MICROSOFT INTEGRATIONS

Microsoft Excel Integration

MICROSOFT INTEGRATION

SMS for Excel

Sending bulk SMS just got easier. It’s as simple as click, highlight and send.

Why use SMS for Excel?

When it comes to communicating with your customers, half the battle is just arranging the data. With SMS for Excel, sending SMS to 10 contacts or 10,000 is simple and will take you less than a minute

No need to import or reformat your data. Contact your entire client base immediately and have each message personalised.

Once setup – open Excel your spreadsheet, select and highlight the cells/columns containing your data and click load. Data from each selected column can be merged into your SMS using the merge fields allowing you to personalise your SMS in an instance. Compose your SMS, preview campaign and you’re ready to send.

Why SMS is so effective?

With almost as many handsets in circulation as there are people on earth, SMS is perhaps the most widely accepted form of communication available. 98% of text messages are read by their intended recipient with 3 minutes of delivery. The immediacy and rate of successful delivery make it more effective for reminders, alerts, and notifications than email.

Already have an SMS Account?

Now download the Add-in for Excel.

SET UP & INSTRUCTIONS

How do I use SMS for Excel?

Download & install the Add-in

You can enable the Add-in within Excel by:

1. 1. Opening a new spreadsheet
  2. Go to Insert > Get Add-ins
  3. Type Edgility SMS for Excel in the search field
  4. Click Add

Note: If you don’t see the Edgility SMS Add-in in the Home Ribbon simply click on;
Insert > Get Add-ins > My Add-ins > Click on Edgility SMS for Excel
In the ribbon that appears at the bottom of the screen click Add

Alternatively, to download the Add-in from Microsoft online store:

1. 1. Visit the Microsoft Office Store online and search Edgility SMS for Excel
  2. Click Get it Now – you may be asked to log in to your Microsoft account before it takes you to the installation page
  3. Click Open in Excel which will download an excel spreadsheet
  4. Open sheet and Enable editing
  5. Click Trust this Add-in to finish the installation

Connect Excel to your SMS Account

The first time you use Edgility SMS for Excel, you will need to connect Excel to your Edgility account using your API keys. To set up an API key, log in to your Edgility account:

1. 1. Navigate to Settings > API Keys
  2. Click Create API Key.
  3. Enter a Name (for example; Excel) for your API Key, the status will be set to Active by default, and click Save.

To complete the setup of your Edgility SMS for Excel Add-in, copy and paste your API details into the Add-in screen and click Connect to get started.

Sending from Excel

Sending SMS using the Edgility SMS for Excel Add-in is fast and efficient.

1. 1. Export or open your excel spreadsheet containing your contact’s details.
  2. Click on the Edgility SMS Add-in in your Home menu ribbon to open your sending screen.
  3. Click and drag to select the cells and columns you want to use in your campaign – including the mobile numbers of each recipient. (The selection of cells should block out in grey)
  4. Click Load in Edgility for Excel Add-in to load up for sending
  5. Use the Column Containing Mobile Numbers dropdown to define which column contains the mobile numbers. By default, the Remove duplicate recipients option will be checked – uncheck this if you are happy to send multiple messages to the same contact in this campaign.
  6. Enter a Campaign Name (optional) to identify the campaign in your Edgility reporting
  7. Use the Templates dropdown to select from pre-saved SMS templates. (To create templates, login to your Edgility account and go to SMS > Templates
  8. Use the From dropdown to select your Sender ID – this is what your SMS is sent from, the name or number that appears as the sender when your contact receives the SMS. Here are your options:
    
    If you would like your recipients to reply to your SMS
    Shared Local Number – Replies to Web Inbox & Email (Allow Replies)
    This is a shared pool of mobile numbers that allow you to receive replies to SMS sent. Numbers are randomly selected, so recipients receive messages from a different number each time you send. This is free to use and receive replies.
    
    Virtual Number – Replies to Web Inbox & Email (Allow Replies)
    You can purchase a Virtual Number from your Edgility account (pricing and availability varies per region). This number is assigned to your account exclusively to send and receive messages, so recipients receive messages from the same number each time you send.
    
    Sender Id – NO Replies
    Replace the sender number with a word like ALERT, URGENT or send from your brand name, by setting up an Alphanumeric Sender ID (availability varies per region). Telco protocols limit an Alpha Sender ID to a max 11 characters long and cannot contain any spaces or symbols, so you sometimes need to get creative with abbreviating longer names. Recipients CANNOT reply to messages sent using a Sender ID.
    
    Own Number – Replies to Your Mobile
    As your mobile number is verified at signup, you can send SMS from Edgility using your registered mobile number. Replies to messages sent using your own mobile number will be received by your mobile therefore not received in your Edgility account.
    
    Your Edgility Sender ID is managed from your online account. To add a new Sender ID or manage an existing one simply log in and navigate to Profile > Allowed Sender ID’s
  9. Type the content of your message in the SMS Message box. The data from each column you have selected can be added to your message as a merge field. This way you can personalise each message in the campaign, without the need to compose each message individually. Available Merge Fields will appear as buttons under the SMS Message box. Click on the desired button to insert the data into your message.
  10. Click Preview Campaign to view your Campaign Summary before sending
  11. The Campaign Summary will detail exactly how many numbers you are sending to, the length of the message and calculate the cost of your campaign in SMS credits.
  12. You can shuffle through a preview of messages at the bottom of the screen, to ensure your message looks right across your entire sending batch. All merge fields will be populated in the preview.
  13. You must check the box “I agree to the Edgility Terms and Conditions” before sending.
  14. Click Send Now to submit your campaign for delivery
  15. To schedule your message to send at a later date or time, click Schedule SMS and use the date and time picker to set when it should be delivered. Click Save Schedule to confirm. You must check the box “I agreed to the Edgility Terms and Conditions” before clicking Schedule SMS.
  16. Once scheduled or sent, you can click to view live delivery reports of your message in Edgility.