Easily send and manage SMS communications directly from Zoho CRM using the ClickSend SMS plugin.
Install the ClickSend SMS Plugin in Zoho CRM
Go to the Zoho Marketplace.
Search for ClickSend SMS and click Install.
Enter your ClickSend API Username and API Key.
[Find your API credentials here]
Click Continue to complete the connection.
Send an SMS from Zoho
You can send SMS from the Leads, Contacts, or Accounts module.
From Detail View:
Open a record in Leads, Contacts, or Accounts.
Click the Send SMS button.
From List View:
Select the checkbox next to the contact.
Click Send SMS.
Two-Way Messaging & Notifications
Enable SMS alerts for both outgoing and incoming messages:
Go to Settings > Channels > Signals.
Scroll to ClickSend SMS and tick the checkbox.
Save changes.
When enabled:
You'll receive notifications inside Zoho CRM for each SMS.
If an inbound SMS comes from an unknown number, a new lead is created automatically.
Send Bulk SMS (Now up to 500 Recipients)
Go to Contacts, Leads, or Accounts.
Select up to 500 records.
Click Send SMS.
Compose your message (with placeholders if needed).
Click Send.
Contacts without phone numbers will be skipped.
Use SMS Templates
Save time with templates that support dynamic fields.
Supported placeholders:
%first_name%
%last_name%
%date_time%
These will auto-populate in your messages when sent.
Send SMS via Custom Workflow Function
Use Zoho's Deluge scripting to automate SMS from any module:
baseUrl = "https://rest.clicksend.com/v3";
apikey = zoho.crm.getOrgVariable("clicksendext__ClickSend_Apikey");
login = zoho.crm.getOrgVariable("clicksendext__ClickSend_Username");
sender = "ClickSend";
body = "TEST SMS";
recordId = "123456"; // Replace this with function input
module = "Contacts";
contact = zoho.crm.getRecordById(module, recordId);
phone = contact.get("Phone").replaceAll("[^\\d+]", "");
custom_string = module + ":" + recordId + ":" + contact.get("Full_Name");
items = List:Map();
items.add({"source":"zoho","body":body,"to":phone,"from":sender,"custom_string":custom_string});
response = postUrl(baseUrl + "/sms/send", "{\"messages\":[" + items.toString() + "]}",
{"Content-Type":"application/json","Authorization":"Basic " + zoho.encryption.base64Encode(login + ":" + apikey)});
Add
recordId
as a function argument for full automation.
Troubleshooting
'No Permission' Error
Ask your Zoho Admin to:
Go to the plugin settings
Click Change Permission > Manage Profile
Grant access to both Admin and Standard User
Ensure Manage Automation is enabled
Tag Discrepancy Error
Create a contact with a valid international format phone number (e.g., +14055555555).
Send an SMS to that contact.
Refresh and verify the ClickSend SMS module/table.
Message History
Message history is visible:
Inside the ClickSend SMS table in Zoho CRM.
Within the SMS modal under each contact or lead.
History appears only if numbers are in international format (e.g., +61400000000).
New in Version 337
Send SMS to 500 contacts (up from 25)
Sender ID support (approved use alpha tags , own numbers or shared numbers)
Real-time balance check inside CRM
Date and time placeholders in templates
Improved webhook handling (avoids duplicates)
More reliable bulk sending from Accounts
Fixed:
System errors and stability
SMS templates visibility in modal
Notifications refreshed every minute
SMS history supports more number formats
FAQs
How do I send SMS from other modules?
Use a custom workflow with the Deluge function above.
Can I view past messages?
Yes. Use the ClickSend SMS module or the SMS modal.
How do I personalise messages?
Use %first_name%, %last_name%, or %date_time% placeholders.
Can I use bulk SMS for Accounts?
Yes. SMS will be sent to associated Contacts. You can select/unselect them.
Want to get started fast? [Install the ClickSend SMS plugin from the Zoho Marketplace]