Transactional SMS for alerts customers are waiting for
Send debit alerts, order and delivery updates, appointment reminders and due-date notices the moment they happen. Transactional and service SMS go out 24x7, reach numbers on the DND list and come with a delivery report for every number.
- 24x7 delivery
- Reaches DND numbers
- Tally, BUSY and Marg plugins
- Webhooks to your CRM
What is transactional SMS?
Transactional SMS is an informational text message triggered by something the customer did or owns, such as a payment, an order or an account change. In India it is sent from a registered 6-letter header using a DLT-approved template, can be delivered at any hour and reaches numbers on the DND list.
Updated
Which messages count as transactional or service SMS?
TRAI's DLT framework splits informational messages into three categories. Pick the right one when you register a template, because it decides who the message can reach.
| Category | Who uses it | Examples | Consent needed | Header suffix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transactional | Banks and similar regulated institutions | Transaction OTP, debit and credit alerts | No | -T |
| Service implicit | Any registered business | Order shipped, delivery today, appointment tomorrow, fee due, password changed | No, an existing relationship is enough | -S |
| Service explicit | Any registered business | Follow-ups and offers to customers who opted in | Yes, recorded consent | -S |
Header suffixes such as -T, -S and -P are shown to customers under TRAI's current rules to signal the message category. Check your operator's DLT platform for the latest requirements.
Service implicit or service explicit: which do you need?
The difference is consent.
Service implicit messages follow from something the customer already has with you: an order, an account, a booking, an enrolment. You do not need separate permission to tell them their parcel is out for delivery or their fee is due on the 10th.
Service explicit messages go beyond that relationship, for example an offer to an existing customer. You need the customer's explicit consent, captured and registered through the DLT platform's consent process, before sending. With valid consent, these messages also reach DND numbers.
If a message mixes information and promotion, operators treat it as promotional. Keep service templates factual and send offers separately on the promotional route.
What are the delivery and DND rules?
Delivered 24x7
No time window applies. A card alert at 2 am or a delivery update on Sunday goes out as soon as you send it.
Reaches DND numbers
Customers on the National Customer Preference Register (NCPR) still receive transactional and service implicit messages.
Template match required
Every message must match an approved template linked to the header you send from. Mismatches are blocked by the operator.
What can you send as transactional SMS?
Banking and lending
Debit and credit alerts, EMI due dates, loan disbursal, cheque status and KYC updates.
Orders and delivery
Order confirmation, shipping, out for delivery, delivered, COD verification and return pickup. To confirm COD orders by voice instead, use AI COD confirmation calls.
Healthcare
Appointment confirmations and reminders, lab report ready, prescription refill dates.
Education
Fee due dates and receipts, attendance alerts, exam timetables, results and holiday notices.
Billing and accounts
Invoices, payment receipts and outstanding reminders straight from Tally, BUSY, Marg or Focus ERP.
HR and operations
Shift changes, salary credited, interview schedules and field staff alerts.
How do you send transactional SMS from your systems?
Alerts work best when they fire automatically from the system where the event happens.
message.delivered or message.failed on the recordTransactional SMS key facts
- Categories
- Transactional, service implicit, service explicit
- Delivery hours
- 24x7
- DND numbers
- Reached (service explicit needs consent)
- Sender ID
- 6-letter registered header
- Reports
- Real-time, per number, with webhooks
- Pricing
- Per SMS part; see pricing
Related: OTP SMS · DLT registration guide · promotional SMS · contact sales
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between transactional and service SMS?
Under TRAI's DLT rules, the transactional category is meant for messages that complete a transaction, mainly bank OTPs and debit or credit alerts. Most other businesses send order updates, reminders and alerts as service implicit SMS. Both use 6-letter headers, are delivered 24x7 and reach DND numbers.
Can transactional SMS be sent at night?
Yes. Transactional and service SMS have no time window, so a debit alert at 2 am or an order update at midnight is delivered as soon as it is sent. The 10 am to 9 pm window applies only to promotional SMS.
Can I include an offer in a service SMS?
No. A service template must carry only information about the customer's transaction or relationship. Adding a discount, cross-sell or sale message turns it into promotional content, which operators can reject at template approval or flag later. Send offers as promotional SMS or as service explicit SMS to customers who gave consent.
What is service explicit SMS?
Service explicit SMS are messages sent to people who have given explicit, recorded consent to hear from your brand, for example a follow-up or offer to an opted-in customer. The consent is registered on the DLT platform, and these messages can reach DND numbers. Without valid consent, send them as promotional SMS instead.
Do transactional SMS reach numbers on DND?
Yes. Numbers registered on the National Customer Preference Register block promotional messages, but transactional and service implicit messages still reach them, because the customer needs this information. Service explicit messages reach them when you hold the customer's recorded consent.
Can I send transactional SMS from Tally or my ERP?
Yes. MsgClub plugins for Tally, BUSY, Marg and Focus ERP send invoice, receipt and payment reminder SMS from your accounting software. Other ERPs, CRMs and apps can call the MsgClub SMS API and receive delivery reports back by webhook.
How much does transactional SMS cost in India?
Transactional and service SMS are charged per message part from prepaid credits, usually at a different rate from promotional SMS because they travel on a priority route. The rate depends on your monthly volume and the number of parts. MsgClub shares a written quote; GST is extra.
Related products
Use them together from the same MsgClub account, with one API and shared reports.
Start sending in minutes
Create a free account to test the panel and API, or talk to our team about volumes, DLT setup and CRM integration.