Switching from Instasent to iBASIS as your SMS provider may affect the workflows and messages you already have configured in Connectif. To maintain your sends, you will need to update the senders, review your SMS content, and adapt your opt-out mechanism to the new provider.
In this article, you will learn how to migrate from Instasent to iBASIS in Connectif.
Implementation time: 10 min.
Difficulty: Low.
When to use it: When switching from Instasent to iBASIS as your SMS provider in Connectif.
Before you start
Before performing the migration, check the following:
- Which workflows use the “Send SMS” node.
- Which SMS content uses the Instasent opt-out mechanism.
- Which Sender ID you have available and active in your iBASIS account.
- Which SMS content includes special characters.
STEP 1. Configure iBASIS as your SMS provider
(This section explains how to configure iBASIS as your SMS provider in Connectif.)
1. Configure the SMS channel in Connectif with iBASIS by following the steps in our Configuring the SMS channel with iBASIS guide.
STEP 2. Update the “Send SMS” nodes
(In this section, you will learn how to update the senders for the SMS messages sent by your workflows.)
2. Access Workflows from the Connectif side menu.
3. Review your active workflows and identify those that use the “Send SMS” node.
4. Click More and then Edit.
5. Click (Edit node settings) on the “Send SMS” node.
6. Click Next to access the settings.
7. Under Sending Parameters, select an active Sender ID from your iBASIS account as the sender.
8. Click Apply to save the node changes.
9. Click Save to apply the settings.
STEP 3. Review special character encoding
(In this section, you will learn how to review SMS content that uses special characters.)
In Instasent, the “Send SMS” node has a checkbox that allows you to enable sending special characters. If it is not selected, Instasent converts these characters to prevent encoding that may increase the size of the SMS and, therefore, its cost.
When migrating to iBASIS, this setting is no longer available and special characters are retained, as if the checkbox were enabled in Instasent. This may increase the size of messages and result in higher sending costs.
10. Access “Content > SMS”.
11. Locate the SMS messages created previously, click More and select Edit to open each message in the SMS Editor.
12. In the Tools panel, access the Content tab and review the message text. If it contains special characters, check whether they need to be replaced to prevent encoding from increasing the SMS size and its potential cost.
13. Click Save to apply the changes.
STEP 4. Update opt-out management
(In this section, you will learn how to adapt the Instasent opt-out mechanism to work with iBASIS.)
Messages configured with Instasent may include the {{unsubscribe}} variable, which generates the opt-out link for that provider. When migrating to iBASIS, this variable will no longer work. In iBASIS, you must configure an opt-out keyword and include it in your SMS text so contacts know how to request it.
14. Access your iBASIS account and configure the opt-out keyword that your contacts will use, for example, “STOP”.
Learn how to configure the opt-out keyword for your contacts in iBASIS in the official documentation.
15. Return to your Connectif store and access “Content > SMS”.
16. Locate the SMS messages created previously, click More and select Edit to open each message in the SMS Editor.
17. Review the message text and identify whether it includes the {{unsubscribe}} variable.
18. If it includes this variable, delete it and add text explaining how to request an opt-out using the STOP keyword previously configured in iBASIS.
19. Click Save to keep the message changes.
Final checks
Before you start sending SMS messages with iBASIS, check that:
- iBASIS is configured as your SMS provider in Connectif.
- All “Send SMS” nodes have a valid iBASIS Sender ID selected.
- SMS content that uses special characters has been reviewed to check its potential impact on message size and cost.
- The opt-out keyword is configured in iBASIS.
- Messages include instructions for requesting an opt-out and do not use the previous mechanism.
Success!
You have finished the configuration and can use iBASIS as your sending provider in Connectif
Do you still have unanswered questions?
Remember that our Connectif specialists are available to help you. To contact them, simply open a ticket with Support by clicking the blue “Help” button in your dashboard.
Keep learning!
To make the most of your Connectif account, we recommend continuing with the following articles:
Configuring the SMS channel with iBASIS, to learn about the requirements and connection procedure for this provider with Connectif.
SMS Editor, to learn how to create text messages with Connectif.
SMS subscribers, to segment your SMS-subscribed contacts.
Mass SMS campaign, to send your first SMS campaign.