May 2025 SMS Gateway Release Notes - Munvo | The Marketing Solutions Specialists

May 2025 - SMS Gateway Release Notes

1. Feature Enhancement: WhatsApp Integration Across Messaging Platform

Significantly expanded and improved WhatsApp messaging capabilities across the platform’s core components:

SMS Gateway Template:

Enabled configuration of WhatsApp senders directly within the template.
Integrated support for WhatsApp Approved Template for template-based sending.
Updated validation rules and error handling for WhatsApp-specific requirements.

Outgoing:

Implemented automatic inclusion of the correct WhatsApp Approved Template for all applicable outgoing WhatsApp messages sent via SMS Gateway.
Ensured consistent content handling for both template and session messages, complying with WhatsApp standards.

Incoming & Routing:

Added support for receiving inbound WhatsApp messages.
Implemented storage of the associated WhatsApp parameters with each incoming message record.
Enhanced routing logic to ensure replies are correctly sent back via the appropriate WhatsApp sender.

Tracking & Analytics:

Improved message tracking capabilities to recognize and utilize both template content (outgoing) and WhatsApp parameter (incoming) for richer analytics and context.

Figure 1 – WhatsApp appointment confirmation example

Figure 2 – WhatsApp quick replies example

Business Value: This comprehensive update provides a more robust and seamless experience for managing WhatsApp communications alongside other channels. Gain greater control through template configuration, while automatic content handling simplifies compliance and improves performance tracking for outbound communications. Overall, these enhancements lead to unified multi-channel management, better data insights, increased operational efficiency, and improved customer engagement on WhatsApp.

Note: These enhancements build upon existing infrastructure and maintain backward compatibility. The data schema has been updated to support WhatsApp sender for incoming messages and optimal query performance. API documentation and relevant configuration interfaces have been updated to reflect these new capabilities.

2. Feature Enhancement: Advanced Twilio Integration with Messaging Services and Enhanced URL Shortening

Introduced significant upgrades to Twilio integration, offering enhanced flexibility for sending, receiving, and link branding: Twilio Messaging Service Integration:

Enabled sending messages via Twilio Messaging Service
Enhanced incoming message processing via the to capture, store, and utilize the specific messaging service identifier for improved message attribution and reply routing.
Updated backend data storage to associate incoming messages with their originating messaging service

Custom Domain URL Shortening:

Add support for using a custom domain with the Twilio link shortening service, enabling branded short links in messages.

Flexible URL Shortening Control:

Added a new API parameter to Courier sending endpoints (e.g., /courier/sms/tree, /courier/sms/provider) allowing per-message control over whether URLs should be shortened.

Business Value: This suite of updates provides greater control, flexibility, and branding opportunities for messaging campaigns. Utilizing Twilio Messaging Services simplifies sender management, improves scalability, and enables access to advanced Twilio features. Receiving messages via Messaging Services ensures accurate tracking and reliable routing for two-way communications. Custom domain URL shortening enhances brand recognition and recipient trust, potentially increasing engagement. Per-message control over URL shortening allows for fine-tuning message delivery based on specific content needs. Note:

Using a custom domain for URL shortening requires DNS configuration and setup within Twilio Link Shortening services; refer to specific setup guides.
A new optional parameter is available on relevant API endpoints to control URL shortening per request; existing integrations not using this parameter will retain default behavior.
Database schemas have been updated to store MessagingServiceSid for incoming messages.
Please consult the updated API documentation for details on new parameters and configuration options.

Figure 3 – Example of a promotional text message with a long, unshortened shopping link including UTM parameters.

Figure 4 – Example of a promotional text message with a short, shortened shopping link.

3. Feature Enhancement: Flowchart Search Filtering

Enhanced flowchart search functionality with dynamic filtering:

Implemented filter-based search for flowchart listings
Updated search behavior to hide non-matching flowcharts
Improved search response performance
Enhanced user interface for clearer search results display

Business Value: This enhancement significantly improves the flowchart discovery experience for marketers by providing a streamlined search interface. The new filtering mechanism reduces time spent locating specific flowcharts and increases overall productivity when managing multiple marketing workflows. Note: The previous search behavior of highlighting matching flowcharts has been replaced with a filtering system that shows only matching results. User feedback will be collected to optimize the search experience further.

4. Feature Enhancement: Improved Node Name Validation in Flowchart Editor

Enhanced node name handling with automatic cleanup:

Added automatic removal of problematic hidden characters from node names
Added warning messages when problematic characters are detected
Enhanced input validation for node names
Improved reliability of node clicking across the application

Business Value: This enhancement makes the flowchart editor more reliable by automatically fixing node names that contain problematic hidden characters. These hidden characters were previously causing nodes to be difficult or impossible to click, particularly affecting redirecting nodes. The improvement reduces user frustration and technical support requests by preventing these issues from occurring.

Note: This update focuses on frontend improvements and does not require breaking changes. For any existing nodes that are difficult to click (particularly unable to select them as redirect destination), simply recreate them using the improved editor – it will automatically remove any problematic characters when you enter the node name.

5. Performance Enhancement: Transaction Processing

Improved transaction endpoint performance and error handling:

Optimized /transactions/broadlog endpoint response time
Implemented proper 404 handling for non-existent broadlog IDs
Enhanced timeout management for transaction queries
Added robust error handling for transaction requests

Business Value: These improvements deliver more reliable transaction processing with appropriate error responses, reducing system timeouts and improving the user experience when handling transaction queries.

6. Bug Fix: Configuration Key Management Enhancement

Resolved configuration key mismatch issues caused by trailing spaces:

Implemented strict validation for configuration key formats
Removed trailing spaces from database configuration keys
Added automated testing to prevent whitespace-related issues
Updated client environments with corrected configuration

Business Value: This enhancement improves system reliability by preventing configuration lookup failures. The fix ensures consistent configuration management across environments, reducing system errors and maintenance overhead. Note: The update requires no action from users, as all changes are handled during the upgrade process. However, we recommend reviewing any custom configurations after the upgrade.

7. Bug Fix: Blacklist Management Improvement

Enhanced handling of phone/campaign combinations in the blacklist system:

Updated blacklist record management to handle multiple records
Implemented soft deletion for previous opt-out records
Added support for external opt-out processing
Improved POST idempotency logic for opt-out requests

Business Value: This update ensures reliable handling of customer opt-out preferences, particularly when managing multiple opt-out sources. The enhancement supports better compliance with customer communication preferences and provides more robust opt-out processing.

Breaking Changes

Configuration keys now enforce strict format without trailing spaces
Blacklist management system now handles multiple opt-out records differently
Transaction endpoint responses have been modified to return appropriate HTTP status codes

Please review all updates carefully before upgrading. Contact our support team with any questions about these changes or assistance with the upgrade process.