Bulk SMS, OTP & WhatsApp for Distributors and Dealer Networks in India

Keep dealers, retailers and your field team in step from one account: dealer-portal OTPs, order-confirmed and dispatch updates with tracking links, invoice and payment-due reminders, and consented scheme offers, each on the right DLT category with pay-only-for-delivered SMS billing, wired straight into your ERP or DMS.

Order & dispatch alerts (-S)Dealer login OTP (-T)Scheme offers (-P)SMS, WhatsApp & RCS

Start Free — 1,000 SMS Credits See Pricing

Pay As You GoPay only for delivered SMS

2-6 secTypical delivery time

99.9%Uptime SLA

24/7Service SMS incl. DND numbers

Quick Answer

Bulk SMS for distributors is the automated messaging a distribution business sends across its dealer and retailer network: dealer-portal login and order OTPs as transactional (-T) SMS, order-confirmed, dispatch, delivery and payment-due updates as service (-S) SMS that reach DND numbers around the clock, and scheme or target offers to dealers as promotional (-P) SMS with consent. Each message uses a DLT-registered template, and SMSGatewayHub runs SMS, WhatsApp, RCS, voice and email on Pay As You Go pricing.

Distributor messaging at a glance

Which channel and DLT category each message in a distribution business belongs to. A message that answers a dealer's own order or payment within 30 minutes is transactional; ongoing dispatch and account updates are service; anything that sells a scheme is promotional.

Message	Channel	Category & suffix	When to send
Dealer-portal login and order-approval OTP	OTP SMS, WhatsApp authentication	Transactional -T; WhatsApp authentication template	Instantly when the dealer requests it
Order received and confirmed	Transactional SMS, WhatsApp utility, email	Transactional -T; WhatsApp utility	Within minutes of the dealer placing the order
Dispatched and in transit with LR and tracking link	SMS with whitelisted {#url#}, WhatsApp utility, RCS	Service -S; WhatsApp utility	At dispatch and key transit points
Delivered to dealer or retailer	Service SMS, WhatsApp utility	Service -S	On delivery to the dealer counter
Invoice generated and payment-due reminder	Service SMS, email, WhatsApp utility	Service -S	On invoicing and before the due date
Outstanding balance and account statement	Service SMS, email	Service -S	On each billing cycle
Scheme, target and new-product offers to dealers	Promotional SMS, RCS, bulk email	Promotional -P with consent	Within the promotional time window, to opted-in dealers
Reorder nudge when a dealer's cycle is due	WhatsApp utility, service SMS	Service -S	When the usual reorder interval is reached
Beat, route and dispatch alerts to field staff	SMS over HTTP API or SMPP	Service -S	At shift start and on route or order changes
Confirmation call for large or credit orders	Voice SMS / IVR call	Service call, no offers in the script	Before processing when SMS is not acknowledged

Never add a scheme or offer line to an order, dispatch or invoice template: it turns the message into -P and loses 24/7 DND delivery. See how categories work on transactional SMS and service explicit vs service implicit SMS.

Every SMSGatewayHub product your distribution business can use

One account, one wallet and one set of DLT templates for dealers, retailers and your field team, wired into the ERP or DMS you already run.

Transactional & service SMS

Order-confirmed, dispatch, delivery and payment-due alerts that reach every dealer and retailer, DND included, any hour. Transactional SMS

OTP SMS

Dealer-portal login, order-approval and payment OTPs on priority routes, with voice OTP as a fallback. OTP SMS service

WhatsApp Business API

Utility order and dispatch updates with order-copy PDFs and Reorder buttons, plus two-way support for dealers. WhatsApp Business API

RCS Messaging

Verified product catalogues, new-scheme cards and price lists in the native Android inbox, with SMS fallback. RCS messaging

Cloud IVR & voice

Order-confirmation calls for large orders and an inbound IVR for dealers to check dispatch status. Cloud IVR

Missed call & toll-free

A toll-free order and complaint line for your dealer network, used as the callback CTA in every SMS. Toll-free number

Bulk email

Invoices, outstanding statements, price lists and daily dispatch reports to dealers and your sales team. Bulk email

SMPP & developer API

Fire order, dispatch and invoice SMS straight from your ERP or DMS over SMPP or the HTTP API. SMPP connectivity

What changed for distributor messaging

Four rule and platform changes every distribution business in India should plan around now.

-T, -S and -P now visible to dealers

Operators add a suffix to every header, for example AB-ABCDST-S. Order and payment confirmations sent within 30 minutes are -T, ongoing dispatch and account updates are -S, and service explicit has been merged into promotional -P.

Typed variables and whitelisted links

Each value must be tagged {#numeric#}, {#alphanumeric#}, {#url#} and so on, and every tracking link, payment link or callback number must be a whitelisted CTA on DLT. See converted templates

WhatsApp bills per delivered message

Meta charges per delivered message by category. Service replies and utility templates inside the 24-hour customer-service window are now billed per message too, and an order update that carries a scheme line can be recategorised as marketing.

