--- title: SMS processes slug: campaign/docs/sms-processes docTags: createdAt: 2026-07-20T15:44:38.781Z --- SMS processes enable your customers to request or stop a service by sending an SMS with a predefined keyword. For example, your customers can send an SMS with the keyword *Help* to request help or *Stop* to unsubscribe from promotional SMS. ## Prerequisites To use SMS processes, you need one or more inbound numbers. Inbound numbers are telephone numbers or short codes that forward incoming messages to a target system. To set up an inbound number at a telephone provider and configure it for your clients, contact [customer support](docId\:ZWe1T3UPz3JW6_4mc76qV). You can choose from up to three types of inbound numbers depending on the country you are in: - **Long code**. A customary mobile number, for example *+4915112348765*. - **Exclusive short codes**. A short sequence of numbers, for example *11221* . - **Non-exclusive short code**. A short code that you can use for several clients (shared code). The telephone provider assigns several provider keywords to a short code, for example *11221 / kids* and *11221 / baby*. Depending on the provider keyword, SMS are delivered to different Optimizely Campaign clients. :::hint{type="info"} **Note** For non-exclusive short codes, senders must enter in the SMS both the provider keyword and the service keyword , such as *baby stop*. ::: - For further information about the different code types, see the chapter SMS under [Sender identification](docId:6BKJrwuLTHsGF0t3j0-rZ). :::hint{type="info"} **Note** Depending on the type of inbound number selected, the costs for setup and operation by the telephone provider vary. ::: :::hint{type="info"} **Tip** In some countries you have to purchase inbound numbers yourself. If you are a resident of the USA, you can obtain inbound numbers from the website [https://usshortcodes.com/](https://usshortcodes.com/). ::: ## SMS process overview To open the SMS process overview, open the Optimizely Campaign[ menu](docId\:PmNPgvNucBrAG5Rw8f41f) and select **Administration** > **SMS Processes**. ![Bild: SMS-Prozesse-Übersicht](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/h5rgzXvF9oJJ1OYqH6Wov-20260720-145458.png "Bild: SMS-Prozesse-Übersicht") In the SMS process overview, you can find information about all created SMS processes, such as process type, name and mailing ID. You can also view the current status of each SMS process: - **New**. A new process that has not yet been started. - **Started**. The process has been started and is running. :::hint{type="info"} **Note** If you edit a started process and click **Save and Close**, your changes are immediately applied to the running process. ::: - **Paused**. The process was paused and is not running. ### SMS process actions :::hint{type="info"} **Note** Some actions are not available for new or incomplete SMS processes. ::: - **Create…**. Create new SMS processes. See [Creating SMS processes](docId\:JruQPAjD54P61bKqkXwQn). - **Edit…**. Edit an SMS process as described under [Creating SMS processes](docId\:JruQPAjD54P61bKqkXwQn). - **Delete**. Delete an SMS process to permanently remove it. - **Start**. Start an SMS process. The process changes its status to **Started** and is running. Inbound SMS from your customers can then be covered by the SMS process. - **Pause**. Pause an SMS process. Your customers' inbound SMS messages are then no longer covered by the process. You can restart paused SMS processes at any time. ## [sms-processes.mdx](docId\:JruQPAjD54P61bKqkXwQn)Creating SMS processes 1. Click **Create…** in the SMS process overview. The **Create SMS Process** window opens. ![Bild: Fenster SMS-Prozesse](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/xZ4ydaQFKLOO9AXSfqppL-20260720-145458.png "Bild: Fenster SMS-Prozesse") 2. Select one of the following process types from the **Type** drop-down list: - **Unsubscribe**. The sender is added to the internal unsubscribe list for the SMS channel and no longer receives advertising SMS. - **Help**. The sender receives the message that you select under [Message](docId\:JruQPAjD54P61bKqkXwQn). :::hint{type="info"} **Note** You can only create one unsubscribe and one help SMS process for each inbound number / provider keyword. This is to ensure a distinct assignment for every SMS process. ::: 3. Enter an internal name for the SMS process under **Name**. 4. Select an inbound number from the **Inbound Number / Provider Keyword** drop-down list. If you use a non-exclusive inbound number, the keyword assigned by the provider will also be displayed (such as *11221 / Shoes*). 5. Optional: Under **Custom Keywords**, enter a keyword that is to be added to the predefined default keywords. Click the **Add** button to add the new keyword. :::hint{type="info"} **Note** Custom keywords must not contain numbers, special characters or spaces. ::: 6. [sms-processes.mdx](docId\:JruQPAjD54P61bKqkXwQn)Under **Message**, select the message to be sent automatically to the sender of the inbound SMS. To do this, create a transaction mail of type SMS. See [Transactional Mails](docId\:o8JNgomieowXJr-ysCk5u). :::hint{type="info"} **Note** The sending of a message is mandatory for SMS processes of type *Help*, optional for processes of type *Unsubscribe*. ::: :::hint{type="danger"} **Warning** Depending on the country of the recipient, sending a confirmation SMS after successful unsubscription is either mandatory, optional or even prohibited. Before starting an unsubscribe process, inform yourself about the respective country regulations and separate SMS processes according to the destination country. ::: 7. Click **Save and Close**.