SMS (Twilio)
Canvas connects to Twilio to send SMS messages from your workflows. Use SMS for appointment reminders, confirmation texts, alerts, and time-sensitive notifications.
Adding an SMS Step
Drag the Twilio step from the Integrations category, or use the SMS step from the Templates category. Both route through Twilio for delivery.
Configuration
Select the SMS step and configure it in the right panel:
- From — Your Twilio phone number (configured in your integration settings).
- To — The recipient's phone number. Use a variable chip to pull from upstream data, such as a customer's phone number.
- Message — The text content. Keep it concise — SMS messages have a 160-character limit for a single segment. Variable chips work here just like in email.
Common Use Cases
- Appointment reminders — "Hi {{firstName}}, reminder: your {{service}} appointment is tomorrow at {{time}}."
- Booking confirmations — "Your booking #{{bookingId}} is confirmed for {{date}}."
- Technician en route — "Your technician is on the way and should arrive by {{eta}}."
Tips
- SMS messages should be short and actionable. Save detailed information for email.
- Be mindful of time zones when scheduling SMS workflows — nobody wants a reminder at 3 AM.
- Twilio credentials are managed dynamically through the ERP integrations settings.
- Test with your own phone number first to verify formatting and variable chip values.
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