1600 and 140 series for calls

TRAI reserves the 1600 series for service and transactional calls and the 140 series for promotional calls, and is moving business calls off ordinary 10-digit numbers. Plan order-confirmation and IVR flows around these series.

Why SMSGatewayHub

Why distribution businesses choose SMSGatewayHub over other providers

A distributor sends a steady stream of order, dispatch and account messages to a network that must act on them. These are the things that decide whether they arrive, comply and stay affordable.

Pay only for delivered SMS

Order and dispatch volume rises at month-end and in season; you are billed for SMS that reach the handset, not every submission. Delivery-based billing

DLT templates done for you

Our team writes order, dispatch, invoice and payment-reminder templates with typed variables, registers your tracking and payment-link CTAs and maps the IDs. DLT priority support

ERP and DMS integrations

Bind over SMPP or call the HTTP API straight from order and dispatch events, with delivery receipts back to your system.

Multi-operator failover

Traffic fails over across operator routes automatically, for 2-6 second typical delivery and a 99.9% uptime SLA on order and OTP messages.

SMS, WhatsApp, RCS, voice and email

Reach dealers in Hindi and regional languages on SMS, WhatsApp, RCS, voice and email from one wallet, with fallback.

Certified and trusted since 2009

ISO 27001, ISO 9001:2015, SOC 2 and VAPT tested, with 2,000+ enterprise clients. Trust Center

Question to ask any provider	SMSGatewayHub
Am I charged for undelivered order and dispatch SMS?	No. You pay only for delivered SMS.
Can my ERP or DMS bind directly over SMPP?	Yes, SMPP and HTTP/HTTPS APIs with delivery receipts.
Will you whitelist my tracking and payment links?	Yes. Our DLT team registers and maps every CTA.
Do I get real operator delivery reports?	Yes, live delivery reports in the panel and API. See delivery reports
Can I test before I buy?	Yes, start with 1,000 free SMS credits. Create a free account

Moving from another provider? Compare on our MSG91 alternative page or estimate monthly spend with the SMS cost calculator.

Ready-to-register DLT templates for distributors

Copy, adjust the brand name and submit. Every changing value carries a typed tag, amounts go without commas, and every link must be a whitelisted CTA.

Message (what the dealer sees)	DLT template (typed-variable format)	Suffix
482913 is your OTP to log in to the ABC Distributors dealer portal. Valid for 10 minutes. Do not share it.	{#numeric#} is your OTP to log in to the ABC Distributors dealer portal. Valid for {#numeric#} minutes. Do not share it.	-T
Thank you! Your order ORD4471 for Rs.{#numeric#} is confirmed and will be processed today. - ABC Distributors	Thank you! Your order {#alphanumeric#} for Rs.{#numeric#} is confirmed and will be processed today. - ABC Distributors	-T
Your order ORD4471 has been dispatched via LR 7712. Track: https://abc.in/t/4471 - ABC Distributors	Your order {#alphanumeric#} has been dispatched via LR {#alphanumeric#}. Track: {#url#} - ABC Distributors	-S
Invoice INV2290 of Rs.{#numeric#} is due on 14 Oct. Pay or view: https://abc.in/p/2290 Help: 18001234567 - ABC Distributors	Invoice {#alphanumeric#} of Rs.{#numeric#} is due on {#alphanumeric#}. Pay or view: {#url#} Help: {#cbn#} - ABC Distributors	-S
Reminder: outstanding balance of Rs.{#numeric#} on your ABC Distributors account. Statement: https://abc.in/a/stmt - ABC Distributors	Reminder: outstanding balance of Rs.{#numeric#} on your ABC Distributors account. Statement: {#url#} - ABC Distributors	-S
ABC Distributors scheme: order 50 cases this month and earn 5% extra margin. Details: https://abc.in/s/oct Reply STOP to opt out	ABC Distributors scheme: order {#numeric#} cases this month and earn {#numeric#}% extra margin. Details: {#url#} Reply STOP to opt out	-P

More examples on DLT sample templates. Register templates under your brand with DLT registration and follow the template registration process.

Distributor customer journey on SMSGatewayHub

Map each stage of the order-to-payment cycle to the channel that fits it best.

Dealer onboarding and login
Verify dealers and secure the portal with OTP SMS or a missed call OTP, and capture scheme-offer consent on the same screen.
Order and confirmation
Confirm the order as -T SMS within minutes and confirm large or credit orders with a voice confirmation call when the SMS is not acknowledged.
Dispatch and delivery
Push dispatched, in-transit and delivered updates as -S SMS with a whitelisted tracking link, or as WhatsApp utility templates with an order copy.
Invoice and payment
Send invoice, payment-due and statement messages as service SMS and email, with a toll-free help number as the callback CTA.
Reorder and schemes
Send reorder nudges as service messages and consented scheme or target offers on RCS, WhatsApp marketing or promotional SMS.
Measure and refine
Track every message in live delivery reports and compare channel cost and response on one dashboard.

Distributor messaging resource map

Where to go next on SMSGatewayHub, grouped by what your distribution business needs to do.

