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Communications & Broadcasts

This guide covers how DetailByte sends email and SMS, how to configure your providers, and how to send bulk messages (broadcasts) to groups of customers.

Email setup

Settings → Email

Managed by default, free on every plan. A new instance sends email automatically through our own account, with nothing for you to configure: no provider to sign up for, no credentials to enter.

If you'd rather send from your own domain, connect your own provider instead. DetailByte sends over SMTP and supports these providers with one-click defaults, plus any custom SMTP server:

  • Proton Mail (SMTP submission)
  • SMTP2GO
  • SendPulse
  • MailerLite
  • Custom SMTP (enter host, port, encryption, username and password yourself)

Enter your credentials, set the from name and from address, and send a test email to confirm delivery. Emails are wrapped in your branded header/footer automatically either way.

SMS setup

Settings → SMS

Defaults to your own provider. Enter your API details and sender name, then send a test SMS to confirm delivery. UK numbers are normalised automatically. Supported providers:

  • VoodooSMS
  • Twilio
  • Custom SMS API (map your provider's fields)

If you'd rather not open a provider account yourself, switch to managed SMS and DetailByte sends on your behalf instead: nothing to configure, no credentials of your own to hold.

On cost. Email costs you nothing on managed delivery, up to your plan's monthly allowance; connecting your own email provider instead is also free of any DetailByte charge: you'd only pay whatever that provider charges. SMS through your own account costs whatever your provider charges, passed straight through with nothing marked up; managed SMS is billed per message actually sent, not a fixed monthly bundle.

How sending works

  • Automated messages (from automations) are placed in a queue and sent by a scheduled background task, which runs continuously on your instance.
  • If a message fails to send, DetailByte retries it automatically a few times before marking it failed, so a temporary provider issue doesn't lose the message.
  • Every message (sent, queued, failed or retrying) is recorded in Logs.

Logs

Logs (in the sidebar) shows a history of emails and SMS with their status and any error, grouped by type. If a message failed, you can see why and retry it manually.

Quick Send

Communication → Quick Send sends a one-off message to a single customer: handy for a quick personal note without creating a template.

Broadcasts (Marketing)

Communication → Marketing sends a bulk email/SMS to a segment of customers. You can target groups such as:

  • All customers
  • Customers with no booking in the last N days (win-back)
  • Customers who did book in the last N days
  • VIP customers
  • Customers of a particular service
  • Customers with a particular booking status

Choose email, SMS or both, write your message (variables work here too), and send now or schedule it. Broadcasts are processed in batches in the background, and every send is logged.

Message History shows past broadcasts and their results (sent / failed / skipped).

Deliverability tips

  • Always use a from address at a domain you control, and set up SPF/DKIM with your email provider for the best inbox placement.
  • Send yourself test messages after any provider change.
  • Keep SMS concise: long messages may be split into multiple parts by your provider.