Configure SMS alerts for members

VCMS sends SMS reminders to members — not to staff logins. Alerts are a two-step setup: define types under Notifications → Alerts, then assign them per member.

Create alert types

Open the Types tab and choose Add alert type. Each type is an SMS template tied to a trigger:

• Payment due — issued or partially paid invoice reaches its due date
• Manual (send on demand) — fired only when you choose Send now
• Bluebook renewal (lead days) and Bluebook expired
• License renewal (lead days) and License expired
• Member birthday and Driver birthday

For renewal triggers, set Lead days before expiry. The hint reads: Only used by renewal triggers (Bluebook/License renewal).

Write the Message body using placeholders: {memberName}, {vehicleReg}, {driverName}, {expiryDate}, {amount}, {invoiceNumber}.

New committees receive default types such as Payment Alert and Bluebook Renewal Alert (15 days). You can edit, deactivate, or delete them.

Assign alerts to a member

Open a member's detail page and choose Manage alerts. Tick the active types that apply. Save to see Alert assignments saved.

Automatic triggers only run for assigned, active types. Unassigned types never fire on a schedule.

For Manual (send on demand) types, use Send now inside the dialog. Manual types are excluded from the daily automatic job.

Review the log

Open the Log tab to see when each message was sent, the trigger, recipient phone, message text, and status (sent, queued, or failed).

When alerts fire

The engine evaluates triggers using the committee Timezone from Settings. Payment-due alerts match invoices whose due date is today. Renewal alerts use bluebook expiry on vehicles and licence expiry on drivers linked to that member.

Caveats

• Members need a valid Phone number. Most triggers send to the member phone, not the driver phone.
• Enter bluebook and licence expiry dates on vehicles and drivers, or renewal alerts have nothing to match.
• VCMS has no SMS provider settings screen. Delivery uses the committee organisation's configured SMS provider on the server.
• Messages are deduplicated so the same alert does not send twice for the same event.

See enroll members and vehicles, payment types and invoices, and setting up SMS for the rental CRM.