Detrack can send your job notifications by Text / SMS through your own Sinch account. You create the account in Sinch, then copy six values into Detrack.
Before you start, have ready:
An email address and mobile phone number to verify your Sinch account
Owner/Superadmin access to Detrack, so you can open Settings > Notifications to configure SMS messaging
The values you will copy into Detrack from Sinch are:
Detrack field | Where it comes from in Sinch |
Project Id | Settings > Access Keys (top of the page) |
Region | The region you picked when you created the Conversation API app; it cannot be changed later |
Sinch Key | Settings > Access Keys (Key ID) |
Sinch Secret | Settings > Access Keys (Key Secret, shown only once) |
Sender Id | Your Sinch number, or an approved sender name |
Conversation App Id | Conversation API > Apps |
Webhook Secret (optional) | A secret you choose when you add the Detrack webhook |
Step 1: Create your Sinch account
In Detrack, go to Settings > Notifications > Text / SMS Settings and select Sinch as the Text / SMS Provider. Keep this page open; you will come back to it.
In a new tab, sign up at dashboard.sinch.com/signup with your name, email and a password.
Open the verification email from Sinch and confirm your address.
Choose your country, enter your mobile number, and type in the code Sinch sends you. If the code expires, request a new one.
In the Sinch dashboard's left menu, select Conversation API. Tick I agree to the terms and conditions and click GET ACCESS.
Step 2: Set up Sinch and collect your credentials
Get a number
1. In the left menu, go to Numbers > Get virtual numbers. Choose your Country and Number Type, then click Search and buy a number with SMS capability. If your country is not listed, a United States number works.
2. Your number now appears under Numbers > Your Numbers, with SMS in the Capabilities column. This is the number you will enter as Detrack's Sender Id.
Create a Conversation API app
3. Go to Conversation API > Apps and click Create app.
4. Enter a Display name, such as "Detrack", and choose a region: US, EU or BR. Choose carefully: Sinch cannot move an app to another region later. Click Create.
5. Open the new app. Copy the App ID with the copy icon beside it; this is Detrack's Conversation App Id. Note the Region shown below it.
6. Scroll down to Set up channels. On the SMS row, click Set up channel, pick your service plan, and confirm. The row turns Active when it is ready.
Copy your project ID and access key
7. Go to Settings > Access Keys. The Project ID is shown at the top; copy it with the copy icon. This is Detrack's Project Id.
8. Click Create access key, name it "Detrack", and click Create.
9. Copy both the Key ID and the Key Secret straight away. Sinch shows the secret only once. If you lose it, delete the key and create a new one.
Step 3: Connect Sinch to Detrack
Enter your credentials
Go back to Settings > Notifications > Text / SMS Settings in Detrack, with Sinch selected
Fill in the fields (refer to image below):
Project Id: the Project ID from Step 2
Region: the region of your Conversation API app. Messages sent to the wrong region are rejected.
Sinch Key: the Key ID
Sinch Secret: the Key Secret
Sender Id: your Sinch number with country code, such as 12025550123
Conversation App Id: the App ID
In Send test Text / SMS to, enter your own mobile number with country code.
Click Save.
Turn on delivery reports (optional)
Delivery reports tell Detrack whether each SMS actually reached the phone. Messages still send without them.
5. In Detrack, click Copy next to Callback URL.
6. In Sinch, open your app under Conversation API > Apps, scroll to Webhooks, and click Add webhook. Fill in:
Target Type: leave as HTTP
Target URL: paste the Callback URL
Secret token: type a password of your choice
Triggers: select MESSAGE_DELIVERY
OAuth2: leave Disabled
7. Click Create. Then in Detrack, enter the same password in Webhook Secret and click Save. Reports are ignored until the two secrets match.
Optional: send from a name instead of a number
You can enter a name such as "Detrack" in Sender Id, so messages show that name instead of a number. Recipients cannot reply to it. Sender names need approval from Sinch, and some countries do not allow them. Contact Sinch support to register one.
Troubleshooting and FAQ
Upgrade your Sinch account
New Sinch accounts start on a free trial. A trial account can only send to numbers listed under Numbers > Verified numbers; use Add number to verify your own phone for testing. To send to your customers and drivers, click Add Credits at the top of the dashboard and add billing details.
Common problems
What you see | What to check |
Every SMS fails | The Region in Detrack matches the region of your Conversation API app |
Unauthorized or 401 errors | Sinch Key and Sinch Secret belong to the same key, and the key has not been deleted |
SMS sends to you but not to customers | Your Sinch account is still on the free trial, so it only sends to Verified numbers |
Messages show as sent but never arrive | Sender Id is a number or name your Sinch account is allowed to send from |
No delivery reports in Detrack | Webhook Secret in Detrack exactly matches the secret on the Sinch webhook, and the webhook has the MESSAGE_DELIVERY trigger |