Introduction
This post aims to clarify a common question about using an alphanumeric sender ID for SMS messages in Customer.io. It covers the error encountered when attempting to utilize this feature with personal company name or brand, as well as the status issue of the Manual Sender ID.
Problem
Attempts to set up personalized SMS messages with an alphanumeric sender ID results in an error when using a name rather than a number in the 'from' field. Even after setting up a Manual Sender ID, its status remains as 'not in use'.
Solution
The resolution involves setting up an alphanumeric sender ID on Twilio since this is not a feature provided by Customer.io. Several things to consider here include: enabling the feature on Twilio, remembering that such IDs are one-way, ensuring user opt-in/opt-out, and awareness that some countries, including the USA, do not support such IDs. You can change the status of the Manual Sender ID to 'In Use' by using it in a message as part of a campaign workflow. For more guidance, refer to the resources provided.