Nigeria
SMS automation in Nigeria
SMS automation for the customers who are not on data
Not everybody is online. SMS reaches any phone in Nigeria, which makes it the right backup for reminders, one time codes and campaigns to older or rural customer lists.
Your own sender ID
Your provider, your rates
SMS steps in WhatsApp flows
SMS reminders
The basics
How SMS automation works in Nigeria with DMly
Not every customer is on WhatsApp, or on data. SMS reaches any phone.
Your own provider, your own sender
Connect Twilio, Plivo or your own SMS gateway. Messages go out under the sender number or sender ID you registered with that provider, at its rates.
SMS steps inside your flows
Add a Send SMS step to any WhatsApp flow, for example a reminder to customers who are not on WhatsApp.
Notifications on both channels
Send a booking or order notification on WhatsApp and SMS together, so it lands either way.
Replies in the same inbox
Text replies arrive in the team inbox next to WhatsApp, Instagram and the rest.
Where SMS still wins
Use SMS for the jobs WhatsApp cannot do
Reach
Works on every phone
Feature phones, no data, weak network. If the line is on, the message lands.
Flows
SMS inside your WhatsApp flows
Add a Send SMS step to any flow, or send a notification on both WhatsApp and SMS, to reach customers who are not on WhatsApp.
OTP and alerts
Codes and urgent notices
Payment confirmations, one time codes and same day alerts that must not sit unread.
Sender ID
Your business name on the message
We register your alphanumeric sender ID with the networks so the message shows your brand, not a random number.
Getting started
How to set up SMS automation in Nigeria
Step 1
Connect your SMS provider
Twilio, Plivo or your own gateway, with your sender number or sender ID.
Step 2
Decide what goes by SMS
Codes, reminders and updates for customers who are not on WhatsApp.
Step 3
Add SMS to flows and notifications
A Send SMS step in a flow, or SMS ticked next to WhatsApp for a notification.
Step 4
Keep messages short
Your provider bills per unit, and long messages split into several units.
Why DMly
Why Nigerian businesses choose DMly
What your customers already do on WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook, handled in one place and priced in naira.
01Priced in nairaPlans from ₦29,000 a month, and Meta's message costs explained in naira before you send.
02The official WhatsApp APIRuns on Meta's official WhatsApp Business API, on your own number.
03Every channel, one inboxWhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Telegram, SMS and website chat, answered by one team.
04Bookings and payments in the chatTake bookings, send invoices and share Paystack payment links without leaving the conversation.
05Set up for you, freeTell us what you want to automate and we build it with you, including help with Meta business verification.
06People you can reachCall or WhatsApp our team on 0806 121 1164.
Start your 7-day free trialChat with us on WhatsAppNo card needed for the trial. Setup help is free.
Pricing and rules
SMS automation in Nigeria: what businesses ask
How is SMS priced?
Your SMS provider bills you per unit at its own rates, whether that is Twilio, Plivo or your own gateway. Long messages split into several units, so keep texts short.
Do I need a registered sender ID?
You send under your own sender number or sender ID, registered with your SMS provider. DMly passes it through to the provider when it sends.
What does a unit cost?
It depends on volume and route. We quote per unit in naira, with no markup surprises, and you see delivery reports per message.
Can customers reply?
On two-way enabled numbers, yes, and replies land in your team inbox.
Do you support all networks?
Delivery to MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile is handled by your SMS provider, so coverage and delivery reports depend on the provider you connect.
Can I send only if WhatsApp fails?
Not automatically. Add a Send SMS step to a WhatsApp flow for customers who are not on WhatsApp, or send a notification on both WhatsApp and SMS.
Does DMly sell SMS units?
No. You connect your own SMS provider and it bills you directly. DMly sends through it.
Can SMS go out automatically when WhatsApp is not an option?
Add a Send SMS step to a flow, or send a notification on both channels. There is no timed fallback that waits for WhatsApp delivery first.
Do customers need data to get an SMS?
No. SMS reaches any phone with a signal, including feature phones.
How much does SMS automation cost in Nigeria?
DMly plans start at ₦29,000 a month, with every channel included. SMS units are billed by your provider.
Side by side
When to use SMS, and when to use WhatsApp
Most businesses need both. Using the wrong one is how you either waste money or miss customers.
Going deeper
Getting SMS right in Nigeria
Sender IDs need registering
Nigerian networks require a registered alphanumeric sender ID, and unregistered traffic gets filtered or dropped. We register yours with the networks so your messages arrive as your business name rather than an unknown number.
Do not confuse promotional with transactional
Transactional messages, codes, reminders and receipts, are expected and land well. Promotional blasts to purchased lists get complaints, and complaints get your sender ID blocked. NDPR also applies: you need a lawful basis to message someone.
Use it alongside WhatsApp, not instead of it
Let WhatsApp carry the conversation and use SMS for the customers who are not on it. Add a Send SMS step to a flow, or send a notification on both channels, so you only pay for SMS where it is needed.
Timing matters more than copy
A reminder at 8pm the night before beats one at 6am on the day. A restock alert on a Friday afternoon beats Monday morning. Schedules in DMly respect West Africa Time, not a server in Virginia.
Keep going
SMS, and the channels around it
Add SMS as your safety net
Use it for reminders and codes, and let WhatsApp carry the conversation.