- Shortcodes are replaced with actual data when the SMS is sent
- Keep your messages under 160 characters, including expanded shortcode values
- For example,
[tracking_url]may expand to a long URL, so account for that in your character count
Customizing your messages with shortcodes helps keep customers informed with timely, relevant updates in a personal and professional tone.