I want to…	Go to
Check prices and estimate cost	All pricing · Transactional SMS pricing · SMS cost calculator
Get DLT-compliant	DLT registration · Sample templates · Sender ID & suffixes · TRAI regulations
Integrate with my ERP or DMS	SMPP connectivity · HTTP API · Developer API docs
See it in action	Logistics use cases · Retail use cases · Real business use cases
Fix delivery problems	DLT error codes · DLT SMS not delivered: fixes · Live delivery reports
Explore other industries	Mobile retailers · Showrooms · Automobile · Jewellers

SMS vs WhatsApp vs RCS for distributors: which to use when

Use SMS for anything a dealer must act on. Order OTPs, order confirmations, dispatch updates, invoice and payment-due reminders need to reach every dealer and retailer, on any phone, including DND numbers. Transactional (-T) and service (-S) SMS do that around the clock with no app or data connection, which is why they remain the backbone of a distribution network.

Use WhatsApp for order copies and conversations. Utility templates can carry an order copy or invoice PDF, a price list and quick-reply buttons such as Reorder or Raise ticket, and dealers can reply for support in the 24-hour window, billed per message. Scheme and target offers go as marketing templates to opted-in dealers only. See how to automate WhatsApp with SMS, RCS, IVR and missed call.

Use RCS for branded catalogues and scheme cards on Android. Verified sender names, product carousels and tap-to-order buttons make new-product and scheme launches feel like a catalogue in the messaging app, with SMS fallback for phones that cannot receive RCS. Most distributors run all three from one SMSGatewayHub account, with bulk email for invoices and statements. For a broader view, read SMS vs RCS vs WhatsApp: which channel is right for your business.

Related Services & Guides

Logistics Use Cases →

Dispatch and delivery messaging workflows.

SMPP Connectivity API →

High-throughput binds for ERP and DMS platforms.

Bulk SMS for Mobile Retailers →

Offers, repair-ready and loyalty messaging for phone shops.

WhatsApp Business API →

Utility order updates and marketing templates.

Bulk SMS for Logistics →

Tracking, delivery OTP and COD remittance alerts.

DLT Sample Templates →

Templates in the typed-variable format.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which SMS route should a distributor use for order and dispatch updates?

Use transactional SMS with a -T header for an order confirmation sent within 30 minutes of the dealer placing the order, because it responds to their own action. Later dispatch, delivery, invoice and payment-due updates go as service (-S) SMS. SMSGatewayHub registers both template types for you and delivers them 24/7, including to DND numbers.

Can distributors send scheme and target offers to dealers on DND numbers?

No, not without consent. A scheme or target offer sells, so it is promotional (-P) SMS: it goes only to non-DND numbers or dealers who gave consent, within the promotional time window and with an opt-out. SMSGatewayHub helps you send scheme offers as promotional SMS, RCS or WhatsApp marketing templates to opted-in dealers.

How do I add a tracking or payment link to a distributor SMS without it getting blocked?

Register your tracking and payment-link domains as whitelisted URL CTAs on DLT and place each link in a {#url#} slot in the template. Public URL shorteners and unregistered links are blocked at scrubbing. SMSGatewayHub's DLT team whitelists your domains and callback numbers and maps the templates for you.

Is a payment-due reminder to a dealer transactional or service?

A payment-due or outstanding-balance reminder is an account update to an existing dealer, so it is normally registered as a service (-S) template, while an OTP or order confirmation triggered by the dealer's own action within 30 minutes is transactional (-T). Both reach DND numbers at any time. SMSGatewayHub's DLT team checks that each template sits in the right category.

Can I send order and dispatch SMS straight from my ERP or DMS?

Yes. Your ERP or DMS calls the SMSGatewayHub HTTP API or binds over SMPP whenever an order or dispatch event fires, passing the template ID and variables, and receives delivery receipts back. This lets high-volume order and invoice traffic go straight from your system to operators without manual uploads.

Should distributors use WhatsApp or SMS for order confirmations?

Use both. SMS (-T and -S) is the guaranteed layer that reaches every dealer on any phone, while WhatsApp utility templates add an order-copy PDF, a price list and buttons and are billed per delivered message. SMSGatewayHub can send the WhatsApp version first and fall back to SMS automatically.

How can a distributor confirm large or credit orders when a dealer does not reply?

Trigger a voice SMS or IVR call where the dealer presses a key to confirm or cancel the order before you process it, as a service call with no offers in the script. SMSGatewayHub runs SMS, voice, IVR and missed-call confirmation from one account so the order reaches the dealer on whichever channel they answer.

How much does bulk SMS cost for a distribution business?

SMSGatewayHub uses Pay As You Go pricing: you buy credits as needed and pay only for delivered SMS. Exact rates depend on volume and route, so see https://www.smsgatewayhub.com/pricing or talk to sales on 1800 102 1822, and test first with 1,000 free SMS credits.

Connect your dealer network today

Get 1,000 free SMS credits, free DLT guidance and ready-to-register distributor templates with whitelisted tracking and payment links. Go live on SMS, WhatsApp and RCS from one account.

Start Free Trial ☎ 1800 102 1822

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